How To Install LED Strip Lights On The Ceiling

Here's the most exciting guide you've been looking for. How to make your dream LED RGB room come to life!

Here, you will find tips on the best place to put your LED strip lights, a step-by-step guide to doing so, and alternate setups.

You can install LED strip lights around your ceiling by measuring ceiling perimeter length, using a high-quality strip with built-in adhesive, and opting to install the strip behind a recession or coving for a beautiful, dramatic yet luxurious lighting effect.

The starting point of your strips really matters because the power outlet will be around that area.

And in case you’re an avid YouTuber or TikToker, then you definitely don’t want unsavory wires showing in your videos.

Otherwise, the wire going up from your power outlet to your LED power supply should be discreet, like behind some furniture or door or near a wall corner.

Alternatively, you can use the cable concealer cover like this one on Amazon.

Once your strip lights are plugged in, you need to decide where they need to be placed on the ceiling.

If you want more of your ceiling lit up, place the strips around 3-5 inches from the ceiling.

If you want more of your wall lit up, place the strips around a foot below the ceiling to allow enough space to glow upwards.

The most ideal way to install LEDs is where their LED individual diodes are not jarringly visible and are hidden while preventing the harsh glare given off the lights from your eyes.

Some ceilings have a built-in recession and are called drop-down ceilings, false ceilings, or suspended ceilings.

There is a small area to insert lights if needed, and in our case, the perfect place to hide exposed LED strips.

How To Install LED Strips On Ceiling: Step By Step Guide

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to install LED strip lights. However, before you start your process, plug in the LEDs, and check that they are working, then continue the project.

Step #1: Measure your room ceiling’s perimeter, including all the corners and turns along the way. Ensure you also measure the distance from your power outlet if the power supply has a short wire.

Since LED strips come in specific lengths, you can now decide whether you want one or more LED strip reels.

You can easily cut the strips to length if the designated copper cutting points are provided on the reel.

Step #2: For optimal visual appeal and minimum wastage of extra reel or extra wiring, ensure that the power outlet is as close as possible to the source supply that comes with your LED strip reel.

Step #3: Now, to make sure your LED strips last as long as they are designed to, your setup should be well-ventilated with airflow in the room and not stuffed behind bulky furniture or thick curtains.

Also, be sure to use coving that allows good heat dissipation (like aluminum, do not use wood), and is wide and deep enough for ventilation.

Step #4: Here comes the fun part. Sticking it all up! Some high-quality strips come with built-in adhesive on the back of the strips that you peel and stick.

This is a better option as some manufacturers ensure the built-in tape is also designed to carry away excess heat.

Other strips need an external double-sided tape that you need to stick yourself, first to the strip and then to the wall, coving, or ceiling.

This can be a tedious process and may come loose earlier than expected.

However, suppose your ceiling has a porous or textured design. In that case, you need to consider adding external double-tape or wall adhesive to hold it up better.

How Bright is a 50 Watt Floodlight

Typically a 50 watt LED is equivalent to a 500 Watt Halogen - giving the same light output but burning far less energy and therefore costing a lot less to run.
You will need to check the lumens - i.e. how much light is thrown out. This does come with a warning. If you are looking at halogen or metal halide, it is non directional, meaning that you have light spilled and therefore 50 to 70% of light is wasted, shining 360 degrees whereas your LED is directed light.
We stock a Luceco, British General 50W Flood Light with 3000 Lumen with a Beam angle of 95 degrees. Its IP65, meaning it is really good at withstanding rain. It turns on straight away - no waiting for it to heat up like metal halide.

So how far will it light up? The light spreads. The best way to show that is with the following graphic which shows a 30 Watt and 50 Watt floodlight mounted at 5 meters with a recommended downward tilt angle of 45 degrees.