7 Factors to Consider Before Buying LED Strip Lighting

Lights are a major part of any home, in fact, they contribute 20% of an average's homes energy use. 

The right lights can change the whole look and feel of a room. The simple addition of LED strip lighting can add interest, change the mood, or make tasks easier. These small lights have a big impact. 

But you want to make sure you're getting the right thing before purchasing. Read on to find our full list of what to consider when making an LED purchase. 

1. Potential Location of Lights

One of the first things to consider before purchasing LEDs is the locations for lights you're wanting. This will be a major deciding factor in which type of light you need.

If you're trying to achieve some extra mood lighting, strip lighting could very well be your answer. These small lights can be placed around the perimeter of a room or even just around a special feature in the space. Giving it a fun vibe. 

Stip lighting is also great for accenting shelves in either a pantry or closet. When they are placed on the underside of a shelf it makes the contents of the next shelf easier to view. 

Before choosing strip lighting you'll want to make sure these small lights can do the job you're looking for. 

2. Necessary Brightness

The next thing to consider is how bright you'll need these lights to be. That level can completely change which lights will work for you. 

How bright a bulb is can actually be kind of a complicated question, there are a lot of factors that go into that. The color, temperature, and lumens all contribute to the end result you see when the light is on. 

Finding just the right brightness can take some trial and error. But you can work with a lighting professional to get just the right shade the first time. 

Strip lighting is available in many different brightness levels and, often, can be customized as well. 

3. Installation Process

Before any purchase, you want to have a solid plan for installation. And that's no different for LED lighting in your home. 

Installing LED strip lights is an extremely easy process most of the time. It generally just involves attaching them to the desired surface using adhesive mounting clips and making sure they're securely placed. 

Depending on the length you need, you may have to link more than one strip together. This process is fairly simple and straightforward but may require a little more effort. 

Though this process is simple and can be done by anyone, you want to think through it before purchasing it. Even just to make sure you get exactly what you need to get them hung up and working properly. 

4. Overall Cost 

As always, the overall cost should be taken into consideration before taking the purchasing plunge. Obviously, you don't want to purchase something that you can't afford and is out of your budget. 

When thinking about the cost of LED lights, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

The first is the products themselves, this would include the actual lights, any extra bulbs, remotes, and mounting equipment.

But with lighting, you have to think about the addition to your energy bill each month as well. Luckily, if you choose to use LEDs, it's not likely that you'll see a great increase in your bill since they are so energy efficient. 

5. Customization Options

There are many benefits of strip lighting but one of the most exciting is how customizable they are. With one strip you can usually change the brightness and the color of the light produced, extending their possibilities even farther. 

Within LED lights are different color receptors, usually red, green, and blue. Different combinations of those colors and their individual brightnesses can create a whole rainbow of colors. 

All of those receptors are located within the bulb and all you have to do to change things is to use a remote. So customization is extremely simple. 

Different strip lights have different capabilities, you just want to check them out beforehand to get what you're looking for. 

6. Power Supply

Obviously, your new LED lights will need a power supply in order to produce their light. These are different than another lighting for homes because they don't need to be hardwired into the electrical system. 

Instead, they simply plug into a regular outlet which is extremely simple. 

Hooking your LED lights up to the power is easy to do and something anyone can handle. (Though you do want to make sure to use a surge protector!) The location of the power supply will make the biggest difference in the lights you purchase. 

You may need to purchase additional extenders to be able to reach where you want them hung and the power. 

7. Multiple Strips 

The great thing about LED strip lighting is that it can be used for such a wide variety of projects. They can create unique lighting features in any space in your home. 

These unique features are often achieved through multiple strips. Each strip is made to be able to connect to another without having to utilize a separate power supply. They simply hook together (sometimes a small extra part is necessary) and then can be hung as one. 

They can also be cut down to be shorter if that's what the space needs. 

This ability makes it so that you can cover any space or length you need. LED strip lighting is completely customizable in this way. 

Add Strip Lighting to Your Home 

LED strip lighting won't instantly make a room brighter like a recessed light or lamp would. But it will add some fun visual interest and highlight special areas in your home. They can make your kitchen dance parties more fun or help you find what you're looking for in your closet. 

When you find the right lights to fit your specific situation, you'll be able to enjoy something a little extra and exciting. 

If you'd like to look at some LED options for your home, contact us today!