LED strip lights and smart lighting buying guide
Strips are easy to install and easy to regret if you skip a few details about power and adhesive.
- Measure the run and add margin; long strips may need a second power feed to avoid dimming at the end.
- RGBIC strips can show several colours at once; plain RGB shows one colour at a time.
- Adhesive rarely holds on textured walls; clean the surface and consider mounting clips for a permanent install.
- App or voice control is nice, but check that the app works without an account and is well reviewed.
- For monitor backlighting, a lower-brightness strip is more comfortable than a bright one.
Common mistake: Cutting the strip at the wrong mark: only cut along the marked lines.