Home LED shelf light ideas | Wired4Signs USA

Your Cart

Cart Is Empty

Continue Shopping
Skip to content
Free shipping on most orders over $350 - T&C Apply
Free shipping T&C - Click here
bookshelves lighting

Home LED shelf light ideas

LED light shelf ideas

Shelf lighting is a unique way to soften necessary lighting, create an interesting feature in a room or closet, and enrich the interior design. Whether you have closet shelving to illuminate and organize or want an interesting display shelf with lights, LED shelf lighting has a variety of applications that are aesthetic and pleasing to the eye.

This is an easy-to-install solution to make all your home spaces glow. If you're thinking about how to light a wood floating shelf or looking for bookcase shelf lighting ideas, here are five LED shelf lighting ideas you can get inspired

bookshelf LED lights

1. Under-shelf LED strip lighting

One of the easiest, but most effective, shelf-lighting ideas is customized designs for under-shelf lighting. You can enhance the look of clothing shelves, grow light shelves, or bookshelves by putting LED strip lights underneath. The most common and effective ways of using under-shelf lighting are front and back installation. The choice between these two depends on your personal taste and the overall style of your home.

    • Front under-shelf LED lighting

      Front recessed shelf lighting is used to give more light and brightness to the shelves. It is mostly used in rooms with a lighter color and modern designs. For front under-shelf lighting, it is recommended to use cooler LED lighting tones. For example, natural white LED strip lights from the White Lily strip series are a perfect lighting option.

      Popular applications for front under-shelf lighting include wine racks or liquor cabinet displays, bathroom shelving, and along a grow light shelf.

      Tip: Front under-shelf lighting is extra beneficial if you have a small apartment or room where you want to have a more spacious appearance. Front shelf lights can also benefit plants that require extra or constant light.

    • Back under-shelf LED Lighting

Highlighting the back of a lighted liquor shelf with a specific color or giving accent lighting to bookcases shelves is often used to give furniture or shelving more depth and a personal style by illuminating the deeper shadows. If darker tones are dominant in your home, a glass shelf with lights will dramatize and illuminate the objects displayed on the shelf to create contrast.

LED strip lights are very convenient in this case. They can be easily installed and customized according to the application. We recommend LED strips from Cosmos Series, as these LED lights have a dimming function so that the lighting can be easily manipulated.

Popular applications of under-shelf LED lighting include book shelf lights, bar shelf lighting, vase and artifact displays, or a regular floating wall-mounted shelf with LED lights.

2. Shelf and bookcase vertical LED lighting

If you have linear floor-to-ceiling shelves or bookcases, then vertical shelf lighting can be a great option to enhance and brighten a room without an obvious lighting display.

Generally, lighting floor-to-ceiling furniture can be challenging due to the dimensions, especially if the shelves are moveable or divided into smaller spaces or compartments. Vertical shelf lighting offers a convenient solution, as LED tape lights can be custom cut to desired sizes and are flexible to fit in custom shelving.

Some lighting options can be installed on the shelf dividers so that they are facing the room. LED Light lines are very convenient for this specific style. However, if you want the lighting to be more subtle, LED strip lights are ideal for applying on the inner vertical sides of shelving. The flexibility of LED strip lights will give you an opportunity to style bookcases and shelves according to your taste.

 

Check out this vertical shelf lighting design on Pinterest.

3. Shelf corner lighting

Corner shelf lighting can accent single-display items, such as plants, art, or decorations. For example, corner lighting can highlight and draw attention to a decorative vase or special souvenir on a shelf or stand in the corner of the room. By using a 45-degree corner mount LED channel, you can easily turn this idea into reality.

Note that corner lighting can also be useful for bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms that need more lighting that is not directly overhead.

4. Shelf accent lighting

Accent or display lighting is among our favorite shelf-lighting ideas. This energy-efficient option works well to highlight specific parts of shelving that may be full of different items.

Most importantly, shelf accent lighting provides ample space for creativity. You can light up one part of the shelf while leaving the other side in the dark. Floating shelves with accent lights can illuminate a dark area of the room to set a mood or add more dimension to a space. Accent lights are great in entryways, hallways, and dining rooms to set a focus point and create interest when one enters a room.

5. Shelf edge lights

Shelf edge lights are recessed into the front edge of the shelving. These shelf lights are purely decorative and are used to reinforce the linear lines of your shelves by accentuating them with a line of light. A good solution for this is the narrow Slash8 profile with a low-power ambient strip like our Decor Series white LED strips.

This technique of using LED lights embedded in the edge of the shelf can also be applied to larger surfaces such as bar counters or kitchen countertops for a stunning visual effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you have a custom bookshelf lights store in Los Angeles?

A: We can manufacture custom bookshelf lighting solutions and deliver all over the USA.

Q: Will shelf lighting be able to illuminate the whole room?

A: No, LED shelf lights are supplementary lighting and will not be sufficient to provide primary illumination for a room. Nevertheless, brightening the shadows does give a room a brighter and more airy feel.

Q: Do I have to use and LED channel to mount my shelf lights?

A: While it is not a requirement to use an aluminum channel to mount your LED shelf lights, it is highly recommended because the channel protects the LED strip and acts as a heatsink for the LEDs.

Q: Can I dim my LED shelf lights?

A: Yes, dimming your shelf lights is not only possible but in fact recommended to achieve the best effect. Try our Casambi wireless dimmers.

Previous article Indirect LED lighting moldings
Next article Awesome ideas for effective LED loft lighting

Recent projects

  • Staircase-Lighting-740x416
    March 14, 2023

    LED Staircase Ideas And Solutions

    LED strip lighting has brought a whole new range of ideas for outdoor step lighting. Outdoor stair lighting lighting not only gives an aesthetically pleasing finish to your stair case but also provides a very practical function of being able to...

    Read now
  • Music LED Strip Lights And Controls
    March 14, 2023

    Music LED Strip Lights And Controls

    Wifi Controller - RGBW Default Title Add to Cart$27.67 RGB and RGBW Strips 4-in-1 Chip RGBW LED Strip ~ Hibiscus Series ROLL LENGTH Per foot 5m (16.4ft) 100m (328ft) RGB+WW / 19.2W/m / Per foot RGB+WW / 19.2W/m / 5m...

    Read now
  • Office Lighting Ideas
    March 14, 2023

    Office Lighting Ideas

    RGB LED Strip Lighting Ideas 4-in-1 Chip RGBW LED Strip ~ Hibiscus Series ROLL LENGTH Per foot 5m (16.4ft) 100m (328ft) RGB+WW / 19.2W/m / Per foot RGB+WW / 19.2W/m / 5m (16.4ft) RGB+WW / 19.2W/m / 100m (328ft) Add...

    Read now

Technical highlights

  • outdoor bar lighting ideas
    February 6, 2023

    Playground and Outdoor Restaurant Lighting Ideas

    LED lighting is essential for creating an inviting atmosphere in playgrounds and restaurants. The right lighting can improve the mood of customers, increase sales and create a safer environment. It's important to consider both the color and temperature of the lighting when designing the lighting system. RGB exterior lighting provides a creative and energy-efficient solution, while path lights and synchronized LED lights are popular outdoor lighting ideas. A customized lighting system, such as a Bluetooth outdoor light system, can be used to control the lighting and create a cozy illuminated spot. Contact Wired4signs USA to receive assistance with choosing the right lighting system for your space.
    Read now
  • Custom Splash Guard Machine Safety Shields
    January 26, 2023

    Custom Splash Guard Machine Safety Shields

    Wired4Signs USA offers a wide range of custom-made splash and machine guards to ensure the safety of workers. The guards are adjustable, easy to move or reposition, easy to install and maintain, and designed to protect workers from flying debris, chips, and other hazards.
    Read now