'Have you been working out?' asks the new Ikea mirror

Ikea has come up with a "Motivational Mirror" in a bid to boost self-esteem in the UK.

The bathroom accessory features interactive technology designed to prop up morale with compliments such as "Have you been working out?" and "Your eyes are mesmerising."

The mirror uses Kinect motion sensor technology combined with complex coding to offer personalised messages that are automatically triggered and delivered by a voice recording and text written on its surface.

The prototype furniture piece was recently tested out by the brand at one of its London stores, as part of a new pilot scheme to help improve the daily lives of "browbeaten homeowners" with tailored compliments.

The move followed research by Ikea which found that 49 percent of Brits receive no compliments in an average week, and 26 percent claim to feel insecure when they look in the mirror.

"We all know how that first look in the bathroom or bedroom mirror can determine whether we have a good or bad day," said Myriam Ruffo, Head of Bedrooms and Bathrooms at Ikea UK & Ireland.

"We believe that starting the day positively, by having a good night's sleep, quality time with loved ones, or a boost to our self-esteem, will have knock-on effects that shape not only the mood of the individual, but that of the nation."