How to choose LED strips for interior lighting?

LED strips: advantages over other types of lighting

The advantages of using LED strips for interior lighting are numerous and significant, making them an increasingly popular choice for those looking for modern and efficient lighting solutions. First of all, one of the main benefits is energy efficiency: LED strips consume significantly less energy than traditional light bulbs, thus reducing bill costs and contributing to environmental sustainability.

Another key advantage is durability: LED strips are known for their longevity, often surpassing traditional lamps. This means fewer replacements over time and, as a result, additional savings in both cost and time spent on lighting maintenance.

Flexibility is another strength of LED strips.Thanks to their versatile nature, they can be installed almost anywhere, perfectly adapting to different shapes and surfaces, be it curved corners, ceilings, furniture or niches. This feature opens up a world of creative possibilities in interior design and interior design, allowing you to illuminate points otherwise difficult to reach with traditional lighting solutions.

The LED strips also offer a wide range of color options, ranging from warm white to cool white, up to the bright and variable colors of the RGB versions, allowing you to create atmospheres and settings tailored to every occasion or mood.

Finally, the ease of installation represents an additional decisive benefit in the choice. Many models are in fact equipped with stickers on the back, which facilitate the placement on different surfaces without the need for tools or complex interventions.

Types of LED strips

Before proceeding with the choice, it is important to distinguish between the different types of LED strips available. LED strips can vary in color, light intensity, length and programming possibilities. There are 4 main types of products:

• Monochrome LED strips: they offer one-color light and are ideal for creating accent lighting or task lighting.
• RGB LED strips: allow you to change color and create dynamic lighting effects, suitable for customizable environments.
• RGBW LED Strips: add the ability to produce shades and white light, for more versatile lighting.
• RGBW DIGITAL LED Strips (or pixels): add the ability to produce nuances of color and dynamic white light for each single bright spot, ensuring additional lighting effects even in motion for even more versatile lighting.

Factors to consider when choosing LED strips

Selecting LED strips for interior lighting proves to be a process that requires attention to various determinants to ensure an optimal result, both in terms of functionality and aesthetics.

The first factor to consider is the degree of isolation of the product, indicated by the abbreviation IP. As for interior spaces, such as living rooms, corridors, kitchens or commercial spaces, a degree of insulation from IP20 to IP33 is sufficient.

The second factor is definitely the voltage, which must be decided according to the length to be covered with the LED strip. The greater the length of the strip to be purchased and the greater the tension, this to avoid unpleasant voltage drops. For a length of less than 8 meters a 12V is sufficient, while for longer lengths it is essential to choose the 24V and 36V.

Color temperature is one of the key aspects to consider: measured in Kelvin (K), it determines the shade of light, which can vary from warm tones, ideal for creating a cozy environment, to cold tones, preferable for more functional lighting. For domestic environments, temperatures ranging from 2700K to 3500K are often recommended to recreate an intimate and comfortable atmosphere. At Amlux, we have created an ad hoc guide on this issue, but generally in areas where concentration is required, such as studios or garages, it is preferable to use cold lights, while in relaxation areas, such as bedrooms or living rooms, it is preferable to use warm lights.

Another crucial factor is the luminous intensity, expressed in lumens, which directly affects the amount of light emitted by the LED strip. Choosing the right light intensity is essential to ensure proper lighting of the space according to your needs. As a rule, articles from 100 lumens to 500 lumens per linear meter are sufficient for indoor environments, depending on the size of the environment. 

The length and flexibility of the LED strips are also to be taken into account. The possibility of cutting and adapting the strips to the specific dimensions and shapes of the environment in which they will be installed offers great versatility, allowing them to be used in various contexts, from the most linear to those that require greater adaptation, such as curved corners or uneven surfaces.

Finally, it is also important to evaluate the type of chips, as they determine the luminous flux of the LED strips. COB chips offer uniform brightness without the visible light dots typical of SMD strips. This makes them ideal for applications where continuous, homogeneous light is required. SMD chips, on the other hand, can create visible light spots, especially in shiny or reflective surfaces, due to the greater distance between one LED and another.

Conclusions and the role of Amlux

In conclusion, the choice of LED strips for interior lighting is a process that requires careful assessment of the various factors, both in terms of functionality and aesthetics.

To facilitate this complex choice, we at Amlux offer a wide selection of indoor LED strips for any need. Among our many products, we cannot fail to mention the dynamic white LED strip with color rendering index greater than 90. This high brightness product is ideal for living rooms, bedrooms or small rooms and is adjustable with three types of color temperature: hot, natural or cold. With a dedicated controller of can vary the temperature of choice between 3000K and 6500K.

For those looking for an indoor LED strip for large halls or commercial spaces, the HP-2 LED strip is the perfect product. This item is easy to install, thanks to the 3M double-sided adhesive on the back of the strip and is ideal for illuminating surfaces evenly.

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