LED strip lights work great to create a modern and sleek ambiance. But where or in which locations of your home should you install these fixtures for the best result? 

The flat and slim-fit design of the LED strip light makes them suitable to install at any location of your home. You can use them on the ceiling as cove lighting for ambient lighting or place them under the cabinet for accent lighting. Besides, there are many creative ideas for placing these fixtures to enhance the look of your house. For instance, install them under the bed, beneath the TV/computer screen, on the foot of stairs, kitchen cabinet, and more. Waterproof LED strips are also available, which you can use for outdoor areas of the house like- the terrace, balcony, or swimming pools.  

Therefore, I have shared my top 25 favorite locations where you can attach the strip to make your place look more stylish. Not only that, I will also discuss the method of installation, safety tips, etc. So, let’s get started– 

Why To Use LED Strip Lighting?

Besides adding a modern touch to your interior, LED strips bring many advantages. These are as follows- 

• Energy-efficient: LED strips are more energy-efficient compared to incandescent bulbs. This makes them an excellent way to minimize their carbon footprint and reduce electricity bills. Hence, by switching to LED strips, you can enhance energy efficiency by 60-70%. This way, the expenditure on electricity bills will also be reduced by many times.

• Versatile: The flexibility of LED strip lights makes them ideal for versatile applications. These tape-like fixtures are cuttable, so you can easily size them to fit any corner of your house. Whether it’s for the general lighting of your bedroom or the accent light of the stairs, these fixtures stand out for all lighting purposes. Apart from these, LED strips are available in high IP ratings, which are suitable for areas that come in contact with water. For instance, you can use them in the washroom of your house or in the pool area. To learn more, check this- A Guide to Waterproof LED Strip Lights.

• Easy to install: One of the main reasons to choose an LED strip for a home is its easy installation method. These fixtures come with an adhesive backing that you can quickly peel off and press to the surface. The cut markings on the strip further make it convenient for the newbies to detect the safe points to make cuts. Thus, you can install these fixtures without the help of any professionals. Check this to learn about different methods of LED strip installation- Installing LED Flex Strips: Mounting Techniques. 

• Do not overheat: LEDs produce less heat than conventional bulbs. It means they are the safest lights to use around pets and kids. Therefore, lower heat eliminates the risk of causing fire or destroying the fixture and everything connected to it. Check Do LED Strip Lights Get Hot? to learn more about heat.

• Long-lasting: Where traditional fixtures like incandescent lights last for 1000 hours, LED strips can run for 50,000 hours or longer. That means you can use the same installation for years without changing a bulb. It further uses less energy to produce lumen ratings equivalent to traditional lights. Thus, using LED strip lights will not only save you from the hassle of frequent light replacement but also save your electricity bills. 

Selecting The Best LED Strips

Let’s see some of the common features you need to consider while choosing the best LED strip lights–

Length: LED strips usually come in 5 meters/reel; you can then cut them to your required size. However, for large installations, you will find longer LED strips that can be 60m/reel or even longer. These LED strips are of high voltage and suitable for long stairway lighting in your house. Though low-voltage LED strips are suitable for residential lighting, they often cause voltage drop issues for long runs. That is why you must analyze the area of your space and then decide on the length of the strips to buy. Check our 48V Super Long LED Strip series for a large installation. To learn more about LED strip lengths, I suggest you read this- What Are the Longest LED Strip Lights?

Color: Do you know the color of the light can affect your mood & health? If you install a cool white LED strip in your bedroom, it can hinder your sleep cycle. So, for bedrooms, dim-to-warm LED strip lights are the best choices. The soft, cozy, warm lighting of these fixtures helps you to sleep better. To learn more about suitable light colors for the bedroom, check this- How To Choose A Bedroom Lighting Color Temperature? However, you can also choose tunable white LED strips for the general lighting of your entire home. This allows you to adjust the CCT from warm to cool lights as per your mood. Again, if you want colorful lighting for your house, go for RGB LED strips. Using these fixtures, you can create up to 16 millions of hues! These are perfect for gaming rooms, stair lighting, or even your bedroom to change light color for varying mood sets. This makes RGB LED strips the best choice for mood lighting. Below, I’m adding a chart to help you find the ideal color as per their influence on mood- 

Check this to get further assistance in choosing the right light color for your home- How To Use LED Light Colors For Different Moods?

LED Density: The overall appearance or the lighting output of the LED strip greatly depends on its density. Here, density refers to the number of LED chips per meter or per foot of an LED strip. Fixtures with high-density LEDs give an even and uniform lighting, whereas low-density LED strips create spot-like effects that don’t look appealing. So, for a seamless lighting effect, always go for high-density LED strips. However, if you have already bought a low-density one, try diffusers to get rid of the dot effects. 

Dimming Features: Having a dimming feature in your LED strips allows you to adjust the light intensity as required. For instance, if you have a headache or bad mood, you can lower the brightness of the lights and get some sleep or just lie down. Again, while working or reading, increase the brightness. The smart LED strips can be dimmed via remote control or your smartphone. Thus, you can quickly take advantage of this feature to create comfortable lighting at your home. 

Warranty: A reliable warranty is crucial when selecting LED strips. It reflects the manufacturer’s confidence in their product’s durability and performance. And the average warranty most of the companies provide is 3 to 5 years. Hence, you can get long-term satisfaction and peace of mind with a comprehensive warranty.

25 Locations To Install LED Strip Lights At Home 

You can use LED strip lights for both indoors and outdoors of your house. The slim fit design of these fixtures makes them suitable to install anywhere, it could be your garage, washroom, staircase, bedroom, kitchen, balcony, and more. In this section below, I have shared 25 creative places where you can install LED strips–

1. Behind Computers And TV 

One perfect place to install LED strip lights is behind your TV and computer screen. This way, they will include beauty and improve the visual experience of your screens. Besides, you can create the Halo effect by setting strip lights back on your screens if you have weak eyesight. It will make it easy to see and lower the light’s sharp contrast. Thus, illuminating your screens from behind will lessen eye stress while watching them in dark rooms. For instance, when you set an orange strip light back on your TV screens, it can help to bias the brain by mixing color behind and on the screen. At the same time, the white color is also biased. So, using those colors, you can get or maintain a healthy eye brightness level. 

2. Cove Lighting at The Corners Of The Ceilings 

Cove lighting is one of the most popular home applications of LED strips that works great as both ambiance and accent lighting. All you need to do is make a false ceiling just within the edges. It could be a wooden ceiling; you can also use a hardboard or whatever suits the interior of your house. This type of ceiling works great for bringing indirect illumination to your space. Take your LED strips and place them on the edges of the space between the main ceiling and the false ceiling you have created. Here, use high-density LED strips for a finished look. You should also use clips to secure them tightly to the walls. To learn details on such installation, check this-  How To Install LED Strip Lights on the Ceiling?

3. Under The Bed

The direct light of the night lamps can often be bothersome, affecting your mood. To avoid such glaring issues, installing LED strips under the bed can be a brilliant idea to implement. They will brighten the room; you can see around at night when needed. Besides, their smooth illumination won’t disturb your sleep. Plus, you can create romantic surroundings with them. The most usual benefits of strip lights are that they are cost-effective and long-lasting, so you can save time in the long run. This way, you can stop seeing the sharp glare of standard lights. Also, you don’t have to change the batteries. For more bedroom lighting ideas, check this- 35 LED Strip Ideas for the Bedroom.

4. Top, Over, And Under Of The Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets require brightening up correctly, and you can illuminate cabinets evenly with LED strip lights. These lights provide a finished look in your kitchen. Often, LED strips eliminate the need to switch on kitchen lights when you place them on top of the cabinet. Besides, you can also install strip lights over the upper side between the cabinet and the counter. This way, you will get enough visibility and a refined finish. 

Usually, this idea applies in cafes and restaurants to provide an artistic feel to the customer experience. In addition, installing LED strips under your cabinets allows for a broader dispersion of light, bringing a creative flair to the environment. Also, this setup conceals all connections beneath the cabinet. So, you can hide all the cables out of sight. However, if you have no idea and feel the hassle of selecting strip lights for kitchen cabinets, read this: How To Choose the LED Strip Lights For Kitchen Cabinets?

5. On Your Mirror Frame

Attaching strip lights around your mirror frame looks excellent and brings more illumination. With these ideas, you can feel more beautiful, boosting your confidence while getting ready. Therefore, you can set these lights on the four sides of your mirror to balance brightness. Also, they provide better reflection when you shave. This way, you can increase the lighting experience as well as the bathroom appearance. Besides, LED strip lights are durable and have anti-fog features. But as mirrors with pre-built lighting can be quite expensive, why not go for DIY mirror lighting with LED strips? However, you don’t have to hire a professional to attach strips to mirror frames. Instead, follow this guide: How to DIY LED light strips for Mirrors?

6. On The Terrace

Installing LED strip lights on your rooftop can bring an outstanding atmosphere to spend quality time with family or friends. You can install these lights on the railings of the stairs or on the edge of the roof floor. Besides, if you have plants on the rooftop, use LED strip lights to pop up the tubs. There are more creative ideas for rooftop lighting. For instance, you can create a floating effect on the seating zone of the stairs. In this case, you need to install these fixtures beneath the seats, keeping spaces from the outer corners. Choose bright white or blue light for the best watery effect. Yet, if you want to keep the place cozy, warm light is ok to go for. However, whatever light you choose, keep in mind that the fixtures in the terrace will come in direct contact with the adverse environment- storm, rainfall, dust, and dirt. So, purchase high IP-rated LED strips for this location. To learn more, check this- IP Rating: The Definitive Guide.

7. Along The Stairs

You may often struggle to see stairs while climbing them at night, which leads to accidents by falling from the stairs. In this case, LED strips are a brilliant choice to illuminate your staircase; you can install these fixtures to the railings, tread, or on the steps of your stairs. Besides, there are more creative options to make the stairs more attractive. For more ideas, check this- 16 Stair Lighting Ideas With LED Strip Lights.

8. Corner, Bottom, And Top Of Shelves

LED strip lights enhance the visual appeal of multi-tiered shelves, providing an aura of elegance. Installing LED strips to the shelves works as accent lighting and highlights the decorative pieces you keep on the shelves. For instance, using LED strips on the crockery shelves gives a clear visual of your plates or glass collections. Again, you can add them to the closet shelves to help you find clothes faster. As LED strips are flexible, you can easily fit them on the corner, bottom, or on top of the shelves- whichever suits your home best. Check out this- Top 29 Brilliant Shelf/closet Lighting Ideas for more ideas.

9. Beautify The Garden

If you want to bring a magical effect to your garden, go for an LED strip light. You can mount them around the plant beds of the garden or around the plant tubs. Besides, the pavements or the edges of the pathways of gardens are also brilliant locations to install these lights. Instead of basic, white LED strips, you can also go for colorful options with RGB LED strips. However, as the garden area continuously comes in direct contact with water, the LED strips you choose must be of a higher IP rating. Read this article if you want ideas for Top 20 Creative Landscape Lighting Ideas.

10. On The Furniture

Don’t know what to do with the boring furniture in your home? No worries! You can use LED strip lights to beautify, display, or highlight several pieces. And as these stripes don’t get overheated, they won’t burn your furniture. You can install them beneath the bed, sofa, or any seating zone to create a floating effect. The material and color of the furniture are also crucial factors to consider here. For instance, in wooden furniture, warm LED strips suit best. Again, if you have shiny metal furniture, avoid using LED stripes that are too bright, which can cause reflective issues. 

11. Decking Lighting

If you have large open spaces in your house, you surely would love to have a deck to enjoy outdoor views. Whether it’s a small or a large deck, lighting is important. Strip lights are one of the easiest ways to enhance the safety of the decking place. Therefore, install LED strips around the decking lines to provide warm lights and raise awareness of the seating location. When you have stairs on the decking, you can set lights under every step to make it simple to see your steps during the night.

12. Hot Tub Lighting 

Want to experience a magical hot bath on summer nights? Light up your hot tubs with LED strips to create a relaxing ambiance while you bathe. Although you can go with overhead and spotlights, they are harsh and don’t give the soft ambiance you want for relaxation. Therefore, LED strips are the best option to go for indirect lighting. To bring more fun, go for addressable LED strips. You can sync these fixtures with music and have a party vibe each time you bathe. 

13. Zone Open Plan Areas

Using lighting effectively, you can significantly change the ambiance and appearance of your home. LED lighting is an excellent option for this, as it comes with diverse color options and simple installation. It can be set in various sections within your house. Most of the home now has living space with an open plan incorporating the kitchen, dining, and living areas mixed into one place. This is good for family time, though often you may want to highlight one area or arrange each room with multiple lights. In that case, you can use color-changing strip lights as they provide different spaces and atmospheres. Also, you can bring all the places together by setting the same color. For instance, when you arrange a party, you want to brighten the kitchen while putting a softer glow on the TV space. Or, for dinner, you can catch eyes on the table and away from the kitchen area.  

14. Living Room

Lighting the living room is most important as this is central to the house where you relax and have a chat with your family members. So, installing LED strip lights can make this place look more inviting and cozy. For example, you can choose vibrant colors or cool lights for an average time when hosting a party. Also, using the dimming option, you can change the color tone based on your needs and moods. You can put these lights on the ceiling; this way, you can make the room beautiful but hide the light itself. Also, LED strips can brighten up the hidden places on the wall’s inner side, corners, and curtains. For more ideas, read this Top 48 Creative Living Room Lighting Ideas. 

15. Bookshelf Lighting

Place LED strip lights along the bookcase to illuminate the entire shelf. This will make it easy to locate your desired book on a tranquil evening. Simultaneously, the gentle and warm glow of the whole bookcase enhances the presentation of books or decorations when LED strips are installed on the shelves. Even when the central lights are off, you won’t have any problem searching for the desired book. Furthermore, you can showcase books and make the shelves eye-catching for guests. This way, you can get some praise and ideas to make conversations ahead.  

16. Home Office

Do you work from home? Or have a working station? Then, you can illuminate the place by setting up LED strip lights beneath your home desk or workstation to alleviate eye strain and enhance focus. Alternatively, position them behind a desk or underneath a shelf for functional and stylish lighting. Also, you can set cool color LEDs so that you can feel energy and do more work without getting tired. So, these lights can help you to get more productive. Plus, you can use color-changing LED strips to tailor the lighting to your tasks or mood. With easy installation, LED strips elevate your home office, blending functionality with aesthetics for an inspiring and comfortable workspace. To learn more, check this- Office Lighting: The Definitive Guide. 

17. DIY Home Theater

If you own a home theater for watching movies with dear ones, why not elevate the space with smart LED strip lights? These lights can provide intercity and immersive scenes for your spare time. Also, these lights have a wide range of color options. You can change the mood color while watching movies from different genres. For example, for action movies, you set some bright illumination; on the other hand, you set soft light for thriller movies to create a more suspicious look. 

18. Room Corridor

A corridor is the space that links different rooms of your house. So, lighting up this space is essential to bring sufficient illumination to your space, aiding in better visibility at night. Hidden LED strip lighting in the corridor is the best option here. It brings a soft illumination without creating direct glare. Thus, even if you come out of the room at night, you won’t find the corridor dark. Also, you can install dimmable strips to create a soft glow during nighttime. Plus, most of the corridors can be dark in the daytime due to lack of sunlight. So, using LEDs, you can brighten up the corridor in the daytime and enjoy the illumination environment. 

19. Wardrobe Lighting

For brightening up your wardrobe or closet, you can add LED strips. This is a modern method of lighting. With it, you can find clothes more quickly and easily and create an elegant feel. Also, you can add a motion sensor with your LED lights, which is convenient. It is made sure that the lights turn on automatically when you open the wardrobe doors, providing hands-free illumination. Also, you don’t have to walk in a dark wardrobe again. 

20. Outdoor Seating Areas

You can use LED strip lights for outdoor areas of your house; this could be a seating area in the garden or on the terrace/balcony. These lights can bring a more decorative look, which is perfect for a party. For this, you need to use the waterproof strips option and adjust the lights for different purposes. 

21. Picture frames

You can enhance the visual appeal of your photos, artwork, and prints by incorporating LED strips onto the back of an existing frame or crafting a new one. This not only makes your creations more illuminated but also ensures safety. LEDs do not produce heat, allowing for the secure display of any piece.

22. Children’s Bedroom Ideas

Install LED strips to fulfill your child’s desire for a unique touch in their bedroom. Often, lava lamps and posters are not sufficient for your kids. But color-changing LED strip lights are likely to be a delightful addition. Whether you place them along the skirting boards or on their bed frame, LED tape provides a safe avenue for your children to express themselves. Therefore, with these lights, you can make your child’s room like a mystery and dream, which kids love most.

23. Home Gym

Installing LED strip lights in your home gym can transform the space into a motivating and energizing workout environment. You can place LED strips along the walls or equipment. This will provide ample illumination for creating a perfect atmosphere. Besides, the customizable color options of LED strips allow you to set the mood for different workout routines. Also, with their adjustable option and temporary installation, you can experiment and find your perfect place. So, you can enjoy the well-lit surroundings as you pursue your fitness goals. Whether it’s an early-morning workout or a late-night exercise session doesn’t matter.

24. Window Sills

You can add an LED strip to your window sills, which is a creative and ambient lighting solution. This way, you can increase your room’s illumination and overall visual appeal, specifically during the evening. The soft glow of LEDs can make your window look more aesthetic and make your room look more attractive. Also, you can choose warm tones for a relaxing ambiance or vibrant colors for a festive touch. So, installing LEDs around your window sills can make a style better than conventional windows.

25. Garage Workspace

Upgrade your garage workspace with LED strip lights. You can mount strips under cabinets, on workbenches, or along tool racks that provide focused and bright illumination for various tasks. And with the enhanced visibility, you can get efficiency and safety during DIY projects or car maintenance. As LED strips are durable and energy-efficient, they make it an ideal choice for a well-lit and cost-effective garage workspace. Also, you can find motion sensor lighting options useful for the garage. So when you enter it, the lights automatically turn on and illuminate the garage while cars are parking. 

Methods Of Installing LED Strip Lights 

Adhesive Mounting: This is the most common and most straightforward way to mount strips on surfaces. All you need to do is peel off the double-sided tape and stick it in your desired place. There are many types of adhesive mounting available; choose one from 3M 200MP, 3M 9080, 3M 300MP, 3M VHB 5608N, Blue Thermal Tape, and Tesa 4965. But usually, LED strips come with an adhesive backing, so you need not worry about additional purchase of these tapes. Although they are easy and cost-effective techniques, they can often damage the surface when removing the tape. 

Clip Mounting: With the clip mounting, you can set LED strips on the surface with metallic or plastic clips. This is more stable and stronger than the adhesive method. And this technique requires nailing, drilling, etc. Besides, you can find any type of LED strip on the market, such as one-sided bracket fixing clips, clips with adhesive backing, angle adjust clips, and e-clips. 

Channel Mounting: This is another method for installing LED strips. It provides perfect visibility for residential and commercial mounting. Also, channel mounting can save your strips from dirt, dust, and other particles. There are many types, for example, Diffuser, Standard, and Serrated aluminum channels. For a detailed description, follow this: Installing LED Flex Strips: Mounting Techniques.

How Do You Install LED Strip Lights at Home?

To install LED strip lights, you need to choose the perfect location first. Then, think about whether the place is outdoor or indoor based on the area you have selected the strips and mounting ideas. Next, gather the necessary items, including a scissor, measuring tape, LED strip connectors, LED driver, and LED controller. Also, you need to measure the location and strip size and make a cut for perfect lengths. After that, mount the strip on the desired surface by peeling off the adhesive from the back of the lights. Now power it up and enjoy the glowing stripes. For detailed guidelines, click this: How To Install And Use LED Strip Lights?

LED Strip Lights Installation Safety Tips 

The first thing you have to do is use an appropriate power supply. Otherwise, it can lead to an accident by damaging the lighting system. Then, you need to use the correct connection with a guarantee of secure attachment. Also, you need to measure the space perfectly where you will set the lights. At the same time, cut the strip perfectly to match the place. For confirmation, you can double-check the measurement, as the wrong measurements are common. Besides, check the voltage rating of the power source matches that of the LED Strip. If you need information with deep analysis, read this 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Installing LED Strip Lighting.

FAQs

Conclusion

LED strip lights are versatile and can fit almost any location in your home. But wherever you install, make sure to check the environment of the room. For instance, if you’re placing these fixtures in the bathroom, terrace, or any other outdoor area of your home, get strip lights with a higher IP rating. This will ensure your fixture remains protected even in heavy water contact, i.e., rainfall. 

However, when installing LED strips in narrow locations, choose an LED strip with minimal width. This will help you to bend them well to fit tight spaces. Besides, consider the ambiance of your location when choosing the right color LED strip. For example- dim-to-warm and tunable white LED strip lights work best for home as they come with adjustable CCT. But you can also use RGB LED strips for a colorful effect. For installing fixtures in locations like- beneath the TV home theater, addressable LED strips are excellent choices as they can sync with the music/sound system. So, whatever LED strip variant you choose is all available in LEDYi. Therefore, for the best quality and reliable light solution, place your order ASAP!