LED strip lights are versatile fixtures that you can use to light up several places in your home. Like other lighting fixtures, it is best to place them high on the walls or upper surfaces to achieve the best lighting effect. Because of that, we will look at LED strips on the ceiling, including how you can install and hide them high up in your interior spaces. Take a look!
Why Should You Install LED Strip Lights on the Ceiling?
Installing LED strip lights gives the following benefits.
Improves Aesthetics
LED strip lights are thin and give a seamless appearance that looks almost natural. Additionally, you can use RGB color LEDs to add some pizzazz to your interior space.
Decorative LED strip lighting on a ceiling
Easy to Conceal Wires
Part of the seamless appearance includes hiding wires from view. Since the wire is at the end of the strip, you can hide it using a curtain or paint/tape them to match the ceiling/wall color. The cables are even easier to hide if you have a false ceiling.
Connecting wires at the end of a strip light
Flexibility
Light strips have the advantage of being trimmable. Therefore, you can use a pair of scissors to cut them to size to fit the available slot. Also, you can join several strips to form a longer one.
LED strip light strimming using a pair of scissors
Several Mounting Options
You can use double-sided tape, staples, glue, magnetic tape, etc., to mount these light sources.
Easy to Control
Many strip/rope lights come with remote controls for on/off switching, color changing, timer setting, brightness level adjustment, etc. The remote control range can go up to around 30 feet, so you can easily control the lights from your seat.
Remote control for RGB LED strip lights
Safe
LEDs don’t warm as much as incandescent bulbs. Therefore, they don’t pose any risk of fire or any other issues associated with heat.
Affordable
LEDs are affordable in the following three ways.
- They are cheaper to buy than other light sources
- They are more energy efficient
- They last longer than incandescent or fluorescent lamps (you will get value for money)
Best Way To Hang LED Strip Lights
- Install the LED lights on a firm surface like a wooden board or steel bar
- Use metal clamps, hooks, adhesive tape, etc., to fix the light securely on the surface
- Use a tape measure to determine the right strip light length to hang on the ceiling
- Ensure a proper and reliable tape light to power supply connection
- Consider adding a heat sink behind the tape lights, especially if they have a high lumen output and low ampere rating.
Where Should LED Strips Be Placed On Ceilings?
The starting point of the rolls of strip lights should be near power sources. If that is not the case, ensure you conceal the power cable or extension running from the power outlet to the LED strip light installation.
Use a power cord concealer cover or place the wire behind some furniture. Extension cables enable you to position the tape lights anywhere on the ceiling or distribute the strips evenly to create the best lighting effect.
Strip light cabling
Besides that, if you want to light up more of the ceiling, place the strips about 3-5 inches below the surface. However, to light up more of the wall, place them about a foot below to give more room for the LED to glow upwards.
Since LEDs produce a harsh glare, you should consider using a diffuser or placing them in the recessions of drop-down ceilings.
How To Install LED Strips On Ceilings: Step By Step Guide
Installing LED strips requires the following steps.
Step 1: Choose The Best Ceiling LED Strip Light
LED strip lights differ in several ways. These include the number of emitters per meter/foot, types of LED strip light, RGB/white color, wattage, brightness, and color temperature. Consider which parameters work best for your ceiling and indoor space, then pick the appropriate strip.
Step 2: Plan The Strip Light Route
Plan the path the strip light will pass through, considering the location of the power source, strip length, and well-ventilated spots along the ceiling.
Step 3: Cut/Join The Strips To Size
Unpack the strip light kit and cut the strip to size. After that, join several strips to fit the length of the various sections along the route plan. Remember to ensure the total LED strip energy consumption is lower or matches the watts of power from the source when joining the pieces.
An LED light strip before trimming
Step 4: Mount The Strips
LED strip lights have several mounting options. Depending on the ceiling surface, you can use double-sided tape, clips, mounting channels, coving, etc.
Double-sided tape is ideal for smooth ceilings or high-temperature areas. Clips are better for uneven surfaces but require some drilling. On the other hand, coving and mounting channels look more professional and can help diffuse the light.
Step 5: Conceal The Power Cable
After installation, cover the exposed power and extension cables to make the installation seamless and eliminate messiness.
Step 6: Connect The Strips To The Power Outlet
Lastly, connect the LED strips to the power source and power them to see if everything works.
How To Stick LED Strip Lights On A Wall
The process almost resembles the one above (ceiling installation). But wall sticking usually requires double-sided tape to attach the LEDs to a smooth wall.
LED strip light sticking using glue
Therefore, clean the wall surface using warm water or alcohol, then dry it using a lint-free towel. Next, peel off the adhesive backing, then position and press the strip for some time until it sticks.
How To Hide LED Light Strips On The Ceiling?
The following are the three ways to hide strip lights on ceilings.
LED Strips On Ceiling: Use a Coving
Ceiling coving creates extra space to install and hide your strips. A coving features a recession to place the strip and a raised lip to hide it from view. This installation blocks harsh light from hitting the room, creating a softer, mystical glow.
LED Strips On Ceiling: Drop Ceiling Installation
As the name suggests, a drop ceiling is a “fake” ceiling hanging below the primary one. It has several spots to tuck the strip lights from view, where you can mount the strip horizontally (to shine upwards) or vertically (to shine sideways).
LED strip lighting surrounding an ornate-style chandelier on a drop ceiling
LED Strips On Ceiling: Buy a Flexible LED Profile
Complete LED profiles house the LED strip and have a diffuser for the light to shine through. Therefore, in addition to hiding the LED strip, they create a soft glow in your indoor space.
A blue LED strip light in an aluminum channel diffuser
Summary
There you have it! Installing LED strips on ceilings is not such a challenging task. You can do it as a DIY project or call a certified electrician if you are not good with handy work. We hope this article has been insightful, and if you need LED strips for this project or have any questions/comments, contact us for more details.
