Led strip selection guide

LED strips offer a versatile and stylish way to illuminate different spaces in your home. The different powers, colors and numbers in the strip name may seem confusing at first, but in reality, choosing the right product only requires understanding a few things. The use and space for which the strip is to be used determine the appropriate lighting power, color or color temperature and moisture protection. Here is a practical guide to choosing an LED strip.

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1. Power – how bright should a LED strip be?

The power of an LED strip is expressed in watts per meter (W/m), which indicates the power of the strip and at the same time how much light it produces. The power of the strip directly affects the space or use for which the strip is suitable. All LED strips are also dimmable, meaning that a strip that is too bright can always be dimmed to suit.

• 5-8 W/m – for mood lighting
  • 300-800 lm/m
  • Applications: Behind a TV stand, as a backlight for a bed or headboard, in wall recesses, in furniture, in plinths
  • Why choose it? Provides soft, indirect light that does not dazzle. Perfect for evening lighting or to create a peaceful atmosphere without over-illuminating the space
• 10 W/m – for general lighting
  • 900-1200 lm/m
  • Applications: Under kitchen cabinets and in the space between them, in wardrobes, on ceiling/wall moldings in hallways, indirect lighting in rooms
  • Why choose it? Provides enough light for daily use without the brightness becoming distracting. Suitable for example for kitchen worktops and intermediate spaces, if the general lighting in the room comes from elsewhere
• 15 W/m – Large spaces, task lighting
  • 1200-1500 lm/m
  • Applications: Kitchen worktops, work desks, garages, craft or hobby spaces, outside the house, large and high rooms
  • Why choose it? Provides bright and efficient light for working and lighting large spaces or the yard. For example, when working with small details or even when assembling miniature models, good lighting makes the work easier and more accurate

2. Color temperature and color – the “mood” of light

Color temperature affects how a space feels – warm or cool, cozy or professional, traditional or modern. Choose the color temperature according to the purpose of the space and other lighting.

• 3000 K (warm white)
  • A warm tone resembles a traditional incandescent lamp and provides a cozy atmosphere. Relaxing, soft light for evening use or to create a mood.
• 4000 K (neutral/pure white)
  • Brighter, pure white light that reproduces colors accurately as they are. Wakes you up in the morning and supports concentration during the day.
• CCT - Adjustable color temperature
  • Allows you to choose the color tone of the light between 2700-6500K, i.e. from very warm (yellowish) to cool (bluish) depending on the situation and needs
  • Provides flexibility – a warm tone for evenings and relaxation and a bright one for working. A very good choice for smart home systems and modern interiors.
• RGB + CCT - Adjustable color and color temperature
  • The RGB letter combination means that the strip has all colors that can be adjusted continuously. If the strip also mentions CCT, it means that the strip also has white LEDs with adjustable color temperature. See CCT above.
  • The most versatile option of all. Thanks to the colors, it is suitable for various decorations and mood lighting, for children's rooms and behind TV stands, and also works in traditional lighting.

3. Protection rating

The protection rating indicates how well the LED strip is resistant to dust and water. This is especially important in certain areas, such as the bathroom or outdoors.

• IP20 – for dry indoor use only
  • Intended for dry areas of the home where the strip does not come into contact with moisture: kitchen, living room, bedrooms, toilets, etc.
• IP65 – protected from moisture - for outdoor use, damp areas or demanding conditions
  • Applications: Above bathroom mirrors, sauna dressing rooms or bathrooms, terraces, exterior walls, under sauna benches or backrests
  • Why choose? Fully protected from dust and water spray. Also resistant to snow and rain, so it works well as an outdoor light

4. Choosing a transformer for your LED strip

LED strips operate on DC voltage (usually 12V or 24V), so they do not work directly from a wall socket, but require a transformer to convert the mains voltage (230V) to the correct voltage. First, make sure the voltage of the strip you are using (12V or 24V). After this, you can easily calculate the size of the transformer you need.

LED strip transformer sizing

Calculating the required power:

For example, if you have 5 meters of 10 W/m LED strip → 5 m × 10 W = 50 W.
Add a 20–30% safety margin → choose a transformer with at least 60W.

Different types of transformers:

• Standard (non-dimmable): For basic use, e.g. indirect lights without the need to dim with a wall switch.
• Dimmable transformer: Allows you to dim the light from a wall switch (traditional TRIAC dimmer) or from a smart system. Important, for example, in bedrooms or living rooms