Can You Use LED Strip Lights Outdoor [5 Great Ways]

Do you want to use LED strips for exterior lighting to reduce the darkness at night?

Traditional bulbs will necessarily increase your electricity bill if you keep them turned ON all night. Indeed, LED strips are an affordable option to add some extra lighting to create a stunning atmosphere inside and outside the home.

Even if you keep them turned on all night, it will never increase your electricity bill. LED strips are energy efficient and save electricity up to 80% more than other traditional bulbs.

So, why not choose an LED strip to light up the external environment?

You might be thinking is it safe or not?

Because you have heard that moisture, dust, and temperature changes can damage LED strips.

So, can you put LED strips outdoors?

If you install LED strips outside, there may be a risk of damaging the strips. Furthermore, it can also cause electrical hazards because water is a good conductor of electricity.

That’s why, before installing LED strips outside, you need to make sure it is safe or not. And you also need to know what is a safe way to install LED strips outdoors.

Can You Use LED Strip Lights Outdoors?

You can use LED strips outdoors. However, it is essential to choose the right type of LED strips that are designed to face outside environmental conditions. Such LED strips are water-resistant and can bear weather changes. They are designed to protect against moisture and dust.

So, you can use them outside in a safe way according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Outdoor LED strips are easily available in stores. You can easily buy them from online stores or a nearby store.

Also Read

1. Using LED Strip Lights on Metal: What You Need to Know
2. Can LED Strip Lights Be Attached to Wood?
3. Is It Safe to Put LED Lights On Fabric?

Is there a Difference Between Indoor and Outdoor LED Strips?

Yes, indoor LED strips are different from outdoor LED strips.

Indoor LED strips are designed for the environment where they are safe from moisture, direct sunlight, and temperature changes. They are not waterproof and weatherproof. And also has a low cost.

On the other hand, Outdoor LED strips are designed according to the outdoor environmental conditions. Such strips are waterproof and weather-resistant. They are built to protect themselves from water and dust. Outdoor LED strips are slightly more expensive than indoor LED strips due to their extra features.

So, while lighting the outside of your home, workspace, or any other location, you need to buy outdoor LED strips to reduce any risk of electrical hazards or damage to the strips.

Outdoor LED Strip Lighting Ideas

There are many ways to light up the external environment of your home with LED strips. Everywhere you use LED strips, it will increase the beauty of the house.

Here are some ways to light up the exterior of your house:

1. Lighting and adding colors

LED strips are the perfect choice to light up the external environment. To reduce the darkness in front of your home, you can use strip lights over ordinary bulbs.

Outdoor LED strips are safe to use and will increase the safety of your property.

2. Sparkle Your Pool

LED strips are flexible and you can easily fix them around different shapes. Outdoor LED strips are waterproof, so you can easily use them to light up the pool without any risk. It creates a fantastic environment at night.

3. Illuminate Walkways

Dark walkways are fearful at night and people are scared to walk around them. You can easily light up your walkways or garden pathways while creating different colors with LED strips.

This will not only reduce the fear but also create a charming environment for the visitors.

4. Outdoor Artwork

If you have any outdoor artwork, sculpture, or architectural designs, you can use LED strips on them to highlight them.

5. Light Up Plants

You can wrap LED strips around the plants in your garden. This will highlight your plants at night and give an elegant look to your garden.

How To Install LED Strips Outside?

Installation of LED strips is a simple DIY project that you can do easily. But before installing, you should know how you can install it properly. Because one small mistake can cause big damage.

So, during installation, you have to be careful for the security and safety of your house and Strips.

Here is a step-by-step guide that you have to follow if you want to install LED strips outside safely:

1. Buy the right LED strips, that are specially designed for outdoor decorations.
2. Choose the location where you want to put LED strips and measure the length.
3. Cut the LED strips according to the desired length.
4. Prepare the surface for installation. Choose a smooth surface and clean it from dust.
5. Let the surface dry for proper adhesion.
6. Connect the LED strips to a power supply. It’s best to keep the power supply indoors or cover
   it with a weatherproof box.
7. Now, peel off the backing from the LED strips and install them in the place you chose for it.
8. You can also use the mounting clips for the secure connection and install them at the desired
   location. Carefully attach LED strips to the mounting clips.
9. Now secure all the connections. Monitor the insulation of wires regularly and replace or rewire
   them if needed.

Now you can enjoy the safe outdoor LED lighting. You can easily change the colors by using Remote or App. You can see How to control LED strips with a remote or phone.

Are there Solar Powered Outdoor LED strips?

Yes, solar-powered outdoor LED strips are also available with solar panels. Such LED strips are waterproof and weather-resistant which makes them a perfect choice for outdoor lighting. Such lights are cuttable and flexible. You can easily install them at corners or around different shapes. These strips come with a remote controller. You can easily control their functions, changing color, and brightness levels. etc using a remote.

Installation of such LED strips is the same as discussed above. They come with self-adhesive 3M tape that can be used for long-term installation