Elevate The Look Of A Plain IKEA Mirror With TikTok's LED Light Trick

Mirrors are a great way to accent or brighten a dark room by reflecting light. You may also be able to use mirrors to make your small space look bigger. They're functional in dressing areas, bathrooms, and on makeup tables, and there are many models to choose from. One gaining popularity now is the lighted version. Whether lit from the front or back, these reduce shadows on the face, improve views while grooming, and create an entirely new atmosphere in a room.

Not all mirrors come with the LED feature. The minimalistic designs from IKEA, for example, come in varying sizes and are multipurpose in use, but are relatively plain to look at. Luckily, with a little inspiration from creative TikTok users, you can create your own illumination with a handy light trick. You can also use it to upcycle old mirrors around the house. Check out this DIY to transform any ordinary looking glass into one that radiates your beauty back at you.

Getting that vanity luminescence from a plain mirror doesn't need to cost a fortune. TikToker, xstephanieclark gave her IKEA HOVET a glow-up by adding a single product — an LED light strip. In her video, Stephanie went with a 16-foot GE branded strand from Target for $26.49. The product changes color at the touch of a button and comes with a remote to manage from a distance. It's also electric and plugs into an outlet, so there's no need to charge batteries. Once you have your lights, application is a breeze.

The first step to mimicking this TikTok trick to decorate a mirror is to measure everything. In the case of the HOVET, the measurements are 77 ⅛ inches by 30 ¾ inches, so Stephanie was missing a small portion of illumination near the bottom. This strand of lights might be too long for smaller products, but that's no problem. Follow the instructions in the GE package to trim them by snipping at the indicated cut lines. Once you have your desired length, peel the protective film away so the adhesive is exposed, and apply to the back or front edges of the reflective surface. This is a great hack to refresh an old mirror or brighten up a new one. Either way, your IKEA reflection won't be so plain anymore.