Help with lighting choices for shelving

[Wadeski]

So this corner of my apartment needs some lighting help.

Previously there were no lights nearby, making it gloomy.

I had power run up above the bookshelf, along with a wireless remote switch, with the aim of (1) installing some LED strips around the shelves and (2) putting a diffuse light on the painting, so it looks good at night.

Right now I’m using an old lamp in the shelves and an uplighter turned on its side up top as a temporary measure.

Im looking for some advice on what kinds of shelving lights work well (it looks like LED strips are popular on Amazon, and as the shelves sit about 2 inches away from the wall, i could mount them to the back to hvae more glow than glare?), as well as recommendations on a soft, diffuse lamp to light the painting without a hotspot. The latter i have no idea what is available or recommended.

Thanks, PH...

[Belle427]

Pity you cant utilise that boxing in the corner for some small led downlights, do you know what`s in it?

[GetCarter]

I'd mount LED strips on the back for glow (as you say). But be warned, the sticky strips will eventually come unstuck, so use drawing pins or similar at each end to make sure they last.

Multi coloured strips will let you choose the mood (via a remote). A cream light will look better than a white light IMHO.

[Wadeski]

Belle427 said:

Pity you cant utilise that boxing in the corner for some small led downlights, do you know what`s in it?

Its a solid concrete beam.

I could “extend” it with drywall and make if wide enough for lights, but thats a lot of work and $$$ for two spotlights.

[BalhamBadger]

Could you fit some wooden beading to the concrete beam and hide led strips behind it to then ‘wash’ light down over the picture?

[DrJFoster]

GetCarter said:

I'd mount LED strips on the back for glow (as you say). But be warned, the sticky strips will eventually come unstuck, so use drawing pins or similar at each end to make sure they last.

Multi coloured strips will let you choose the mood (via a remote). A cream light will look better than a white light IMHO.

Thats what we've got on two bookshelves. They light up the wall behind and we can control them with a myriad of options including sound activation giving a disco vibe when wanted, but generally we just have them set to a warm hue as we can colour control them, but if we had our time again I'd probably just go a warmish white.