Recommendation? LED lighting strips for room ambiance, behind TV, etc.

[Lysrin]

Wasn't sure what category to put this in so figured off topic was safest.

I had some old Christmas lights left up around the living room and coiled up behind the wall-mounted TV, just to have a cozier lighting environment for watching TV and such. They are almost all burnt out at this point so I am looking for a replacement option, preferably LED.

- I'd like them to power of a regular outlet, not USB. I'll be controlling them from smart plugs.
- Dimmable would be nice but not essential.
- I don't need a bunch of colours, synching to music or TV shows, timed on/off, etc. I mean that can be there, but I won't use it.

There are tonnes of options on Amazon, but tonnes of options sometimes mean purchase paralysis!

Any you folks would recommend that you've been using?

 

[Lysrin]

To not leave this thread hanging, I ended up by Apple HomeKit compatible Meross ones from Amazon. They were decently reviewed but mostly because I already have a bunch of Meross smart plugs in my setup so I don't have to get yet another app!
These ones, a 16' and 32': Amazon.ca - Meross Smart LED strip lights

Easily added them to Google Home and left it at that for now. I will play around with HomeKit at some point but none of us cared enough to be able to say "Siri turn on the lights" for me to spend the time on HomeKit this weekend.

Only hiccup is I have three LEDs in one strip that show incorrect colours. Ended up on top of a window frame, so not too noticeable, but still a bit annoying. But they were fine showing the initial power on colour so I didn't notice. Not sure I want to pull off the stuck on strip just for that. Wife and I agreed on that for now, but if it bugs her too much I'll be getting a replacement one!

 

[clshades]

Years ago a friend of mine had a tv with LEDs built in on the back. It would change colours with the scene on the tv. It was really cool.

 

[Izerous]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/32-ft-led-rgb-colour-changing-light-strips/product/PA0009215021

Princess auto had these kits <$10 / box a while ago. I don't recall the exact date they were on sale but I think the policy is they will match the price if it was on sale in the past 30 days or something like that (can't hurt to ask). 32ft is also way more than enough to apply to the back of a TV.

Edit: most of these strips are cuttable every 3 or so LEDs. So being too long isn't a bad thing.

Also with the USB power thing just use a phone charger plugged into the outlet if it comes down to it. Often the USB powered ones are cheaper than the ones that come with their own power bricks. And with the remote, no need for an app.

They also had some smart ones a while ago, hooked them up in the kids room as nightlights. Auto programmed the on/off times, colors, brightness etc. Its weird but PA often has this kind of stuff in their clearance section. Even seen boxes of unsold Amazon products recently (still in the amazon branded boxes)

 

[Lysrin]

https://www.princessauto.com/en/32-ft-led-rgb-colour-changing-light-strips/product/PA0009215021

Princess auto had these kits <$10 / box a while ago. I don't recall the exact date they were on sale but I think the policy is they will match the price if it was on sale in the past 30 days or something like that (can't hurt to ask). 32ft is also way more than enough to apply to the back of a TV.

Also with the USB power thing just use a phone charger plugged into the outlet if it comes down to it. Often the USB powered ones are cheaper than the ones that come with their own power bricks. And with the remote, no need for an app.

They also had some smart ones a while ago, hooked them up in the kids room as nightlights. Auto programmed the on/off times, colors, brightness etc. Its weird but PA often has this kind of stuff in their clearance section. Even seen boxes of unsold Amazon products recently (still in the amazon branded boxes)

Valid option too, not quite for the use case I had, and I was doing more than the back of the TV. I definitely didn't want USB powered one, but with the suggestion of the phone charger others may be good with that.

Good to have options in this thread in case other people are looking for a solution that has worked for people.

 

[Shadowmeph]

this is what I use it does plug into USB but that can easily plugged into a charger .with my TV I can have it set so that the usb power is always on or turns off with TV which I have it set as but sometimes it turns on without the TV on so I have to manually turn it off

Amazon.ca