Soft Ways to Use LED Strips to Bring Out the Beauty of Your Home
Go gentle with this clever lighting and use it to create an inviting atmosphere in your interiors. Here are some ideas
Kate Burt
24 October 2017
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and various magazines. I'm now excited to part of the editorial team at Houzz UK & Ireland, bringing the best of British and Irish design, interiors and architecture to Houzz.com.
Houzz UK. I'm a journalist and editor, previously for the Independent, Guardian and... More
LED strips are a brilliant addition to the modern design toolbox. They can be used to layer your lighting, to highlight a feature, show off a display, change the mood and much more. But so often they are used in super-contemporary spaces, or as part of a slick, glossy design… but if that’s not your style, keep reading as these ideas are all about how to make gentle use of this clever lighting technology.
Cast a glow
Just one of the details that gives this clean-lined, modern kitchen such a welcoming feel is the soft glow beneath the worktop seating area.
White LED lighting comes in various tones, from cool to warm illumination. Rather than give a futuristic lift to sharp edges, as can be the case with brighter LEDs in contemporary kitchens, this gentle warm white glow just adds depth and atmosphere.
Just one of the details that gives this clean-lined, modern kitchen such a welcoming feel is the soft glow beneath the worktop seating area.
White LED lighting comes in various tones, from cool to warm illumination. Rather than give a futuristic lift to sharp edges, as can be the case with brighter LEDs in contemporary kitchens, this gentle warm white glow just adds depth and atmosphere.
Uplift an attic
Rooms in the eaves of a house will often have an interesting architectural shape. Rather than try to minimise the effect of the slopes in this space, the designer has instead highlighted them. On the lower part of the ceiling, beams have been kept natural, while paintwork is pale, for a traditional look.
Less trad is the illuminated apex, which echoes the lines of the beams below and highlights the shape of the roof.
If you want your rustic or period room to feel more old than contemporary, do as these homeowners have and stick to just one LED strip feature. In this room, it’s tempting to light up every beam but, as this shows, it’s not necessary.
Rooms in the eaves of a house will often have an interesting architectural shape. Rather than try to minimise the effect of the slopes in this space, the designer has instead highlighted them. On the lower part of the ceiling, beams have been kept natural, while paintwork is pale, for a traditional look.
Less trad is the illuminated apex, which echoes the lines of the beams below and highlights the shape of the roof.
If you want your rustic or period room to feel more old than contemporary, do as these homeowners have and stick to just one LED strip feature. In this room, it’s tempting to light up every beam but, as this shows, it’s not necessary.
Create an architectural feature
In rooms with few details in their bare bones, consider adding some afresh.
Here, the designer has continued the oak flooring part of the way up the wall, then brought the wall above the boards out and painted it, adding a very warm, yellowish LED to the gap this creates. The effect changes the feel of the room and plays with its proportions. Unless you have a teeny tiny room, adding a panel to a wall can be an interesting way to gain architectural interest without aping period features. Especially useful for loft conversions, extensions or new builds where these would not be authentic.
Nose around the rest of this interesting mews house in London
In rooms with few details in their bare bones, consider adding some afresh.
Here, the designer has continued the oak flooring part of the way up the wall, then brought the wall above the boards out and painted it, adding a very warm, yellowish LED to the gap this creates. The effect changes the feel of the room and plays with its proportions. Unless you have a teeny tiny room, adding a panel to a wall can be an interesting way to gain architectural interest without aping period features. Especially useful for loft conversions, extensions or new builds where these would not be authentic.
Nose around the rest of this interesting mews house in London
Illuminate a display
For careful curators, it’s important to have the best backdrop for collections.
Shelving painted the same colour as your walls is a good way to go, since there will be nothing to distract the eye from the objects you want to show off. Here, two trios of box shelving either side of the chimney breast make for an elegant and unusual twist on the low, built-in cabinet topped with alcove shelves so many of us will be familiar with.
But what really turns this into a standout feature is the simple addition of LED strips at the top back of each box. It’s a tip that will really lift all sorts of shelves and cabinets, and is a simple job for an electrician.
For careful curators, it’s important to have the best backdrop for collections.
Shelving painted the same colour as your walls is a good way to go, since there will be nothing to distract the eye from the objects you want to show off. Here, two trios of box shelving either side of the chimney breast make for an elegant and unusual twist on the low, built-in cabinet topped with alcove shelves so many of us will be familiar with.
But what really turns this into a standout feature is the simple addition of LED strips at the top back of each box. It’s a tip that will really lift all sorts of shelves and cabinets, and is a simple job for an electrician.
A similar tactic has been taken with these bedroom shelves, albeit with strips in a slightly different position.
Note how dramatically different the effect is against warm brickwork. But you don’t need bare bricks – a wall simply painted a different colour will have just as big an impact. Try out some different testers on the backs of your shelves to see which colour looks best.
Note how dramatically different the effect is against warm brickwork. But you don’t need bare bricks – a wall simply painted a different colour will have just as big an impact. Try out some different testers on the backs of your shelves to see which colour looks best.
Show off your glassware
Here, a glass-fronted, vintage-style cabinet makes use of the same trick, but with the LED strips lighting up the shelves from the edges of the cupboard. Glasses always look good lit up, but will add texture rather than visual clutter to a room.
So, even if your home is full of secondhand treasures, heirlooms or antiques, don’t shy away from LEDs. As long as you choose the right tone, they will only show off your favourite things as well as adding another layer of mood lighting.
Here, a glass-fronted, vintage-style cabinet makes use of the same trick, but with the LED strips lighting up the shelves from the edges of the cupboard. Glasses always look good lit up, but will add texture rather than visual clutter to a room.
So, even if your home is full of secondhand treasures, heirlooms or antiques, don’t shy away from LEDs. As long as you choose the right tone, they will only show off your favourite things as well as adding another layer of mood lighting.
Here, coloured glassware also proves the point.
Not only has an LED strip created a feature out of that top shelf, it’s also highlighting the interesting juxtaposition of old – the raw, industrial ceiling – and new – the crisp, white wall.
If you have an open-plan space, or a room with interesting architectural elements, consider whether there are variations in wall surface or finish or alcoves that would look good shown off by some gentle LED illumination.
Not only has an LED strip created a feature out of that top shelf, it’s also highlighting the interesting juxtaposition of old – the raw, industrial ceiling – and new – the crisp, white wall.
If you have an open-plan space, or a room with interesting architectural elements, consider whether there are variations in wall surface or finish or alcoves that would look good shown off by some gentle LED illumination.
Boost your bedhead
Just imagine this calming bedroom after dark… What a welcoming glow you’d get, drawing you towards those pillows. It looks pretty good in daylight, too – with an LED strip behind the bed highlighting the shape of the wall space.
Here, a half wall has been constructed to add presence to the divan bed, provide a little shelf and also to house new electrics… including that LED strip at the back of the half wall. If you’re thinking of doing something similar, be sure to choose recessed LED strips so as to have a flush finish to your shelf.
Just imagine this calming bedroom after dark… What a welcoming glow you’d get, drawing you towards those pillows. It looks pretty good in daylight, too – with an LED strip behind the bed highlighting the shape of the wall space.
Here, a half wall has been constructed to add presence to the divan bed, provide a little shelf and also to house new electrics… including that LED strip at the back of the half wall. If you’re thinking of doing something similar, be sure to choose recessed LED strips so as to have a flush finish to your shelf.
Take it outside
It’s not hard to give a garden atmosphere with lighting after dark – illuminated foliage isn’t fussy and will simply look lovely with a few uplighters.
However, using light to zone off an area like this comfy outdoor lounging spot requires skilled designing to get the effect just right.
On the decked steps and bench, each layer slightly overhangs the area beneath it (a bit like the wall panel in the earlier photo), thus allowing space to tuck in an outdoor-suitable LED strip.
You may not have an area like this, but is there a bench or a dining area or a pergola that would look good highlighted like this? Ask a professional to come have a look and give you some options.
It’s not hard to give a garden atmosphere with lighting after dark – illuminated foliage isn’t fussy and will simply look lovely with a few uplighters.
However, using light to zone off an area like this comfy outdoor lounging spot requires skilled designing to get the effect just right.
On the decked steps and bench, each layer slightly overhangs the area beneath it (a bit like the wall panel in the earlier photo), thus allowing space to tuck in an outdoor-suitable LED strip.
You may not have an area like this, but is there a bench or a dining area or a pergola that would look good highlighted like this? Ask a professional to come have a look and give you some options.
Let your tiles twinkle
LED, as already mentioned, is often associated with gleaming, contemporary designs, or in homes packed with high-tech tricks controllable from your phone. All that is possible in older homes, too, but LED strips are way simpler. They also look great with classic details, such as these Victorian-style blue and white tiles.
Recessed shelves, or niches, just like the box shelves shown earlier, lend themselves well to a strip of light at the back. And, again, the function of the light here is simply to show off a decorative feature, rather than to provide task lighting, so ensure you build that in too.
All fittings will need to have a suitable IP rating to be safe for bathroom use.
LED, as already mentioned, is often associated with gleaming, contemporary designs, or in homes packed with high-tech tricks controllable from your phone. All that is possible in older homes, too, but LED strips are way simpler. They also look great with classic details, such as these Victorian-style blue and white tiles.
Recessed shelves, or niches, just like the box shelves shown earlier, lend themselves well to a strip of light at the back. And, again, the function of the light here is simply to show off a decorative feature, rather than to provide task lighting, so ensure you build that in too.
All fittings will need to have a suitable IP rating to be safe for bathroom use.
Light your way
Stairs tend to be quite easy to enhance with LED lighting, as there are many components that can be illuminated. Here, a slight overhang in the treads means there’s a spot perfect for tucking LED strips, which washes each riser with a gentle glow.
This is a nice touch for creating an atmospheric entry – rather than having hall and landing lights on, you can simply guide evening visitors up the stairs using the stairs themselves. Tealights in jars on every step would provide a similar service, but once this is in place, it’s effortlessly permanent.
Do consider where the most practical spot for your switch for these lights to be and whether you’ll need one on each landing.
Stairs tend to be quite easy to enhance with LED lighting, as there are many components that can be illuminated. Here, a slight overhang in the treads means there’s a spot perfect for tucking LED strips, which washes each riser with a gentle glow.
This is a nice touch for creating an atmospheric entry – rather than having hall and landing lights on, you can simply guide evening visitors up the stairs using the stairs themselves. Tealights in jars on every step would provide a similar service, but once this is in place, it’s effortlessly permanent.
Do consider where the most practical spot for your switch for these lights to be and whether you’ll need one on each landing.
Go for all-out drama
Choose just the wrong shade in just the wrong spot, and coloured LEDs can have a dramatically chilly effect on an interior. Here, however, the layers of blues reds and pinks conjure up a cocoon-like effect and the hall feels warm and welcoming – though perhaps not for the design-shy.
Let layers of light be your friend – do lots of research, picking out warm, inviting spaces lit with coloured LEDs and those that feel cooler and less friendly – let the former shape the brief to your electrician, or hire a great lighting designer.
Check out reviews of lighting designers near you
Do you have LED strips in your home? Tell us where – and share any tips in the Comments section.
Choose just the wrong shade in just the wrong spot, and coloured LEDs can have a dramatically chilly effect on an interior. Here, however, the layers of blues reds and pinks conjure up a cocoon-like effect and the hall feels warm and welcoming – though perhaps not for the design-shy.
Let layers of light be your friend – do lots of research, picking out warm, inviting spaces lit with coloured LEDs and those that feel cooler and less friendly – let the former shape the brief to your electrician, or hire a great lighting designer.
Check out reviews of lighting designers near you
Do you have LED strips in your home? Tell us where – and share any tips in the Comments section.
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