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Apartment Therapy style editor Emma Dangel describes using Etsy-made connectors to join IKEA BLODLÖNN mirror tiles into a large wall mirror for her dining nook. She says the 3-by-5-foot project took about 45 minutes and cost roughly $170, including supplies and shipping.
Apartment Therapy style editor Emma Dangel says she turned a dim, underused dining nook into a more finished-looking space by connecting IKEA BLODLÖNN mirror tiles with 3D-printed pieces bought on Etsy. Her account offers a lower-cost alternative to installing one oversized mirror: she reports spending about $170 for a mirror measuring roughly three by five feet, including the tiles, connectors, other supplies and shipping.
Dangel says she planned a layout of 15 square mirrors, arranged in three rows of five, on a previously bare wall. BLODLÖNN mirrors are frameless 12-by-12-inch tiles sold in four-packs, according to the article. The Etsy connectors slot into the tiles’ corners, allowing separate mirrors to be arranged as a single large installation. Dangel chose black, four-pointed connectors and a square configuration designed to accommodate as many as 16 tiles.
For installation, she used double-sided mounting tape rather than relying on the adhesive included with the IKEA mirrors, following the connector instructions as described in her report. She also used a laser level. Because the connectors were difficult to remove once attached, she says careful alignment mattered. Based on customer reviews, she began at the center of the layout and worked outward, placing each row around a middle tile.
Dangel estimates the project took about 45 minutes. She says the completed mirror made the nook feel more intentional, lighter and larger. Those are her impressions of her own apartment, not measurements of a lighting or space change. The article also notes that Apartment Therapy independently selects products and may earn a commission when readers buy through its links; prices were accurate when the article was published.
A Large Mirror Without One Oversized Panel
The project shows one way renters or homeowners can build a large reflective wall feature from smaller, individually handled tiles, rather than purchasing and mounting a single heavy mirror. That can make the shopping and installation process more manageable for some people, though the source does not compare the setup’s safety, durability or cost with other mirror options.
For a small or dim dining area, a mirror may reflect existing light and visually open up the room. Dangel reports that effect in her nook, while the result will depend on the room’s layout, available light and mirror placement. The article’s practical value is its specific materials, layout and installation sequence—not evidence that the hack will produce the same outcome in every home.
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From a Small Mirror to Tile Layout
Dangel describes the nook as the first area visible when entering her Brooklyn apartment and says it had become a drop-off point for mail and packages. She wanted a statement piece for its large blank wall but had previously used a small circular mirror from her former apartment. That mirror later fell and shattered, prompting her to look for a replacement.
She says a conventional oversized mirror seemed both heavy and expensive, so she searched for another approach. The Etsy connectors are made to work with IKEA’s square BLODLÖNN tiles. Dangel measured her wall, selected a three-by-five arrangement and bought four packs of mirrors; that is 16 tiles, leaving one beyond the 15 used in her layout. The source does not provide a broader product test or independent assessment of the connectors.
“I live alone, so I don’t eat there often.”
— Emma Dangel, Apartment Therapy style editor
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Costs and Installation Vary by Wall
The about $170 total is Dangel’s reported spending at the time of her project, not a guaranteed current price. The source does not itemize each expense, give current prices or establish whether the same products and shipping costs are still available. It also does not report long-term testing of the connectors or mounting tape, including how well they hold under different wall conditions.
The article is a first-person account, not a controlled comparison or a professional installation assessment. It does not specify the wall material, the full weight of the assembled mirror or whether the setup is suitable for every surface. Readers should check the product instructions and mounting requirements for their own walls and avoid assuming that a method used in one apartment will work universally.
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Dangel Plans More Nook Updates
Dangel says she wants to give the dining nook more attention after completing the mirror. The article does not announce a scheduled follow-up, provide a long-term update on the installation or say whether she plans to add other specific changes. For now, the reported outcome is limited to her completed mirror wall and her immediate impression that the room feels brighter and more spacious.
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Key Questions
What are the IKEA mirror connectors?
They are 3D-printed corner pieces sold on Etsy that fit IKEA BLODLÖNN square mirror tiles, letting separate tiles be arranged together on a wall.
How much did the dining-nook project cost?
Dangel reports spending about $170 on the mirrors, connectors, installation supplies and shipping. The article does not provide an itemized breakdown or current prices.
How many mirrors did she install?
She used 15 tiles in a layout of three rows of five. She bought four packs of four mirrors, so the purchase provided one more tile than the arrangement required.
How long did the installation take?
Dangel says it took about 45 minutes. That is her estimate for her particular wall and setup, not a standard installation time.
What remains unknown about the mounting method?
The article does not report long-term durability testing or confirm how the tape and connectors perform on different wall surfaces. It advises checking alignment because the connectors can be hard to remove once attached.
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