Strip selection
LED density: 60 LEDs/m (1m strip = 60 LED — typical 14.4W/m); 120 LEDs/m (denser, no dotting — 19.2W/m); 240 LEDs/m (extreme density, special applications). Chip: 2835 (most common cove); 5050 (older, brighter); 3528 (older, less efficient). PCB width: 8mm narrow (fits small cove channel — recommended); 10mm/12mm wider. Colour: fixed white (2700K warm — most common; 3000K kitchen; 4000K cool — avoid domestic); tunable white (2-chip 2700K+6500K mixed — premium); RGB (full colour, novelty/cinema); RGBW or RGBWW (colour + tunable white — premium cinema + circadian). CRI (Colour Rendering Index): 80+ basic; 90+ premium domestic (renders skin tones + food accurately); 95+ specialist art/cinema. Brand: Collingwood Halers H6 Pro, Sevenoaks Premium, Hue lightstrip (smart wireless), KSR Lighting, Astro Trimless — £15–£185/m raw strip. IP rating: IP20 dry interior cove; IP65 silicone-sealed wet area (bathroom, outdoor, kitchen splash zone — common premium spec for bathroom mirror + under-vanity).
Driver + control
Constant-voltage driver (24V or 48V DC): converts mains 230V to safe extra-low voltage; sized for total strip wattage × length (e.g. 14.4W/m × 5m = 72W → 100W driver minimum for headroom). Brands: Mean Well HLG (industrial reliable), KSR PowerLine, Aurora AOne, Lutron Soraa. Location: outside cove for serviceability — typically in nearby ceiling void with hatch access; cove install drivers fail = whole strip down + difficult retrieval. Dimming: TRIAC-compatible driver dims via standard wall dimmer (1.5mm² T+E supply); 0-10V driver dims via control wire from smart controller (KNX, Loxone, DALI); RDM/DALI for individual cove zone control. Smart control: Casambi Bluetooth mesh, Lutron Caséta, Loxone, KNX, Philips Hue (smart bulb-only retrofit alternative). Cove channel: aluminium extrusion (Anodised silver or black — Klus, KSR, Astro) houses strip + diffuses light + acts as heat-sink (LED life depends on heat dissipation — never glue strip directly to plasterboard); diffuser opal lens softens hot-spot dotting; £15–£45/m channel + diffuser. Construction: 18mm MDF/plywood backing in cove + aluminium channel screw-fixed + strip in channel + diffuser snap-on + drive cable into ceiling void.
Applications
Ceiling cove (perimeter ceiling-to-wall): ambient indirect light reflecting off ceiling — soft, even, no glare; typical living + bedroom + master suite; combines with downlight + pendant layered scheme; very effective for low ceilings (visually 'lifts' ceiling height). Coffer (recessed ceiling panel): up-lit cove around recessed central panel — premium living/dining/cinema feature; double-layered light effect. Cabinet under-light (kitchen): 6mm IP20 strip under wall cabinet shadow-line — task light for counter; 2700K or 3000K; specify >800lm/m for adequate task brightness. Bathroom mirror + vanity: IP65 silicone strip behind mirror or under floating vanity — wash + ambient combined; tunable white premium. Stair: stair-tread up-light or recessed riser strip — wayfinding + safety + drama; warm white 2700K + motion-activated dim level + manual override. Picture rail / dado rail: integrated LED strip — premium heritage spec; concealed in cornice or rail joinery. Cost: £45–£85/m basic install (raw strip + driver + 1.5mm² supply); £85–£185/m premium (channel + diffuser + tunable white + smart control + warm-dim driver).
