My Sad, Dark Dining Nook Went From Bland To Grand Thanks To This Hack
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Apartment Therapy style editor Emma Dangel reports that she used Etsy-made connectors to join IKEA BLODLÖNN mirror tiles into a 3-by-5-foot wall mirror in her dining nook. She says the project took about 45 minutes and cost roughly $170 for the mirrors, connectors, supplies and shipping; those figures describe her experience, not a tested general estimate.

Apartment Therapy style editor Emma Dangel says she transformed a dark dining nook by connecting IKEA BLODLÖNN mirror tiles with 3D-printed connectors purchased on Etsy. In her first-person report, Dangel estimates the finished mirror measures about three by five feet, cost roughly $170 including supplies and shipping, and took about 45 minutes to install.

Dangel described the nook as a dark corner that had become a drop-off point for mail and packages. She wanted a large statement mirror for its blank wall but had previously settled for a small circular mirror. After that mirror fell and shattered, she looked for a replacement and found connectors designed to join IKEA’s 12-by-12-inch BLODLÖNN mirrors, which are sold in four-piece packs.

The connectors are 3D-printed pieces that hold the tiles together at their corners. Dangel chose black connectors in a square configuration, which the listing said could accommodate up to 16 mirrors. She used 15 tiles, arranged in three rows of five, and bought four packs of mirrors. Her report says the connectors are available in several shapes and that she also considered a bronze finish.

For installation, Dangel used double-sided mounting tape rather than relying on the adhesive tape supplied with the mirrors; she says the product instructions recommended using something stronger. She also used a laser level to keep the layout straight. Following advice she had seen in customer reviews, she began with a tile in the middle and worked outward, placing tiles row by row. She says attaching tape to the connectors before starting helped the process move smoothly.

At a glance
reportWhen: Published the day before the source was…
The developmentApartment Therapy published a first-person report in which style editor Emma Dangel describes using Etsy connectors and IKEA mirror tiles to create a large mirror for her dining nook.

A Lower-Cost Route to a Large Mirror

The project offers a specific example of how small-format mirror tiles and separately sold connectors can be combined into a larger decorative feature without buying one oversized mirror. That approach may appeal to renters or homeowners seeking a prominent wall treatment, but Dangel’s account is a personal project report rather than a controlled comparison of prices, durability or installation difficulty.

For Dangel, the stated benefit was both visual and practical: she says the larger mirror made the nook feel more intentional, lighter and larger. The mirror reflects light, but the report does not measure how much brighter the room became. The roughly $170 total also includes supplies and shipping, according to her; actual costs may vary by seller, location and purchase date.

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From a Broken Mirror to a Tile Grid

Dangel’s account began with a design problem in her Brooklyn apartment: the dining nook was the first area visible from the door, but it had become a place for incoming mail and packages. She had wanted a dramatic mirror for its blank wall, but considered large mirrors heavy and expensive. A small circular mirror from her previous apartment did not suit the wall, she wrote, and later fell and shattered.

She then measured the wall and selected a 15-tile layout from a connector configuration that could hold as many as 16 mirrors. The source report identifies the mirror tiles as IKEA BLODLÖNN and the connectors as an Etsy purchase. It does not name the Etsy seller, provide a product listing, or state the exact prices paid for each component.

““It totally eliminates the logistical nightmare and physical strain that comes along with hanging a giant oversized mirror, but it gives you the same high-impact look.””

— Emma Dangel, Apartment Therapy style editor

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Costs and Wall Safety Are Unspecified

The article records one person’s installation; it does not establish how the connectors or mounting tape perform over time, whether the same setup suits different wall surfaces, or whether the arrangement can be removed without damage. Dangel says the connectors were difficult to remove once placed, but does not report testing their long-term hold.

The source also does not identify the connector seller or the exact mounting-tape product, explain the wall material, or provide a load rating for the assembled mirror. It reports a total of about $170 but gives no item-by-item price breakdown. Readers should check the mirror and connector instructions and confirm that any mounting method is appropriate for their wall and the weight being supported.

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Dangel Plans More Nook Updates

Dangel says she wants to give the dining nook more attention after completing the mirror. Her report does not name a next project or give a timeline. For readers considering a similar arrangement, the described process is to measure the wall, choose a tile layout, plan alignment with a level, and follow the manufacturers’ guidance for mounting materials and installation.

No follow-up on the mirror’s durability or the nook’s later redesign is included in the report. Any further results, including whether the setup remains secure or whether Dangel adds more changes, are not yet known.

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Key Questions

What did Emma Dangel use to make the large mirror?

She joined IKEA BLODLÖNN mirror tiles with 3D-printed connectors bought on Etsy. She arranged 15 tiles in three rows of five.

How much did the project cost?

Dangel estimated the total at about $170, including the mirrors, connectors, supplies and shipping. The report does not give a separate price for each item.

How long did installation take?

Dangel said the project took about 45 minutes from start to finish. That is her estimate for her own installation.

What mounting method did she use?

She used double-sided mounting tape and a laser level. Dangel said the mirror instructions recommended a stronger adhesive than the tape supplied with the tiles; the report does not identify the tape brand or give a weight rating.

Is this installation proven to work on every wall?

No. The source describes one person’s project and does not establish compatibility with every wall surface or the long-term security of the setup. Check product instructions and wall requirements before mounting mirrors.

Source: rss

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