MagicMirror Dashboard – Replacing the Family Pinboard (Sept 2024)
One day I came home to find my mom taping notes all over her pinboard. It was a cluttered mess, and I couldn’t help but think—there has to be a better way.
So, what’s the problem?
Calendars, sticky notes, reminders—AHHH! It's overwhelming. Let’s make a sleek, digital dashboard instead.
Problem:
Messy pinboard wall—Yikes!
Hypothesis:
There has to be a better way... So I compared Home Assistant, Dakboard, and MagicMirror².
Planning:
I chose MagicMirror² due to its flexibility and custom third-party module support. My mom needed modules like:
- To-Do List
- Contacts
- Reminders
- Shared family calendar (Cozi integration)
Budget & Materials:
| Item | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4B (8GB) | The brains of it all | ~$55 |
| Monitor | Used a portable monitor | $55 |
| Wall Mount | To mount the monitor on the wall | ~$15 |
| Cables | Power & HDMI cables | $0 (reused) |
| Cable Hider | To keep wires tidy | ~$10 |
| Keyboard & Mouse | For initial setup | $0 (reused what I had) |
| Smart Plug | Optional – used to automate on/off schedule | ~$15 |
| Total (approx.) | ~$40 | |
Procedure:
- Install Raspberry Pi OS on the Pi
- Install MagicMirror² using the auto installer script
- Add 3rd-party modules (Google Sheets, Calendar, etc.)
- Mount monitor and hide Raspberry Pi behind it
- Use cable hider for a clean look
- Connect to smart plug and schedule it via the app
Challenges & Adjustments:
During testing, I discovered an ETA module using the Google Maps API that shows commute time. I set it up to track my dad’s work commute, which he appreciated.
I also removed the default “Quotes” module because—well—it started showing quotes like “Hey S**y!” which… felt a little awkward on a family dashboard 😅
Results:
No more messy pinboard wall! The dashboard works exactly as intended—simple, clear, and personalized.
Conclusion:
This was a fun and surprisingly useful weekend project. The final build is low-power, easy to update, and fits perfectly in our hallway.
Running it ~16 hours/day, I estimate an annual energy cost of about $60–$70 USD. Worth it for the reduced clutter alone.
PS: This could easily be customized for other use cases—meal planning, weather station, or home automation control panel.