It’s that time of year again when the prices of flowers skyrocket as demand far outpaces supply. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with gifting flowers this week or on any other day of the year, but the sad truth is that those flowers will eventually wilt and die, at least the real ones will. Their ephemeral beauty is actually part of their appeal, but those who want to preserve the memory of the gift will have to resort to other strategies that don’t involve cheap plastic. What better gift is there, then, than a flower that was made by your very own hands? Especially one that will never wilt nor wither away and only requires replacing the broken parts, presuming the recipient is equally adept at electronics.
It won’t be the prettiest flower, admittedly. Not unless you’re actually the type to fall head over heels for the raw beauty of naked electronics. If so, FloLED will definitely be up your alley, but that’s not an assurance that your recipient will have similar tastes. Regardless, it is both an interesting project you can undertake on your own as well as a distinctive piece of decoration should decide to keep it for yourself instead.
This wouldn’t be the first LED-illuminated flower, but the project sets itself apart with its flexibility. The flower has six petals, each with 20 LEDs for a grand total of 120, and each petal has its own microcontroller, which means it can operate on its own independently of the others. That also means that should one petal go awry, it’s a simple matter of replacing that part rather than redoing the whole flower.
Of course, you have to make everything yourself, from the custom-shaped PCB (printed circuit board) to soldering the LEDs down. The circular base, itself a PCB, has slots that make the petals connect at an angle, giving the impression of a flower in mid-bloom. The base also has a single large LED that glows the brightest, representing the head of the flower.
FloLED is definitely a sight to see, especially at night. Given the almost translucent makeup of the petals, you can also see the circuit lines glowing in a yellow light against the red surface. And since each of the petals can be controlled and programmed individually, you could create an animated light show with one or more of these LED flowers, a spectacle that’s sure to enchant anyone, regardless of their aesthetic inclinations.
It’s that most wonderful time of the year again when houses burst into a dozen twinkling colors to greet the season and bring on the holiday cheer. But while the nighttime light show may be a wonder to behold, the preparation and installation of these colorful lights isn’t as glamorous as the final result might look like. Setting up strip lights, fairy lights, and other kinds of fixtures can often be laborious, and orchestrating these separate segments can be a mind-boggling puzzle that takes the joy out of the celebration. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way now that we live in the age of smart lighting. With Govee’s selection of outdoor and indoor lights, you can upgrade your Christmas decor the smart way and look like a technology wizard in front of your family and friends as you conduct the lights to the beat of the music.
The traditional method of setting up Christmas lights has always been to string waterproof lights outside and then drape some fairy lights down curtains or across walls. While these can turn out to be quite nice, the amount of work needed to accomplish that is just too much to ask for, especially for something that might only be usable for a few months each year. And then there’s the fact that these disparate pieces of lighting don’t really work well together, leaving you with either static or random flashes of light that don’t exactly inspire or captivate. Those boring Christmas lights are now a thing of the past thanks to how Govee provides an effortless way to set up and be the conductor of your own light show, whether indoors, outdoors, or both!
Create lighting effects that bring unforgettable holiday cheer!
Want to be the envy of your entire neighborhood? Then create an outdoor light extravaganza with Govee’s finest selection of weather-ready smart lighting solutions. Just in time for the holidays, the new Govee Christmas String Lights create the perfect cheerful atmosphere with its bright lights and adjustable colors, with each bead supporting 16 million colors to let you really go to town with all the hues available for the eyes to enjoy. With Uni-IC Control technology, you don’t have to settle for fixed blinking patterns and go wild with a wide variety of lighting effects and game modes to entertain your family and your guests. That includes asking Alexa or Google Assistant to turn the Christmas lights on or off for you. And with an IP65 dust and water resistance rating for the Control Box and the String Light itself, you don’t have to worry about white or wet Christmases either.
Govee Christmas String Lights transform your space into a stunning festive scene. This set of lights has adjustable colors and brightness levels to create the most cheerful ambiance for any occasion.
Christmas may only come once a year, but the enchanting effect of bright colorful lights happens all year round. With the new Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights Pro, you can dazzle the town with your orchestrated light show not only this Christmas but on every holiday that comes after. The RGBIC technology not only delivers bright intensities but also 16 million colors you can play with like an artist with their paint. The triangular lighting effect that each light produces gives your roofs and walls a distinct character you won’t find in typical Christmas lights. With an easy installation process and IP67 waterproof rating for the lights and adapter (IP65 for the control box), you don’t have to stress over having to remove the lights once the holidays are over so that you can enjoy the beauty and security that these lights bring 365 night of the year.
Discover a stunning light show with Govee RGBIC Curtain Lights. With 520 LEDs, you can create dynamic lighting effects and customize your own DIY light show. Add a special touch to any evening with these dazzling lights.
If you want a more intimate light show indoors, the Govee Curtain Lights is the perfect solution to add an accent to any room. The 520 tear-shaped light beads deliver a dazzling array of colors that you can control to your heart’s content. Sit back and relax with hands-free voice controls and dozens of pre-made scenes for every occasion, or let loose your creative side and use the Govee Curtain Lights as your DIY art canvas to display your choice of images or even animated GIFs. With DreamView and Music Modes, you can let the beads dance to the music or have them interact with other Govee lights in your home. And because the lights are IP65-rated (IP64 for the adapter), these curtain lights can also be used for an entertaining outdoor light display, whether there’s a special occasion or not.
The Govee outdoor light show box can control up to 10 devices with accurate sound pickup. Other features include preset scene modes and music modes for the best in music synchronization.
It only takes a few taps in the Govee app’s Dreamview function to sync all the Govee lights together and create the light show. For outdoor light shows, you can use the Govee Outdoor Light Show Box, allowing you to control up to multiple devices like a skillful conductor guiding an orchestra of different instruments. A single Light Show Box can connect up to 10 Govee lights using Bluetooth and the Govee Home App, syncing them to create festive indoor and outdoor shows thanks to a library of 22 music modes and 18 scene modes. With an IP65 and a rechargeable 2500mAh battery that gives it 12 hours of use on a single charge, the Govee Outdoor Light Show Box makes it effortless to orchestrate your fancy light party out in the yard. Indoor light decoration can also be turned into a light show with Govee Dreamview. Ignite the Christmas vide with all the dazzling light show at the corner of your house.
Smart lights don’t have to be boring, static fixtures that do nothing more than just illuminate your house. With the Govee Light Show collection, not only can you light up your house, you can also bring it to life with a dazzling display of colors that seem to dance to a magical beat. Whether indoors or outdoors, Christmastime or every time, Govee’s innovative, easy-to-install, and vibrant smart lights are guaranteed to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.
Powerful customization and control via app or smart assistants
CONS:
A bit expensive
Triangular light pattern might not appeal to some
Overwhelming mobile app
RATINGS:
AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
Bright, colorful, durable, and versatile, the high-quality Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights make sure you never have to buy and put up Christmas lights over and over again.
Christmas in Summer? Sure, why not? Especially if you can beat the summer heat and hold a raving ‘outdoor party at night. You’ll need to set the right atmosphere, though, to help your guests forget about the sweltering temperatures. And what better way is there to set a festive mood than with brilliant lights that dance to the music? Of course, those same outdoor lights could provide not only decoration but also safety at night, any time of the year. That’s the proposition that the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights is making, replacing your Christmas lights and staying beyond the winter holidays to be used all year round. These aren’t the first outdoor fairy lights in the market, though, so we took these unique-looking LED lights outdoors, hooked them up, and lit up the house to see if it can rise to the challenge and stand proud apart from the crowd.
You’ve probably seen your fair share of outdoor lights, fairy or otherwise, but if you haven’t, suffice it to say that the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights are nowhere near what you’d expect. Instead of bulbs sticking out of a strand of cable, you get LEDs enclosed in 3cm squares with a small clear dome covering the LED itself. Each square is set about a foot apart from each other on the flat cable, forming 6 segments that total a 100ft (50m) long string of light of lights that offers some flexibility in how you install them (more on that later). What all these mean is that the lights are designed to be minimalist and almost invisible, getting out of the way to let the lights take center stage.
Those lights definitely deserve all the attention because of their impressive output. Thanks to Govee’s RGBIC technology, each light is capable of showing any color within a range of 16 million. Of course, you won’t be looking at each LED on its own, and its real appeal comes through the combination of those lights, whether as a single stream of color or in a kaleidoscopic display. At 26 lumens per LED, the Outdoor Lights will definitely be an attention grabber, no matter what color you choose. That might also be a consideration you have to take in mind if there are related regulations about night lights in your area.
All-in-all, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights delivers a stunning visual, regardless of the holiday or occasion. They’re pretty much like super-powered Christmas lights you don’t have to take down and can use all throughout the year. You can even dim the lights a bit and use a solid swath of color to illuminate your house without making it look like you’re having a party every night. Thanks to its simple and minimalist design, there are no bulbs that stick out from roofs and eaves to steal the show. These outdoor lights are an effective and cost-effective way to make your house pop, any time of the year.
Ergonomics (Installation)
You won’t be handling these outdoor lights all the time, fortunately, but you will have to wrestle with them at least once when you install them on your house. Because they are meant to stay in their place, hence the “permanent” part of their name, you do have to take some time to properly plan out where you’ll be placing them. Fortunately, Govee is making it easy to install these strands of light, giving you plenty of flexibility to run the lights even along areas where you might not want to have any light at all.
That’s because the 100ft (30m) string of LEDs is actually divided into 6 strands, each with clearly-marked waterproof connectors so you can easily tell which end connects to which. There are also extension cables included in the box, in case you need to run the lights down from roof to wall but want to leave gaps in the lighting in those transitional areas. This also means you don’t have to force yourself to use all six segments if you don’t need to. Conversely, you can also extend the length with another 100ft set or the 3-segment 50ft (30m) set that Govee also sells.
Once all the planning is done, installing the lights is relatively painless, though still needs a bit of work to pull off. Each light square has a 3M adhesive that lets you easily stick them to any flat surface outside your house. There are also clips you can use to keep wayward clips in line. Once all the lights have been installed, the last bit is connecting the control box and the power box to finally light up your house. Connecting the lights to the Govee mobile app is just as painless and you’ll be off playing with the settings and features in no time.
Performance
The Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights are definitely one of those things that you have to see to truly appreciate their value. The bright lights can effectively illuminate your house, adding not only flavor but also safety at night. The lights might actually be too bright, so you might want to put on covers or blinds on windows if the lights are anywhere near them.
These Outdoor Lights are also smart lights, which means they’re meant to be controlled through a connected smartphone or via some smart assistants, particularly Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. This is where the lights really shine, pardon the pun, thanks to the countless ways you can change the way they look or behave. In fact, the sheer number of options available on the app might be overwhelming and confusing for new users. Fortunately, there are also plenty of presets available, including over 70 scenes that let you set the right mood for given occasions.
While there are plenty of ways to configure the Govee Outdoor Lights, one of the most interesting and most dramatic is the Music Mode, where the lights react to the music and sound it hears either through the phone or its control box, making them dance to the beat. Even better, you can harmonize multiple Govee products through DreamView mode to create a captivating synchronized Light Show. And when the party’s done, you can just ask Alexa or Google Assistant to turn the lights into a more peaceful hue to call it a night.
Due to its rather unique enclosure design, the light that the LEDs project has a rather distinctive triangular shape that’s even more visible if the lights are placed close to a wall. Unlike most fairy or string lights that wash the surroundings with a more or less even diffusion, the lights coming from the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights look more like mini spotlights with a wide-angle spread. It creates a rather unique visual effect, like sharp ridges or stairs, it’s an aesthetic that won’t appeal to everybody. That could be a deal-breaking design that potential buyers will have to consider before making this rather substantial purchase.
Sustainability
Like many outdoor lights, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights make use of plenty of plastic and some rubber, not exactly the most environment-friendly materials. Given design and production requirements, however, this is hardly surprising, but it’s definitely a big opportunity for Govee to further take the lead in the smart lighting market. Imagine a brand that not only delivers powerful smart lighting but sustainable products as well. That could be Govee a few years down the line!
The company does make up for it by making sure that its products don’t meet their untimely demise quickly. In other words, Govee lights are built to last, and these Outdoor Lights are no different. In fact, they’re even better, boasting an IP67 dust and water resistance rating that makes them ideal for use even in inclement weather. Even the control box and adapter are IP65 rated, truly marking them safe for outdoor use. As for the LEDs themselves, they’re advertised with a lifetime of up to 50,000 hours, around 5 years if you use them 24/7 (which you won’t anyway). Govee makes these affirmations regarding the durability of the RGBIC Permanent Outdoor Lights:
Successful operation test at 140 ℉
Successful operation test at -40 ℉
Passed operation test at a water depth of 49ft
Withstood a tensile force of 11.02lb
Endured manual pulling of over 10 pounds
Value
It’s easy to do a double-take when you see the $299.99 price tag attached to these lights, but it’s a first impression that won’t last long. Yes, it is a bit steep and pricier than other outdoor fairy lights, but few or none of those can even offer half of what Govee delivers. Some, for example, won’t even last more than two seasons of limited use during holidays only, let alone regular use both on or off-season. Few can also offer a quick and easy method of installing lights that you’ll leave in place until they die many years later. You don’t have to dread removing the lights after the festivities and can just leave them there for the next occasion or as regular night lights for the house.
The Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights also offer a level of control and customization you might only find in more expensive brands. There is, in fact, an overwhelming number of settings you can tweak to your heart’s content, making these outdoor lights not only beautiful but also versatile. Given all that, the $299.99 figure doesn’t look bad at all, especially when you consider that it’s a longer-term investment that will last you for years compared to cheaper lights where you truly get what you pay for.
Verdict
Summer isn’t just about beaches and camping (or glamping). Night pool parties and quiet times out on the porch are also common activities during this season, both of which require the right lights to set the right mood. You could get different lights for different occasions, or you could get the Govee RGBIC Permanent Outdoor Lights and have a versatile outdoor lighting solution for any occasion.
With a modular design and easy installation process, these Govee outdoor lights offer more flexibility in where and how you want to put them up. The bright and vibrant colors of the LEDs help create the atmosphere that you want, while the powerful mobile app put an almost endless array of options at your fingertips. Whether it’s a holiday, a seasonal party, or just a dark night, the Govee Permanent Outdoor Lights will make your house stand out and make you the talk of the town.
Mobile app presents plenty of automation and customization options
CONS:
The number of features can be a bit overwhelming
A little pricey for curtain lights
RATINGS:
AESTHETICS
ERGONOMICS
PERFORMANCE
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
EDITOR'S QUOTE:
With convenient smart features and nearly limitless customization options, the Govee Curtain Lights are must-haves for those who go all out on decorating their walls for any occasion.
Dynamic RGB lighting might be a common presence in gaming gear, but that doesn’t mean only gamers have been drawn to the mesmerizing and enjoyable display of these playful lights. There are indeed a few lighting products for “regular” consumers that allow them to display all the colors of the rainbow, but most of these are either static or too complicated to use, designed only for the hardest of hardcore DIYers. Something that hits a sweet spot between these two extremes is uncharted territory, which is what makes Govee’s new Curtain Lights quite a tempting prospect. Its feature list definitely checks a lot of boxes, but so do many “fairy lights” that promise a kaleidoscopic experience for every party or holiday. That’s why we rolled up our sleeves to put the Govee Curtain Lights to the test to see if they can deliver and make our days and nights brighter and more interesting.
To be honest, the Govee Curtain Lights are not much to look at when you pull them out of their simple yet functional packaging. You might even pass it off as regular rice or fairy lights, at least until you take a closer look and feel the product in your hands. From that moment onward, you know that you’re holding something special, hinting at the secrets it might be hiding inside.
Right off the bat, you will notice that the LED lights are different from typical curtain lights, particularly those that use bullet-like lights that extend from their thin cords. The teardrop-shaped LED beads are actually embedded in the flat cords that run down the length of the curtain, encased in a plastic material that’s more durable and less fragile than the typical glass of small LED bulbs. The light strands themselves also feel more solid and resilient, so you gain a bit of confidence in handling the curtain lights.
The Govee Curtain Lights’ unique design is fully revealed once you plug it in and turn it on. The 520 LEDs don’t immediately light up simultaneously, starting off with a pattern dance that showcases its dynamic properties, but even that is just the tip of the iceberg. What it does is give a memorable first impression, especially for those new to this rather new market. You’ll also immediately notice how bright the lights are, so bright that you might even want to put some thin curtain in front to dampen the light at times. That does mean that lights will be visible under bright ambient light, but you might have a harder time making out the details.
A single Govee curtain runs 4.9 x 6.5 feet, which should be an average size to cover a good portion of a wall or large windows. As we’ll see later, you can actually “connect” three of these together to work in harmony, but that means you’ll have to make provisions for three power adapters since you can’t daisy-chain those, unfortunately. Fortunately, Govee designed these lights to be easy to set up so placement won’t be much of a problem at least.
Ergonomics (Installation)
You won’t be handling the Govee Curtain Lights all the time, so the usual metrics of ergonomics and usability don’t really apply to it. Instead, the physical convenience and comfort come from the first-time installation and setup of the lights. You might only need to do these steps once unless you decide to move the lights to a different location, but that initial experience can make or break your enjoyment of the product just as much.
The good news is that Govee has made it trivial to install its Curtain Lights and even provides three options along with the necessary parts and tools, depending on how permanent you want the installation to be. If you plan on simply hanging the lights of an existing curtain track or rod, then simply screwing the buckles with G4 hooks is more than enough. There’s an option to also stick these buckles to walls using the provided adhesive strips, while more permanent setups might want to hammer in the seamless nails instead.
Interestingly, the light strings don’t get tangled up as much as you would expect during this process. That’s thanks to those beads that don’t snag on their neighbors, creating the tangled mess that many curtain lights are notorious for. The one detail you’ll have to consider is how some of the LED beads won’t be facing in the same direction, creating an uneven column of lights that may result in small “holes” in some areas. If uniformity is critical, you can also tape the strings down so that all the LEDs face forward.
Pairing the Govee Curtain Lights with the mobile app is also easy as pie, proving how experienced the brand is in this area. It can automatically detect the lights once plugged in, though you can also manually select the product if it’s having a harder time. Once Bluetooth pairing is done, you can also connect the curtain lights to your home Wi-Fi so that they can be controlled by smart assistants such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
Performance
The Govee Curtain Lights’ bright and colorful lights are already impressive on their own, but you didn’t spend money on just a wall of dotted lights. The real magic begins once you bridge the lights and the Govee app, opening up a whole new world of fun and convenience, whether you’re preparing for a holiday party, spicing up your livestream, or simply sprucing up your house.
The Govee app has plenty of features to control the curtain lights. In fact, there might be too many features that you can easily get lost in all the options and menus. Fortunately, there are a few presets already available that let you simply pick out a single color, a moving pattern, or even animated images. If you’re feeling more creative, however, you can upload your own GIF or draw your own masterpiece. Your creativity and imagination are the limits.
The Govee Curtain Lights boast 520 LEDs, each of which can be controlled individually, and its RGBIC technology bumps up the colors to 16 million hues. What this means, in practice, is that you get a “high-resolution display” that makes those patterns and images jump to life. That catch is that you really have to view them from just the right distance to really appreciate the quality. Too close and you won’t be able to make out the images. Too far and the colors tend to blend into each other.
These Curtain Lights have a neat trick when you put three of them in a row. You can connect all three to the same app and indicate their positions, creating a much wider canvas for even bigger images. They may seem like they’re moving as a whole, but it’s really just a trick of the app. These are still three distinct curtains, just controlled to sync the animations as if they were one.
There are plenty of ways to make the lights and colors move, but the one that will be the life of the party is Music Mode. Using the built-in mic on the control box, the Govee Curtain Lights will sync its patterns to the beat of the music. Technically, it just syncs to any sound it hears, so even voices will affect its display. It’s not a true visualizer, but its dynamism will surely be the talk of your friends.
Like any of Govee’s lighting products, the Curtain Lights can also be hooked up to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa for hands-free voice commands. The number of functions you can use here is more limited, mostly revolving around turning the lights on or off, changing the color, or adjusting the brightness. With this integration, however, you can tie the lights with automated scenes so that you won’t even have to lift a finger when it comes time to turn all the house lights off.
Sustainability
For all its innovation and convenience, the Govee Curtain Lights are unfortunately not exactly designed with sustainability in mind. The packaging is at least minimalist, but the composition of the lights themselves as well as the hooks contain less environment-friendly materials, particularly plastic. Then again, that’s not exactly surprising given the requirements of such a product, particularly when it comes to durability and survivability.
Govee, fortunately, makes for this by making sure that the Curtain Lights last as long as possible, even when used outdoors. The lights themselves are rated IP65, which means they won’t die after a heavy downpour. Even the adapter has IP44 dust and water resistance, so it isn’t as fragile as regular electronics, though you will have to take more precautions given you’re dealing with electricity. Along with the durable plastic material surrounding the LED beads, the string, and the power cord, Govee is guaranteeing that its curtain lights are going to see many holidays and parties, even if you leave them outside.
Value
There is very little doubt that the Govee Curtain Lights are one-of-a-kind, finally delivering the kind of customization power that more tech-savvy people have been enjoying for some time now, and packaging it in an easy-to-use product. It will easily liven up gatherings, catch the attention of livestream viewers, and put your house on the map. The question is, however, whether it’s worth the $129.99 price tag it comes with.
That’s admittedly higher than most curtain lights in the market today, but those can barely match Govee’s features anyway. There is also the upcoming Amazon Prime Day, where you’ll be able to grab these lights at a tempting price. The more important consideration is whether you can think of a use for the lights when the parties and holidays are over. They are not exactly general-purpose lights, unlike other Govee products, so it will boil down to whether these curtain lights have a place in your house all year round to make that $129.99 a worthwhile investment.
Verdict
We can always use a little pizzazz in our homes, whether it’s through furniture that injects some vibrancy into a space, or lighting that sets up the right mood. Wall and pendant lamps are often the go-to solutions for the latter, but Govee has delivered another option, one that inspires creativity and dynamism. The Govee Curtain Lights are easy to set up, ensuring that almost anyone can decorate their wall or window without breaking much of a sweat. The highly customizable app offers plenty of ways to control the lights, even through Alexa and Google Assistant. Everything about the lights screams ease-of-use, while also delivering power and control on a silver platter.
The Govee Curtain Lights practically give you a 4.9 x 6.5 ft canvas to showcase your creativity, interests, and passion. The bright and colorful LEDs and powerful app act as your paint and brush, giving you nearly complete freedom to create the design or animation that you really desire. Whether you’re gearing up for a summer night party, attracting new viewers to your channel, or simply making sure the house is well-lit, the Govee Curtain Lights will give your family, your friends, and even your neighbors a light show they will never forget.
Even with the rise of wireless earbuds, many people still prefer the more immersive audio experience provided by conventional headphones, whether wired or wireless. Different people will have different reasons for using these larger accessories, but almost all of them share a similar problem of not having a good place for them when not in use. Headphone holders or stands are nothing new, but most of them share the same design of having the headphones hang on a hook, forcing it to be balanced on a single point of the band’s arch. While such a design isn’t completely bad, especially for those aiming for minimalist aesthetics, it isn’t exactly inspiring and probably not the best way to show off your favorite audio accessory. It would definitely be swell if the headphone stand could also do something else other than, well, standing in place, and that’s the kind of visual appeal that this unique desk accessory brings using not only premium materials but a little play of light as well.
Headphone holders tend to hang the audio accessory a little above a table or shelf. The most common way to do that would be to hang it by a hook, but this leaves the headphones dangling almost precariously by a small piece of metal, wood, or plastic. It might even cause the headband to deform over time due to gravity, which isn’t a good way to take care of your favorite pair.
These LED headphone stands solve that problem by letting the headphones rest on a circular structure that follows the contours of its curve more naturally. The stand looks almost like a miniature and flat head, giving the resting headphones a more familiar yet characteristic look. The main body is also made of eco-friendly high-quality wood with a variety of veneer finishes that make the headphone holder stand out easily, even in its inert form.
Its true killer feature, however, is what sits in the middle of that “head”, a circular lantern with LED lighting that acts as the centerpiece and center of attraction. The colors of the LED lights can be changed to one’s tastes or, alternatively, have the lantern automatically cycle through those colors. Engravings on the front and rear glass surfaces of the lantern create wavelike patterns that further enhance the visual effect of the lights, making the stand look like a retro-futuristic product rather than a normal desk accessory.
Because of the lantern’s mild light, this LED headphone stand can also function as a night light for your room or accent light on your desk. It’s definitely an interesting design that elevates your headphones, literally and figuratively, while also functioning as an enchanting piece of decoration, even when your headphones aren’t resting on them.
If you’re looking for a new TV that offers excellent picture quality and a range of features, then the Sony 32 Inch 720p HD LED HDR TV W830K Series may be just what you need. This TV is available on Amazon at a great price and offers a lot of value for the money. The Sony 32 Inch 720p HD LED HDR TV W830K Series boasts a 32-inch display with 720p HD resolution. While this isn’t the highest resolution available, it’s still excellent for the price and provides clear and crisp visuals that will enhance your viewing experience. Additionally, the…
Clocks, especially the ones we put up on walls, are no longer the single-function products of ages past. Many of them also serve as decorations, sometimes to the point that telling the time has become secondary and almost optional. That’s the case for some clocks that look stunning in terms of aesthetics but sometimes at the expense of easy readability of the time. Given how wall clocks are rarely used to accurately read the time down to the minute, however, that shouldn’t be a problem for most cases anyway. That, in turn, allows for a lot more freedom in how to represent time. This beautiful DIY project, for example, almost completely does away with the convention of distinct clock hands, instead using different hues of light to let you eyeball the time to some extent.
Like many DIY wall clock projects, this Decorative Analog Clock involves quite a number of small electronics, wiring, and a bit of 3D printing. As the name suggests, however, this clock bucks the trend of defaulting to a digital presentation and clings to the analog way of telling time, at least in theory. In reality, it is completely driven by software, and the three distinct light colors each tell a different aspect of the time, just like physical hands.
Instead of ticking gears, the Decorative Analog LED Strip IoT Clock uses a small microchip that syncs with NTP (Network Time Protocol) server to know the time. This also controls a strip of 120 LEDs that is folded to form 60 pairs of LEDs back to back, running the strip inside a wide wooden ring that serves as the “face” of the clock. Although it would have been easier to 3D print a plastic ring cover, wood had the advantage of not only looking more stylish but also preventing the light from bleeding through.
The light uses the three primary colors of light (not pigment) to indicate time. Red is used to tell the seconds, and it only shines outward from the rim. Green is for the minutes, and its short light is also on the outer periphery of the circle. Finally, blue stands for the hour, and it is the only one that shines inside the hole of the ring.
In practice, this light analog clock isn’t exactly good at giving you the exact time since the lights can occupy more than just a single “tick” in the clock. It can still give you a general idea, though, which is what analog wall clocks are often used for anyway. As mentioned, the actual clock feature becomes secondary with these decorative clocks, and this DIY project definitely fulfills the primary purpose with much success, especially when the lights are dimmed. It creates a beautiful splash of colors on your wall, serving as a piece of light art that some might not even associate with a clock, even with the red light moving around the circle every second.
With technological advancement in the lighting industry, LED lights or light-emitting diodes are driving a lighting revolution and promising a bright future. LED lights are available in smaller sizes, have improved brightness, illuminate a larger area, and have enhanced qualities. In an LED light, when an electric current passes through a semiconductor material, energy is released in photons and transformed into visible light.
LED lights are becoming a popular substitute for conventional systems like incandescent and compact fluorescent lamps or CFLs.
Discover why LED lights are a smarter lighting option.
1. Long Lasting
As per studies, the average lifespan of LED lights ranges between 50,000 hours to 100,000 hours. These lights can offer 12 years of continuous lighting and even more if they are occasionally lit. Hence, one LED can nearly replace 25 incandescent lights, which is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint. This results in low maintenance and reduces the hassle of frequently replacing bulbs and tubes.
2. Consumes Less Electricity
LED lights use nearly fifty percent less energy than conventional lighting systems. These lights efficiently operate on low voltage and are, therefore, a perfect solution for solar-enabled outdoor lighting systems. LED lights consume less power and offer substantial savings in recurring electricity bills.
LED lights are primarily available in warm light for warm lighting and cool white for ambient or general lighting ranging between 6000K to 3000K. They are also available in a vast range of colors like red, yellow, green, and amber. Make a note that when LED lights age, they may change their color over a period of time.
4. Energy-efficient
The energy efficiency of LED lights is measured in luminous efficacy or useful lumens or the amount of light that the fixture emits for each unit of power or watt. LED lights are energy-efficient as they convert 80% of electrical energy into light and produce less waste light. On the other hand, incandescent light bulbs are only 20% efficient as 80% of energy gets lost as heat, resulting in higher electricity costs.
5. Cost-effective
From soft lighting to bright lighting, LED lights can be dimmed and provide flexibility in the lighting design. The micro-controllers can dim or brighten the LEDs for light, color and intensity of light. In addition, the lights can be dimmed with hardware made specifically for LED light technology.
LED lights are safe as they radiate very little heat and are not hot to the touch compared to CFL and incandescent lights. It does not contain hazardous materials like mercury. These lights offer an excellent surface temperature that reduces the risk of burns and does not emit harmful UV or infrared rays.
7. Directional Lighting
As LED lights release a single beam of light, it offers concentrated lighting and does not emit light in all directions. Conventional lights emit light at 360 degrees around the light source, while LEDs emit light at an angle of 180 degrees. Hence, LED lights emit light in a specific direction, do not require reflectors or diffusers to trap rays, and are perfect for recessed downlights and track lights. Also, fewer LED lights are required compared to incandescent lights to achieve the same brightness level. In addition, directional optics reduces light pollution and wasted energy that is usually used to illuminate areas that are not required.
Regular CFL and incandescent lights tend to flicker before they get turned, but LED lights do not require warm-up time. LED lights do not require starters or chokes, as these lights can brighten up immediately when switched on. Frequent switching does not affect its lifespan.
Color Rendering Index (CRI) measures the ability of the light fixture to reveal the natural color of whatever it illuminates under a white light source when compared to sunlight. LED lights have a high color rendering index. When purchasing white LED lights, it is highly recommended to go for a CRI value that is more than 90 as all colors are easily distinguishable.
From soft lighting to bright lighting, LED lights can be dimmed and provide flexibility in the lighting design. The micro-controllers can dim or brighten the LED’s for light, color and the intensity of light. The lights can be dimmed with hardware made specifically for LED light technology.
LEDs are sturdy and can withstand extreme summer heat and cold freezing temperatures. This makes LED lights suitable for cold temperatures, like refrigerators, cold storage and the outdoors.
12. Recyclable
LED lights are made of recyclable glass and aluminum. Unlike conventional incandescent and CFL lights, it does not contain toxic materials like mercury. Each LED light has a heat sink or a heat exchanger that absorbs the thermal energy generated by the LED light and dissipates the energy into the air. Aluminum is the most commonly used material for the heat sink of LED lights.
LED lights fit a wider range of functional and aesthetic applications than what they emit. They are available in various shapes, sizes and types too. These LED lights can be used as light fixtures or spaced out in a linear method. Alongside, LED bulbs are easy to install and can go into existing fittings of light fixtures of incandescent lights.
Industrial and Commercial lights
LED lights make a perfect fit for industrial uses and commercial applications like street lights, garage lights, walkways, outdoor lights and signage.
Ambient lighting
Ambient lighting is the primary source of light for any space. LED lights in the form of recessed downlights, ceiling-mounted LED lights, pendant lights can be used for the ambient lighting or the overall lighting of the space. Small solar LED lights can be used outdoors and in gardens to provide ambient lighting for pathways.
Task lighting is a form of direct lighting that increases the light for specific tasks like reading, cooking, writing, etc. For example, consider table lamps and floor lamps with LED lights for reading, while small and directional strip lights are ideal for undercabinet lighting on kitchen countertops.
Accent lights draw attention to interesting design features like artwork and architectural details. One can incorporate accent lights in the stairs, recessed niches, and accent walls. As LED lights offer focused light dispersal or directional lighting, they function as accent lights that channel brightness to a restricted zone. One can also consider colorful LED lights to accentuate some spaces.
Decorate the outdoors for holidays and festivals with string LED lights, as they consume less electricity and are cooler than incandescent bulbs. Led rope lighting is perfect for outdoor fountains.
Decorative LED Lights
Decorative lighting forms the fourth layer of interior illumination as it doubly functions as a design element. Ceiling fixtures like chandeliers, wall sconces and table lamps offer functional aesthetics.
Smart LED Lights
A Smart bulb is an internet-enabled LED light that can be customized and controlled remotely. In addition, smart LED bulbs eliminate the need for traditional wall switches, as it contains software that connects to an app, home assistant, or another similar accessory.
It’s that time of year again when many people start decorating their homes with sparkly stuff and an abundance of lights that are sure to make your electricity bill spike for a month or so. Of course, you don’t really need any excuse or occasion to spruce up your interiors, but there are admittedly some pieces of decor that are more appropriate for certain seasons than others. Conversely, some designs are also timeless, whether we associate them with certain holidays or not, and they add a certain flavor to your home no matter the time of year. This wreath, for example, might easily be associated with the Christmas season, but the almost magical experience of seeing heavenly bodies in your living room is something that will never grow old.
Designer: SPARKLE
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It might be puzzling for some people how starry lights are quickly associated with December holidays. After all, the stars shine all year round, and their timeless beauty captivates and inspires anyone who looks up at a clear night sky. Of course, not all night skies show the stars in their mystical majesty, so having them available in your home at any time could be a great idea to add not only light but also joy to the space.
Granted, just having small lights that resemble stars would probably be a bit boring, so the Sparkle Wreath adds a bit of artistic flair to the composition. On the one hand, you have large polystyrene balls that seemingly capture starlight inside their forms. On the other hand, you also have a lush fir tree branch that holds these magical spheres in place, as if suspending them in the air like luminous sprites resting on the branches of a tree.
These two elements provide an almost perfect harmony of complements, one earthbound, the other heavenward. The verdant branch, carefully arranged by a florist, provides an ideal backdrop that makes the yellowish stars really stand out. The starry globes, on the other hand, cast a gentle yet sublime glow on the greens, giving it an otherworldly appearance that will enchant you and your visitors at every glance.
As if that weren’t enough, the small LEDs that give each sphere its light creates a special hologram that changes the light inside. After all, stars flicker and glow in different ways, making them more mysterious and alluring. Likewise, this starry wreath offers a delightful display of light and foliage that will complement any motif you might have going, bringing enjoyment and perhaps even a little piece of happiness, no matter the time or season.
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