I've done something similar behind my TV stand, and honestly, glare hasn't been an issue at all. Actually, the indirect lighting seems to reduce eye strain during movies—especially those darker scenes. Plus, choosing warmer tones instead of bright whites or blues helps keep reflections minimal. It's surprising how such a small tweak can make movie nights feel cozier and more immersive...definitely worth experimenting with different placements and colors to find your sweet spot.
"Actually, the indirect lighting seems to reduce eye strain during movies—especially those darker scenes."
Definitely agree on indirect lighting helping with eye strain. A few quick points from my experience:
- Positioning lights behind or slightly above eye level usually works best to avoid glare.
- Dimmable bulbs are great—being able to tweak brightness depending on the movie or time of day makes a noticeable difference.
- Warmer tones are good, but I've found neutral whites (around 3000K) can also work well without feeling too clinical.
Small adjustments can really elevate the viewing experience...worth playing around with.
I've had pretty good luck with smart bulbs myself—mostly because I'm lazy and don't wanna get up to adjust lights mid-movie. Have you tried setting up scenes or automations yet? I find that helps a lot, especially if you watch movies regularly. I do agree about indirect lighting, but personally, I prefer slightly warmer tones (around 2700K) for movies...neutral whites feel a bit too office-y for me. But hey, everyone's room is different.
Have you experimented with bias lighting behind your TV yet? I've found that indirect ambient lighting—especially around 2700-3000K—really helps reduce eye strain and enhances contrast perception during movies. Scenes and automations are great, but placement and diffusion matter a lot too. Are you using lamps or ceiling fixtures for your smart bulbs? Depending on your setup, adding some diffusers or bouncing the light off walls can make a noticeable difference in comfort and visual quality.
I've messed around with bias lighting a bit, but honestly, I'm still on the fence about it. I agree that bouncing the light off walls helps—direct lighting behind the TV was way too distracting for me. Right now, I'm using smart bulbs in floor lamps placed in corners, diffused through fabric shades. Seems decent enough, but maybe I'm missing something... Have you noticed a big difference between using dedicated LED strips versus regular smart bulbs for bias lighting? Curious if it's worth the extra hassle.
