Hi everyone,
I'm planning a few lighting upgrades around the house and would appreciate some advice before I start purchasing components and getting an electrician involved.
I've attached photos and a few concept mock-ups of the areas I'm considering.
Walk-In Robe
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IKEA ÖVERSIDAN wardrobe lighting.
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Looking at mounting the lights towards the front of the compartments rather than at the rear.
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Additional lighting under the centre glass shelf.
Bedroom Wardrobes
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Three separate built-in wardrobes with glass doors.
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Looking at 4000K COB LED strip lighting mounted under the front edge of the upper shelves.
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Door sensor activated.
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Goal is a clean premium look rather than a retail/display cabinet appearance.
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Considering aluminium channels with diffusers.
Kitchen
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Under-cabinet LED strip lighting under the overhead cabinets.
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Potentially extending the lighting around the end panel in the butler's pantry.
Living Room
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LED bias lighting behind the TV.
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LED strip lighting around the TV cabinet/joinery.
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Looking for a subtle architectural glow rather than RGB effects or anything flashy.
Laundry
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LED strip lighting under overhead cupboards.
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Interested in practical task lighting rather than decorative lighting.
Bathrooms
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LED backlit mirrors in the ensuite, main bathroom and powder room.
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Interested in whether people have automated their mirrors and whether it's worth doing.
Existing Setup
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Hubitat C-7
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MCO Home Z-Wave switches throughout the house.
What I'm Looking For
I'm mainly interested in hardware recommendations and best practices:
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Preferred LED strip brands.
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COB vs standard LED strips.
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12V vs 24V.
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Recommended LED drivers/transformers.
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IKEA ÖVERSIDAN vs custom LED strip solutions.
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Recommended controllers if required.
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Hardware that has proven reliable over the long term.
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Products you would avoid.
I may not have spare MCO switches available in all locations, so I'm also interested in how others would approach switching and control where there isn't an existing smart switch available.
A Few Specific Questions
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Would you get an electrician to install dedicated power points for drivers/transformers in the wardrobes, WIR, TV cabinet, kitchen cabinetry and laundry, or is there a better approach?
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Would you centralise drivers/transformers or locate them close to each installation?
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Best way to power multiple wardrobe lights from a single location?
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Any recommendations for TV bias lighting and cabinet lighting?
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Would you choose RGB/RGBW strips or stick with single-colour white strips for these applications?
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If RGB, where do you think it genuinely adds value?
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Has anyone automated LED bathroom mirrors, and was it worth it?
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Anything you wish you had done differently before closing cabinetry or wardrobes back up?
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If you're based in Australia, where are you buying your LED strips, aluminium profiles, drivers, controllers and sensors?
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Any suppliers or brands you'd particularly recommend or avoid?
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For those who have completed similar projects recently, what sort of hardware and installation costs did you end up paying?
Preferences
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Leaning towards 4000K natural white throughout.
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High CRI where possible.
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Dimmable.
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Open to RGB/RGBW if there is a genuine benefit.
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Clean, even illumination with no visible LED dots.
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Focus on practical architectural lighting rather than coloured effects.
Photos, product recommendations and examples of your own installations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
