An LED strip light is a versatile and stylish solution for outdoor lighting, offering both practicality and aesthetic appeal. When properly installed, LEDs provide pleasant ambient lighting, enhance safety, and highlight the architectural features of your yard or building.
LED strip light: advantages in outdoor use
The ways LED strip lights are used have diversified, and as a result, their popularity has grown. An LED strip combined with an aluminum profile, plastic cover, and end caps offers a great solution in many ways:
Long life – High-quality LED strips can last up to 50,000 hours, significantly reducing maintenance needs. This means LED strip replacement may only be necessary every 8–10 years, and their light output remains consistent over time. When installed carefully and with the right products, LEDs are a highly low-maintenance lighting solution.
Weather Resistance – LED strips designed for outdoor use are water- and dust-resistant (with a high IP rating), making them well-suited for changing weather conditions. Especially in northern climates, it’s important to choose LEDs that can withstand both freezing temperatures and moisture. LedStore’s LEDs and profiles are built to endure such conditions. When an LED strip is mounted inside a covered aluminum profile, the slight warmth generated by the LED helps keep it functioning even in sub-zero temperatures.
Versatility – LED strips are available in various colour temperatures of white, RGB colors, different power levels, and with adjustable features such as dimming and programmable light effects. Additionally, when connected to smart control systems, LED strips can be customized and scheduled to suit the user’s needs. Wide range of widths allows installation several spaces, and flexibility makes it possible to create a variety of shapes.
Installation locations and applications
Eave lighting with LED strip lights
Installing LED strip lights along the eaves of a house creates a beautiful glow that highlights the building’s shape and improves visibility in the dark. Eave lighting also enhances home security by providing even illumination around yard areas. Additionally, LED strips mounted under the eaves can accentuate architectural details such as balcony structures.
LED strip light as step lighting on the terrace
Lighting stairs and walkways with LED strips enhances both safety and aesthetics, especially when moving around after nightfall. The strip can be installed underneath the steps or along railings, providing even and soft illumination without glare. Stair lighting is particularly important in areas with low light, as it helps reduce the risk of tripping. Additionally, step lights can serve as a visual feature, giving outdoor spaces a polished and refined look.
Railing lighting with LED strip lights
LED strips integrated into railings improve visibility on terraces, balconies, and other outdoor areas. This solution is especially well-suited for spaces where existing structures are stylishly incorporated into the lighting design. LED railing lighting provides pleasant pathway illumination and highlights the shapes of the railings, resulting in a cohesive and polished overall look.
LED strips can create striking lighting effects when used with various wall structures. The light reflects beautifully along the illuminated surface. One of the advantages of railing lighting is that the LED strip is often sheltered from the weather under the railing.
Outdoor kitchen and pergola
Lighting an outdoor kitchen and pergola with LED strips creates an inviting atmosphere in your outdoor space. LED strips can be used to highlight structural features or provide soft, pleasant lighting for seating areas. In pergolas, well-positioned LED lighting makes the space cozy and functional without being too bright or causing glare. In an outdoor kitchen, LED strips also serve as practical task lighting, making cooking easier. Adding a dimmer to the strips offers more flexibility for setting the mood.
Installation tips for LED strip lights in outdoor spaces
Protect your LED from outdoor conditions like this
Choose an LED strip that can withstand moisture and dust. IP65-rated strips are well-suited for outdoor use, but if the strips are exposed to heavy water or rain, it’s better to go with an IP67 or even IP68-rated option that can handle continuous submersion. However, these are typically offered by pool lighting manufacturers. At LedStore, we recommend choosing a silicone-coated strip and protecting low-voltage connections and cut points from water using hot glue or silicone.
Weather resistance doesn’t only mean water resistance—UV radiation can also affect the plastic components of LED strips. Therefore, LED strips intended for outdoor use should be UV-protected to prevent material degradation over time. An aluminum profile with a plastic cover shields the strip from direct UV exposure. In winter, LED strips should withstand freezing temperatures without losing brightness. LedStore’s strips are built to endure harsh frost. During installation, make sure all connections and the power supply are protected from moisture and dust to keep the lighting functional in all weather conditions. Especially for connections to mains power, installation is safest when carried out by a qualified electrician.
Choosing a power supply for outdoor conditions
Make sure the power supply is suitable for outdoor conditions and powerful enough for the strip. The power consumption of LED strips depends on their length and brightness. It’s important to calculate the required wattage in advance. For example, an LED strip consuming 7.2 W/m can be powered over 5 meters with a 40-watt power supply. A bright 20 W/m strip won’t even light up with a 40-watt supply. It requires at least 115 watts of LED output power to ensure consistent brightness along the entire strip and to prevent premature power supply failure.
Placing the power supply in a protected enclosure prevents exposure to rain and splashing water. It’s important to ensure that the power supply cables are long enough and that their connections are waterproof, so the lighting system operates safely without the risk of short circuits. LedStore’s drivers are high-quality and include the necessary protective features.
At LedStore’s Paja, our custom service prepares LED strips ready for installation, ensuring that all installation details are carefully considered for a durable result. We also provide tips and design support for all types of LED projects.
How to make a permanent installation for LED strips outdoors
Use high-quality mounting materials such as aluminum profiles, which protect the LED strip and ensure long-term durability. The surface of the aluminum profile is smooth and helps dissipate the heat generated by the LED. It prevents the strip from bending or breaking, which is especially important outdoors where weather conditions can vary significantly. The profile also shields the strip from dirt, insects, and mechanical damage such as impacts or pressure. To attach the profile to the structure, you can use the included mounting clips. Clips keep everything securely in place without the need to drill unnecessary holes in the aluminum profile.
If using an aluminum profile isn’t possible during LED strip installation, we recommend models that come pre-encased in a protective rubber cable, known as LED NEON strips. Our selection includes several types of NEON strips that are durable and tightly sealed. They are suitable for embedding directly into stair surfaces without risk of damage during use.
Control options for outdoor LEDs are versatile
It’s worth exploring home automation or smart control systems, which allow you to adjust brightness and, depending on the LED features, also color tones as needed. Smart lighting enables scheduling, so LED strips can turn on and off automatically at set times. Traditional timer switches can also be connected to LED strip drivers. Automatic brightness and color temperature adjustment is especially convenient if you want to create mood lighting that adapts to the natural light throughout the day.
LED strips can also be controlled using wireless controllers such as remote controls. Smart lighting is typically managed through a mobile app or even by voice commands, such as with the Tuya platform, which is compatible with systems like Google Assistant. This greatly expands the flexibility of lighting control. For certain outdoor LED strip drivers, it can be useful to connect motion sensors that automatically activate the lights when movement is detected nearby—ideal for areas like stairs or pathways that aren’t used constantly. Additionally, LED strips can be integrated into broader smart home systems, such as weather sensors that adjust light brightness based on current weather conditions.
And of course, it’s always possible to turn the lights on and off with a standard wall switch if automation isn’t needed. At LedStore, there’s a control option to suit everyone’s needs.
Lastly
When installing LED strip lighting outdoors, it’s important to pay attention to many details rather than investing in long-lasting lighting without proper planning. Key considerations include the power and tone of the LED strip, protection against the elements, the power supply, mounting method, and control options. When all these factors are properly addressed, LED lighting will bring both ambiance and practical illumination to your outdoor space for years to come.
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Welcome to Lamppukauppa LedStore’s showroom to explore lighting possibilities and design the perfect solution for your space. We serve a wide range of customers—consumers, resellers, and businesses alike.
You’ll find us at Mesikukantie 16, 01300 Vantaa (Koivuhaka).
Feel free to contact us by phone at +358 45 251 4510 or by email at myynti@ledstore.fi.
