A Repurposed IKEA Mirror Became a Sliding Door in This Tiny House

In Jewel Pearson’s under-400-square-foot tiny home, every item needs to earn its place — it needs to not only enhance the North Carolina tiny house’s beauty, but also be functional. So when a beloved IKEA mirror had the chance to become a mirror, a bathroom door, and a design feature all at once, it quickly became one of Jewel’s favorite parts of her home.

At the time of the House Tour in 2019, Jewel had already lived in the tiny house for over three years, but she hadn’t always lived in smaller spaces. At one point, she’d lived in a four-bedroom Atlanta house. However, tiny living seemed to come naturally to her, and soon enough she became known as an expert. That includes selecting decor that can do more than one thing, like both look good and work hard. 

“My other favorite element is being able to turn my IKEA mirror that I’d had for a few years into working triple-duty as not just a mirror, but also as the sliding door for my bathroom and part of the aesthetic of my tiny house design,” Jewel said at the time of the House Tour. 

Mirrors are a sneaky way to make small spaces feel larger and brighter. They’re interior designers’ go-to decor trick to make rooms feel twice as big. “They bounce light around, open up dark corners, and trick the eye into feeling like there’s more space,” interior designer Brad Thornton said about mirrors.

In the video above, Jewel walks viewers through her tiny house and shares that she has 17 windows, which let in an abundance of natural light. They’re all centered around the living room, which is where the mirror is. The mirror reflects the lush views from outdoors while also bouncing light, making the space feel deceptively larger. Practically, it’s also a spot where she can admire her outfits pulled from her walk-in closet nearby.

It looks like the exact IKEA mirror that Jewel used is no longer available. However, there’s a slimmer option available that could work. Jewel did a lot of the work herself, and, based on the finished look, it appears she may have attached hardware to one side of the mirror and installed it on a sliding door track. 

Jewel’s repurposing of a beloved IKEA mirror into a door is such a clever way to recycle items and give them a new purpose. It’s a great reminder to think long and hard before tossing items — they might surprise you with their possibilities.