How To Hide LED Strip Lights? A Comprehensive Guide

Do you enjoy the brightness of the LED strips, but do not like the visible LEDs and wires? Actually, the showing strips and power plugs do affect and reduce the look of your decor. So, how to hide them? 

Well, the easiest way to hide the strips is under any furniture, beneath the false ceiling, and more. Here I have included 21 common and creative ideas that you can try for hiding the strips effectively. Let’s get started–

21 Creative Ideas To Hide LED Strip Lights

Below are the top LED strip hiding ideas, which are easy to follow-

01. Under Cabinet 

As we know, cabinet lighting is very on-trend right now. It adds both functionality and aesthetics to the area. The LED strips can be hidden under the targeted cabinets for a seamless look. 

Hence, you can use an aluminum diffuser to avoid hotspots and direct glare. The white LED is great for workspace cabinets, whereas the warm LED works better in kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

02. Under Stair Treads

Hiding the LED strips right below the individual stair tread creates a floating effect. The stair tread must be connected to use this trick. However, if you have open and individual stair treads, then hide the wiring and power connectors inside a metal channel.

03. Under Bed Frame

This one falls into the category of hiding strips under furniture. And you can hide the LED strips and wires inside the bed panel. Also, double-sided tape can be used for attaching the LED strip. This creates a subtle floating bed effect. It is primarily used in hotels and children’s rooms.

04. Inside Floating Shelves

This method works great for shelves with grooves. You can hide the LED strip inside the groove. Then, it is covered with a diffuser to create even lighting without glare. Also, you have to make a small hole on the backside of the shelf to hide the LED wiring. 

05. Inside Bookshelves

Highlighting the books and making books easier to find has become way easier with LED strip lights. You can either use adhesive backing to attach the strips on the inner side of the shelves, which is a temporary solution. 

Alternatively, you can use the backside of the bookshelf to route the LED strip wires and place the strip lights on the routed channels. This is highly useful for home libraries, as it provides a clean look.

06. Inside Handrails 

Although any type of handrail can be used, the hollow ones are much easier to hide in the LED strips. Attach the strips on the bottom of the handrail, whether hollow or compact, then cover it with a frosted diffuser to create a soft glow. The addition of a diffuser helps avoid glare, increasing safety on the staircase. 

07. Inside Skirting Board

Using an LED-compatible skirting board with a recessed channel helps cover the messy LED strips and wires nicely. These are often made using MDF, plywood, or particleboard and offer built-in pockets or grooves to hide the LED, with space for emitting the light. 

As a result, these skirting boards are often used as lighting solutions in commercial buildings, hotel lobbies, etc.

08. Inside Closet Or Planter

This is a functional way to decorate and store plants, clothes, and bags. Install the LED strip on the vertical edge of the closet; you can also use a recessed groove for a clean look. Hide the wires behind the closet wall with the help of adhesive. 

In the case of the planter, attach the waterproof strips inside the planter box. This shows an inherent glow as if the plant is glowing. You can use a battery-powered or motion-sensor LED strip if there is no outlet hiding spot or if the planter is too small.

09. Inside Door Frame Or Archways 

Most of the door frame(Wooden) has grooves where the LED strip can be attached. However, if your door frame doesn’t have any grooves or if there is no gap, then create an additional custom frame that hides the LED wires and strips. The door frame or archway light is highly innovative and welcoming to your guests. Adding a motion sensor is the perfect combination.

10. Behind Tv

To hide LED strip lights behind the TV, you need to measure the TV’s length first. Then, cut the strips accordingly. Use an L-shape connector to connect the strips at the corner of the TV. Then, proceed to install the LED lights with a nearby power outlet. 

11. Behind Wall Art 

If you have a spectacular art or a large mirror to look at, then install LED strips right behind that thing. It shifts the focus of your household and adds a source of light as well. This is functional and impressive at the same time. The only catch is that there must be a power outlet near the art. However, any high-quality battery-powered LED strip can be installed. 

12. Integrate Recessed Channel 

To integrate recessed channels, a proper plan is needed. Ensure the placement first. Most people implement recessed channels on the ceiling above the staircase for a minimalist, industrial effect. 

13. Hiding Inside Crown Molding 

To hide the LED strips inside crown moldings, you need to install them first. The very first step is to prime and paint the crown molding before installing; it saves a lot of energy. Then, measure the exact location of the molding, preferably 2-3 inches below the ceiling. For this, you can install a nailer board for better mounting of the LED wires; this also improves the wall texture.

When you hide the LED inside crown molding, include dimmer and dimmer-compatible LED strips. In this way, adjusting the temperature will be easy. 

14. In Outdoor Decking 

The outdoor decking lighting adds safety and a modern ambiance to your home. You can either choose to install recessed channels or mounting clips to hide the LED strips there. 

However, the LED strip must be rated IP65+ for waterproof rating. Also, you have to install an aluminum or silicon profile for heat dissipation and avoid hotspots and uneven lighting.

15. Along Bathroom Tile Edge 

This one is a bit tricky. However, proper equipment and technique are necessary to get perfect bathroom tile edge lighting. After pre-planning, install the LED strip with a waterproof silicone diffuser and covering. When grouting, avoid the areas over the diffuser to get smooth lighting. 

16. Embedded In Drywall Channel

LED strip embedded in drywall channels is an amazing technique to hide the strips and wire professionally. Cut or saw the wall where channels are supposed to be fitted. Then, mount the channel; ALP085 channels work better for drywall. 

Here is a pro tip: you can angle the bevels 45 degrees for seamless installation. Then, prime and paint the drywall to leave no trace of aluminum frame. This is mostly used in modern architecture and commercial workspaces. 

17. Using Floating Ceiling Beam

Floating ceiling beams are used as excellent heat and light dissipators for LED strips. This hides the strips and wires tactfully. In minimalist homes, restaurants, and hotels, the floating beams appear as dynamic design elements. In most cases, the beams are pre-assembled. 

18. Perforated Or Translucent Wall Panel

Looking for an artistic yet easy way to hide the LED strips? Then, perforated wall panels can be your solution. The LED strips remain hidden beneath the wall panel. 

The light gets emitted through the perforated walls, displaying artistic lighting effects. This type of lighting is highly valued in expensive boutique hotels, villas, and resorts. 

19. Inside Window Sill Or Casing

Another DIY LED lighting project you can do to hide the strips is to place them in window sills. This one gives a dreamy effect when used at nighttime. Also, color-changing LED can be placed on the edges of the window sill, inside the casing, or on the top side of the casing. However, you only need proper measurements to install them. 

20. Mirror Illusion 

Create a magical, floating mirror illusion by putting the LED strip behind the mirror. This creates a hovering mirror effect. You can also place the LED strips on the edge of the mirror, which will offer brighter illumination. The wires and drivers can be hidden behind the mirror or using a channel. 

21. Hidden In Sculpture Or Other Elements 

Using sculpture and decorative showpieces is a smart way to hide the LED strips. The light can create subtle animation in sculptures, changing the ambiance with color-changing LED lights. This also adds focus to the precious souvenir items in your home by adding soft light to them.

Why Hide LED Strip Lights?

Let’s explore the common advantages of hiding LED strip lights-

Clean Aesthetic 

The visible LED strips and wires in an expensive or high-end home, office, or hotel seem disorganized. It also distracts the guest from the main focus point of your decoration. So, hiding the LED strip is important to achieve a clean and neat finish. 

Reduce Safety Issues

Many households, restaurants, and garden resort uses stairway LED lights. If there are any visible strips and wires, it increases the risk of tripping over. Sometimes, it causes short-circuit issues. So, hiding them reduces the hazardous issues significantly.

Increasing The Longevity Of LED

When the LED strips and wires are hidden, there is less chance of meddling. So, pets and children are not touching them. Also, hiding them requires using a diffuser and aluminum channels. All these work as protection against the outside environment, increasing the lifespan of the lead.

Comfortable to the eye

Most people are not comfortable with facing direct LED light. So, hiding them behind the furniture, above the ceiling, reduces glare and hotspots. Overall, gives a nice and comfortable eye-feeling. 

How To Hide LED Strip Wires, Cords, And Power Supply? 

Now that you’ve learned to hide the LED strips, it’s also essential to conceal the power cords and wiring. This helps you achieve a sleek aesthetic and improve safety. And you can follow these tips-

• Cord concealer

Cord concealer comes in a wide variety of sizes and colors. There are also paintable options, which customers can match to their walls for a seamless effect. 

• Drywall channel

Although drywall channel requires more effort, this results in an absolutely elegant and smart way to hide the cords and power supply. The drywall channel is recessed into the original wall, creating a new wall that holds all the necessary and messy cords. 

• Using furniture 

This is temporary, and the easiest way to hide the cords. You can simply use double-sided tape or Velcro to secure the cords behind any large furniture, artwork, or even a mirror. 

• Cable cord

A cable cord helps you organize and manage the messy and unwanted cords. Using cable cords, it is easier to bundle all the wires together. So you can find any cord in one place. However, remember to label the cord separately for future confusion.

• DIY cable box

You can easily make a DIY cable box using cardboard, MDF, or wood. This is a very cheap and effective way to organize the wires together. Decorate the cable box so that it itself becomes one decorative element. Rather than hiding, you can showcase the box with all the cables inside. 

Installation Guide To Hide LED Strip Lights

Looking for an easy installation guide suitable for beginners? Here are six steps in a six-step process to hide LED strip lights-

Planning The Layout

The first thing to do before installing the LED is to plan the entire area. Then, sketch where the light will show, the hiding points, and the availability of a nearby power supply or power socket. If the connection point is too far, then proceed to use multiple plugs. For a neater finish, consider installing a recessed wall kit.

Measure Twice, Cut Once

Once you’ve cut the LED strip, there is no going back. So, measure the lighting area carefully. Keep 5-10 cm extra strips for bending and other purposes. Now, carefully cut the strip in the recommended area. Do not cut the circuit; it will, therefore, lose the whole connection of the strip. 

Mounting

Now, when it comes to the mounting step, you can choose either a recess channel. This is a permanent and costly solution, or aluminum channel integration, which requires less work. Also, using double-sided tape, mounting clips are a temporary solution for mounting the hidden LED strip. 

Conceal Wiring

Use a cord concealer to hide the messy wires. You can also drill small holes into the wall behind the TV or any other furniture to discreetly hide the wires. 

Connection Testing 

After the installation is done, check the power connection. Full brightness, dimming, manual color changing, etc, must be checked in this step. Look for a smooth transition; if any flickering occurs, use the troubleshooting steps. 

Adding A Protective Layer

For smooth, soft lighting, you need a frosted or unfrosted diffuser, based on demand and suitability.  You can customize the channels with paints for a thematic outlook.

Maintenance Tips And Things To Consider For Hiding LED Strip 

LED strip lights require proper maintenance to maintain their shine and extend their lifespan. Here are some pro tips for maintaining them and top considerations for hiding LED lights-

• The light placement area must be cleaner beforehand. Otherwise, the dust reduces the adhesive quality of the tape, causing the strip to fall off. 
• You can always use an aluminum diffuser for proper heat dissipation. The diffuser mustn’t be too tight to accumulate heat inside the channel.
• The connector and power supply source must be from reliable and high-quality sockets. Otherwise, electricity hazards can occur at any time.
• For achieving a sleek interior, bundle up the remaining wires with Velcro and hide them in a crawl space. The focus will remain on the light, not on the strips or wires.
• Regular cleaning is mandatory to achieve a bright LED every time. 

Conclusion 

To wrap up, hiding LED strip lights needs strategic planning along with creativity. The easiest way to hide the LED strip lights is to hide them under any large furniture. In this way, everything is mess-free and stays elegant. 

As premium quality LED strip lights enhance the decoration even more, contact MylikeLED for high-quality LED lights now. With our advanced technology and professional employees, we ensure product quality before shipping. 

FAQ

How do you hide LED light strips on the floating shelf?

To hide LED light strips on the floating channel, consider drilling holes on the back of the shelf to facilitate the wires. Also, you can channel route inside the shelf by cutting a groove in the shelf and then painting it. It works when the shelf is thick or hollow. 

How do you hide LED strip lights on stairs?

You can hide LED strip lights on the edge of each stair tread, below the treads, for a soft floating effect. At the same time, on the sidewall, there is an aluminum channel covered with a diffuser to hide the strips and wires. Also, cove lighting on the stair ceiling can hide the strip efficiently.

How do you hide LED strip lights on the wall?

The easiest way to hide LED strips on the wall is with cable covers. Attach the cable cover with tape to the wall, and paint it to make it invisible. Besides, aluminum channels work great for hiding strips on the wall. Also, the drywall channel is an advanced technique.