Unique LED Lighting for Living Rooms

Accent Lines of Light

• LED units mounted onto rigid strips or flexible tape let you accent architectural details with lines of light. Ceiling coves, vaults and trays attract attention when softly illuminated with LED strips mounted along the molding. Doorways, archways, staircases and other architectural details can also be enhanced with well-placed strips. Because they can be cut to any length, LED strips and tape may be installed inside shelving units and bookcases. Choose a battery-operated LED fixture for this application. Battery-operated LEDs also brighten small niches easily. Another bonus: LED strip lighting can work as an accent light or an overhead light because of its high lumen output.

Spotlight Your Art

• Because it's a directional light source, LEDs are perfect for spotlighting artwork. With incandescent and fluorescent bulbs, light and heat pools out in all directions. LEDs' directional nature allows you to put light exactly where you want it. Enhance artwork with LED light bars, pucks or cans installed overhead. Light artwork as evenly as possible to avoid shadows and remain true to the artist's original vision. An added bonus: The technology emits practically no infrared or ultraviolet light, which protects paper and textile pieces.

Light the Rainbow

• There is actually no such thing as a white LED light. The pleasing and useful white light emitted by LEDs is created by blending different colors or covering the LED unit with a phosphor material that converts the color of the light. But white is just a starting point. A modern, edgy living room can revel in a rainbow of hues. Install a bar of red LEDs to warm up a decorative fireplace. Add a pop of cool attitude with blue LED lights around a bar area. Play with multicolored LED rope lights to create your own light art.

Robo Lights

• Basically a computer, LED lighting can be controlled with a dedicated remote. Some manufacturers let you control them with smart devices such as a phone or tablet. Using either technology, you can dim, brighten or change the color entirely. Some LED manufacturers offer systems that produce custom colors chosen from your photo library. Programmable, controllable lighting also adds an element of safety by lighting up your home while you're away.