Buying A Pre-Lit IKEA Mirror Vs. Adding Lighting Yourself - Which Is Better?

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Whether you love them or hate them, LED mirrors continue to be a popular home design choice for bathrooms and bedroom vanities. These light-emitting mirrors help eliminate shadows and illuminate your face evenly to make common tasks like applying makeup and shaving easier than ever. If you're considering adding one of these mirrors to your home, IKEA is a great place to look, as it has a wide selection of front-lit and backlit mirrors in all shapes and sizes. However, buying a pre-lit mirror isn't exactly cheap, especially if you opt for a hard-wired model that requires professional installation. If you've got skills and time, you can DIY a light-up mirror for less money, but which option is better? Ultimately, that answer depends on you.

If DIY home improvement projects aren't your strong suit, it's probably worthwhile to pay the extra cost to buy a pre-lit mirror directly from the store. This option gives you the security of knowing your mirror will be well-made and safe to use. On the other hand, if your budget is tight and your DIY skills are decent enough, you can create an LED mirror that's just as effective for a fraction of the cost. Remember that DIY is good for your physical and mental health as well.

If budget is your main concern, then DIY is your best choice. To put the price difference in perspective, the cheapest pre-lit mirror from IKEA is the EKFÄNN Table Mirror with Integrated Lighting. This small mirror costs $40 and is less than 8 inches wide.

If you go the DIY route and already own a mirror, you could create something bigger and better for just $18 with these Consciot LED Vanity Lights For Mirror. If you don't own a mirror, then a simple thrift store mirror DIY is an easy way to keep costs low. Even online, mirrors like this 16-by-9.2-inch YCHMIR Oval Wall Mirror sell for just $15.50. Together, the mirror and the lights will cost you less than $40 for something bigger that you can mount on the wall.

While the price difference is notable, there are a few downsides to consider with the DIY route. If you're not confident in your skills, issues like trouble hiding the cord for your lights or having lights fall off your mirror may come up. You also may end up not liking the final look, leading you to buy a pre-lit mirror anyways. At IKEA, pre-lit mirrors like the STORJORM and the FAXÄLVEN have sleek, built-in lights with no unsightly cords or bulbs that could pop off. So if you want an easy, reliable mirror and don't mind paying upwards of $200 dollars, buying rather than DIYing or upcycling a full-length mirror is likely your best bet.