Secrets of the design of a table with an infinity effect, types of lighting

What is special about the design of a table with an infinity effect?

The originality of the design of such a table lies in the use of two mirrors and LED lighting placed in the tabletop. This table is most appropriate in a recreation area, that is, in the living room. It will fit into such interior design styles as modern, high-tech, minimalism. By attaching wheels to the legs of the table, you can easily move it around the house.

Such tables look good in various interior styles. Using a mirror as a tabletop allows, on the one hand, to prevent scratches, and on the other hand, makes the structure fragile and susceptible to strong mechanical influences.

Mirror surfaces are afraid of high temperatures, high humidity and direct sunlight.

A mirror surface is used as a tabletop for this table.

How the infinity illusion works

The illusion of an endless tunnel is created by reflecting a light source in two mirror surfaces at the same time.

Due to the fact that light has the property of scattering, the effect of its gradual attenuation is created somewhere in the depths.

Due to the peculiar reflection of light, such tables create the illusion of an endless tunnel. An important condition for creating such an illusion is selecting the correct distance between the mirrors. Experts recommend installing mirrors at a distance of approximately 8 cm from each other.

How to do it yourself?

Your task is to create a flat reflective surface, looking at which the optical illusion of an infinite mirror will appear. To make it you will need :

• Mirrors (2 pcs).
• Light source.

Naturally, you can always resort to the ancient methods of our grandmothers and build an open mirror system in which the focus of the viewer's gaze will be parallel to the mirror planes. In this case, the height of the lamp will be equal to the width of the reflective surface, which a priori will not be very convenient.

Our goal is a mirror plane that will not reduce the height of the room. To create it, you need a closed-type optical system, in which a person’s gaze will be directed perpendicular to the mirror surfaces.

One of the mirrors must allow a portion of photon ducts from the light source to pass through; if you do not follow this point, you will not be able to make and see an infinite mirror.

To make your own light well you will need:

• light source;
• a mirror that reflects only on one side;
• glass, which partly has a reflective effect;
• a design with which it will be possible to maintain mirror surfaces at a distance of 1-2 cm from each other.

Implementation of 3D design

You can build a structure with the optical illusion effect of an “infinity mirror” in different ways, depending on the type, quantity and quality of materials you have. Further in the article you will learn one of the simplest ways to create a light tunnel.

Mirror surface

To begin, purchase a classic mirror (you can cut an existing one to the required size). Then, the question arises - where can I get a second reflective surface with a partial mirror effect?

The answer is quite simple - you will need glass with a density of 3-4 mm; a translucent reflective surface can be obtained by covering it with automotive window tinting film. The ideal option is a film that transmits 50% of light.

Frame

To make a base that will hold the mirror system, purchase wooden blocks, the sides of which will be 2-3 cm. In order to efficiently and reliably attach such a frame to the mirror surface, use a silicone-based sealant, ideally if it is colorless.

Before you start working, you need to make a hole in the frame made of wooden blocks using a drill, which will be parallel to the mirror plane. Through the hole you need to pass the power supplies of the diode wire .

Do not rush to attach all the slats at the same time; glue them one by one, parallelly aligning the bars along the outer edges of the mirror surface.

Source

After completing the assembly process, the cavity of the optical illusion system will become airtight and as airtight as possible.

The only light source in such a system can be one that does not emit heat. The most suitable option for such a design is a strip with LEDs, ideally RGB - it will allow you to create various optical effects in the tunnel.

Also pay attention to the operating voltage rating of the LED strip , it should be equal to 24 volts. Such tapes are among the brightest, which will allow them to penetrate as much as possible through such an obstacle as a tint film.

Assembly

Let's take a step-by-step look at the process of assembling a light tunnel. You are required to be extremely careful, attentive, and have all of the following materials at hand.

1. Armed with silicone sealant, glue the frame slats one by one to the mirror (from the side of the reflective surface).
2. Take the RGB LED strip and carefully attach it to the surface of the frame from the inside, pass the power cord through the hole in the rail, which must be made before assembling the frame.
3. Cut a piece of tint film that matches the width of the frame structure.
4. Apply silicone-based sealant to the wooden frame, then place the glass covered with film on top so that it rests with the mirror side inside.

And finally, the final stage of assembling the structure. In it you will learn what to do with the ends that are left open, and what is needed to close the wooden frame.

1. If the wooden blocks were well processed and the work was done carefully, you can simply paint them over, choosing the appropriate shade.
2. If your interior is made in Hi-Tech style, you can decorate the light tunnel stylishly and beautifully using a regular aluminum profile.
3. Also, the ends of the wooden frame can be covered using a plastic cable duct, after first removing the cover.

Silicone-based sealant is ideal for fastening all of the above materials.

Belt design options

The simplest option for placing an LED strip is to run it along the entire perimeter of the wooden frame. The visual effect with this arrangement will look like many identical rows of light standing one after another.

If you want to make a more interesting and effective light tunnel, attach several geometric or some other shapes to the mirror surface using sealant; they must be made from the same wooden slats.

Attach a strip of LEDs around the entire perimeter of your inserts . Be sure to pay attention to ensure that its length is a multiple of the distance between all mounting points along which it will be possible to cut in the right place.

Using a diamond-coated drill, you need to make a hole in the mirror and pass the light source power wire through it.

Connecting LED strip

When the RGB LED strip is connected directly to the power supply, it will emit white light. When connected using a controller, you can create a variety of color effects. This control device works in tandem with a remote control . But if you want to see color music, you need to choose models that are compatible with a computer.

Is it possible to make a table with an infinity effect with your own hands?

A similar model can be ordered on the Internet, but it is quite expensive, so it is better to try to make it yourself. Making a table with an infinity effect with your own hands is not difficult, but it will require you to have minimal skills in working with wood and glass, and some skills in working with tools. It is also necessary to understand the principle and diagram of connecting LED strips.

It is quite possible to make such an original table at home with your own hands.

Examples of finished tables

Let's consider what tables with a 3D effect can be and how they look in the interior.

1. A neat wooden table with white LEDs that give off a light blue tint.

Table with white LEDs.

1. Low wooden table with green and olive LEDs. Shades of green and wood combine harmoniously with each other.

Table with green lighting.

1. A futuristic table with lilac diodes is complemented by three details that create the effect of endless columns.

Table with lilac lighting.

1. Tables can be of any shape, for example, as in the photo - in the form of a cylinder. The silver color of the case goes well with the white LEDs.

Cylindrical table with white diodes.

1. In the next example we see a beautiful combination of red LEDs and dark wood.

Table with red LEDs.

1. In conclusion, consider a table made of dark wood with white LEDs on a blue background.

3D table with blue background.

Thus, we learned how to make a table with an infinity effect with our own hands. The cost of such an exclusive item will be small, but the effect will be stunning!

Video: making a table with an infinity effect.

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What tools and materials will be needed

You can make an infinity table from mirrors and lighting from any regular table you have at home, removing the standard tabletop.

The first step is to remove the old countertop from the table. If you want to create a table from scratch, then you will need:

• material (chipboard, MDF, plywood or wood);
• self-tapping screws;
• mirror;
• translucent mirror or glass with a mirror film attached;
• sandpaper (or sanding machine);
• Super glue;
• LED strip with programmer, microcontroller, wires and power supply.

As an alternative to the LED strip, you can use a regular New Year's garland, then accordingly there will be no need for other lighting equipment.

If desired, the LED strip can be replaced with a regular New Year's garland. Wood as a table material will look richer, but will also cost more. It is also more durable than chipboard or MDF and is not subject to rotting. It is worth noting the high environmental friendliness of wood. It is best to choose red LEDs, since their light scatters the least and, accordingly, the depth of the tunnel will be greater.

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

Prepare all tools and materials for work in advance. Find a drawing on the Internet on special forums with the indicated dimensions of all parts. And then we will look in detail at how to make a table with an infinity effect with your own hands.

Create a box

The bottom of the tabletop box will be a sheet of plywood or chipboard. It is necessary to screw 4 boards to it along the outer perimeter, and at a distance of 5 centimeters from the edge there are four more boards. Thus, the boards should form 2 rectangles, one placed inside the other. There should be a small gap between them, sufficient for laying the wires.

When making a box, do not forget to first clean the boards with sandpaper or treat them with a sanding machine.

All parts of the table and its frame must be smoothly sanded. After the box is ready, coat it with varnish and leave to dry.

Selection of mirrors and their installation

Glue the mirror face up to the bottom of the box you assembled. Please note that it must completely match the dimensions of the inner rectangle of the box. Installation of the upper translucent mirror is carried out after placing the LEDs.

The mirror cover is mounted on the table only after all the LEDs have already been placed.

Installing the backlight

Glue the LED strip to the inside of the small rectangle of the box. Lay the wires coming from the LED strip into the gap left between the rectangles. The wires from the lighting can be routed inside one of the legs for a more aesthetic appearance of the entire structure.

The LED strip is glued to the inside of a small rectangle of the box.

Glass fastening

Glue an overlay wooden frame with wide edges. Its external dimensions must exceed the external dimensions of the table box, and its internal dimensions must be smaller than the dimensions of the rectangle on which the LED strip is attached. After making the frame, grooves must be made along its inner edge, the height matching the thickness of the translucent mirror. Place a translucent mirror in the resulting grooves, reflective side down.

The translucent mirror is attached with the reflective side down. You can secure it with glue. Screw the overlay frame with the installed mirror to the table frame using fasteners with decorative heads. That's all, the coffee table with the infinity effect is made by hand.

Rules for assembling the structure

All wooden parts of the table must be smoothly sanded and free from any irregularities in the form of chips or burrs.

Remove the protective film from mirrors and glass only after completing all work. To avoid short circuits, follow all safety rules when working with electricity. Carefully study the diagram for connecting the LED strip to the power supply.

The wood glue you will use to make the table should be waterproof.

When assembling the table, use only waterproof wood glue.

Tabletop assembly procedure

First, a frame (sidewall) of the future structure is assembled from 4 boards using self-tapping screws, then this frame is glued on top of the mirror, on its front side. In this case, the size of the frame must correspond to the dimensions of the mirror.

At the next stage, you assemble the frame with LEDs yourself. The outer diameter of the frame can be equal to or greater than the outer diameter of the frame, but the inner diameter should be 1-2 cm less than the inner diameter of the frame on each side. When the frame is ready, an LED strip is attached to its bottom side along the inner edge. The frame is then attached to the sides with screws. Holes are drilled in the frame through which the wires are routed out.

When all this work is completed, all that remains is to attach the translucent mirror to the frame. It is screwed with special screws. It is advisable to choose screws that can be removed without much difficulty (in case the LEDs need to be replaced). Craftsmen recommend attaching small strips to the edges of the frame, which in height form a single plane with the glass. At the final stage of work, it will be possible to attach an upper frame to these planks, ensuring reliable fixation of the tabletop.

Not every craftsman can equip a table with such a mirror, because this material is quite rare. Many furniture makers use plexiglass and self-adhesive mirror film, which is applied to the bottom surface of the glass (the one that will be facing the mirror).

Mirror-coated glass is also popular, but it needs to be chosen correctly. You can determine whether mirror-coated glass is suitable for making a coffee table with an infinity effect in the following way: you should place a piece of mirror and a piece of glass in parallel, and place any light source between them and visually evaluate the effect.

Another affordable option, which is often preferred by novice craftsmen, is the use of ordinary window glass. But in this case it will not be possible to achieve a sufficient depth of the endless tunnel. In addition, the observer will be able to see everything inside the table.

Interesting options for tables with lighting

Instead of LED strips, you can use other light sources. For example, LED lamps are more suitable for large tables. And if you use neon lamps in the design, the light from them will be soft and unusual. The backlight can be either single color or combined. You can install a controller that allows you to select a constant or flashing operating mode.

In addition to monochromatic lighting, you can use combined lighting for tables with an infinity effect. In addition to using LEDs around the perimeter of the table, you can place LEDs on other shapes. For example, if you place several round figures with LED backlighting in the center of the table, then when the backlight is turned on, the visual effect of columns will appear, continuing endlessly. In addition to using this effect on a coffee table, you can also use it on a kitchen or work table.

A table with an infinity effect is a new and not very common type. Therefore, such an interior element will surprise your guests for a long time.

How to use in the interior

Despite the name, this design is not used as a mirror. It is suitable for decorating home and commercial premises. Visually enlarges the space and brings a touch of hi-tech to any interior. And thanks to the color, it can support the main shades of the design.

Straight and curved bevels on the mirror - what are they and what are they for?

Infinity mirrors are installed in clubs, bars, and restaurants. The effect is applicable for creating interesting tabletops, bar counters, and large installations. Increasingly, such products decorate commercial premises, showrooms and offices. There are original solutions where the effect is embodied in the steps of spiral staircases and on the floor of elevators. You can do it in the following styles:

• minimalism;
• pop Art;
• techno;
• high tech.

The mirror surface can be round, oval, square, rectangular, pentagonal or hexagonal. The effect of an infinity mirror also depends on the shape of the frame. Designers use additional elements inside to enhance the illusion, creating the feeling of endless columns standing inside. You can assemble a simple structure for your home.

In the interior, the system is used as an LED lamp, a full-fledged light source, and additional lighting. More often used as a decorative element that does not carry a functional load. It can be an independent piece or be part of a coffee table, table, bar counter, or exhibition display.

Such mirrors are used in the interiors of premium cars, on the ceilings of limousines, in racks with champagne and glasses. In this case, the installations are supplemented with long LED strips along the outer border.

The infinity effect is used in exhibition halls and galleries. It is used to decorate specific compositions, as an accompanying art object. In contemporary art galleries, mirrors are widely used for zoning, separating one exhibition from another. Another function is to enhance the effect of light shows.

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