Lighting Is More Than Brightness: Practical Lessons from a Small Project

While working on a small lighting setup recently, I realized how often lighting is treated as an afterthought — even though it has a huge impact on usability and comfort.

The original goal was simple: create clean, even lighting for a workspace using LED strips. What I learned along the way was more interesting than expected.

1. Consistency matters more than peak brightness
   An evenly lit surface feels better than a brighter but uneven one. Voltage drop, strip length, and power entry points all affect the final result.

2. Indirect light is easier on the eyes
   Bouncing light off a wall or diffuser made long work sessions far more comfortable than direct exposure.

3. Small hardware choices add up
   Diffusers, mounting angle, and color temperature often matter more than raw LED specs.

This project reminded me that good lighting sits at the intersection of electronics, design, and human perception.

How do you usually approach lighting in your projects?

Do you prioritize electrical design or physical layout first?

Any rules of thumb you’ve developed over time?

Looking forward to learning from others here.