Nowadays, many people have used LED light Strips to decorate any part of their home.

However, there are times when people think that these lights are too bright for the eyes. If you want a softer ambiance, continue reading this article and determine how to diffuse LED strip lights.

Why do People Diffuse LEDs and Strip Lights?

Once you stumble upon this article, your initial question might be, ‘why do I even need to diffuse led strip lights?’. To answer your question, diffusing LED light strips to help create better design and softer lights.

Many people choose to do this process to create a vibe or an aesthetic in a specific room. You may also check the video below to know more.

LED strip lights alone have many uses that you can incorporate into your home at any time. From pillars to cabinets and desks, there are so many options to choose from.

But most of the time, these LED strip lights have bright, warm colors that some people may not like. That’s where diffusing comes in to save the project.

If you diffuse an LED strip light, the light will come out softer, and it can brighten up a larger area compared to the regular. This process helps create an aesthetic vibe and sets up a mood for a specific room.

LED bulbs are mostly made with a clear plastic coating to make the lights look bright. With the help of a diffuser, you’ll get opaque and more balanced lighting without having to worry about it.

Think about it, using a diffuser for your LED strip lights, especially for colored diffusers, can help amplify the beauty of the lights and give a softer glow on a specific item or area.

You can use this for flower decorations, shadow clocks, and many more. Your imagination can take you anywhere you want and give you some fantastic design ideas for your home.

If you are interested in diffusing your LED strip lights, we have come up with the best ways to do so, including fun DIY ways and regular and straightforward processes. Continue reading below to find out more about these different processes.

Diffusing by using Barriers

The first way to diffuse an LED strip light is by using barriers. Just like the name, barriers act as a cover around the LED and scatter the light particles inside, making it look softer and warmer to the eyes.

You can use many things as a barrier for LED lights, so go ahead and check them out below.

• Fabric: The first diffuser material on our list is fabric. If you have some old pieces of thin cotton or knitted clothes, you can use these materials to create a better vibe for your LED lights. They are very easy to use and can last for a long time.

• Aluminum extrusions for LED strips: If you want something that you can buy outright and attach to your LED strips, go for aluminum LED extrusions. You can choose from many variations, but what’s important is to find something that will fit just right for your LED strips. It’s better to get a curved extrusion since it can diffuse light better than flat ones.

• Adhesives: It may come as a shock to some, but adhesives such as thermoplastic or any type of glue are known to be great light diffusers. Nowadays, glue comes in different colors, which you may want to consider for a better glow.

• Glass: Another great material to use for LED strip lights is glass. This material comes in different sizes, shapes, and colors, which can enhance the appearance of your LED strip lights however you want.

• Paper: Want something completely budget-friendly? Why not try using plain paper. Any paper will do, my it is plain bond paper, parchment paper, or other types. It’s totally inexpensive, and you won’t have any problem working with it. All you need is some creativity, and you can create an excellent diffuser from paper.

• Opaque Materials: Last but definitely not least, opaque materials such as acrylic or plastics can be used as an excellent diffuser for your LED strips. They are the most commonly used light diffusers since they are easily accessible.

Diffusing by using Buffers

Another way to regularly diffuse LED strip lights is by using Buffers, also known as ‘double diffusion.’ Technically speaking, you just add another layer of diffuser between the previous one you added and the LED strip lights.

This process is done by some people who may think that the lights on their LED strips are not diffused enough, or it is still too bright.

If adding some distance for the LEDs is not enough to make a diffused effect on your lighting, you may opt to go for buffers. You can use any type of material mentioned in the previous section as a buffer for this process.

This process will only create an inner layer between the lights and your cover so that the light will diffuse even further and create a softer glow.

Fun DIY Ways to Diffuse LED Light Strips

Since we’ve already talked about the different ways to diffuse an LED light strip, it’s now time to show you the most creative ways to use a diffused LED light strip in your home.

Check out the list below for some of the best decorative ideas that you can do with diffused LED light strips.

Glass Mason Jars

 

If you want something cool yet easy to do, mason jars are the materials for you. This type of glass material is often used by creative people to add some mysterious lights during the Halloween period.

All you need to do is put the LED strip light inside the mason jars and add some decorative cut-outs for it to play the part. Once it’s all done, you can lay them down side to side and create some decorative pieces for any type of occasion.

Ping Pong Balls

One of the best materials on the list is ping pong balls. These small balls can help you create different design items around your house or for creative costume purposes.

If you’re worried that it might get too hot with the LEDs, let me tell you that LED strip lights do not reach a temperature that’s high enough to cause a fire of some sort.

Shadow Boxes

Undoubtedly one of the easiest design ideas on the list is the shadow box. All you need for this DIY project is your led strips, a clean box, plain paper, and tape.

The best way to do this is to cover all sides of the box, except for one, with plain paper. You can use any color you want to make it look better, then insert the LED lights however you like.

Once you’re done, cut out the design of your choice and cover the final area with bond paper. This idea is best done for DIY calendars.

3D Print LED Diffusers

Last on our list is the 3D Print LED Diffusers. As the name implies, this diffuser consists of 3D printed shapes and materials that you can use for your LED strip lights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Now that you know how to diffuse an LED strip light, it’s time to know more about the most frequently asked questions that most people can think of.

While the previous sections gave out some ideas on how to diffuse your LED strip lights, this section will provide you with the answers to questions related to diffusion and LED strip lights.

What is a diffuse light source?

Another name for diffused light is soft light. This is any type of light source that has been diffused by any material. One example is a soft ray of sunlight that has been diffused by thin curtains.

Can I cover an LED light strip?

You don’t have to worry about the cover if you have a high-quality LED strip light since the LED won’t emit heat. However, it’s still important to take note of the materials you will use and any precautionary measures to ensure the success of your project.

What is the main difference between clear and diffused LED strips?

Aside from the distinction between the brightness of their lights, the main difference between clear and diffused LED strips is how far their light beams can travel. Clear LED strips’ light can only travel a short distance, while diffused LED strips have longer light beams.

What is a light diffuser?

A diffuser is any type of material that can scatter light for those who may not know. Most of the time, they are in the form of a cover or a solid panel around a light source. Its job is to make harsh and bright lights look softer and easy to the eyes.

 

Summary

Knowing how to diffuse LED strip lights can be very helpful for decorating your place to the extent of your imagination. There are different ways you can do it and make designs look better than using regular LED strip lights. We hope this article helped you know more about it.