Introduction: Indirect Light Behind the Couch

By zgz | makerspace
About: me

The indirect light helps create a relaxed atmosphere in the rooms while also performing a decorative function. They also help to save energy by being low power.

I made this one several years ago, but the double-sided tape finally get detached (I apply it directly on the side of the strips, witch isn't flat). So this project is a restoration including improvements.

At that time, I know little about Arduino and nothing about NeoPixels, so I use the Dioder series from IKEA.

Step 1: Materials

We need the following material (can be adapted as desired, needed or availability):

  • Set of lights, wires and controller.
  • Double-sided tape and/or screws (and wall stick for them).
  • Plastic filament (the color at your will).
  • Solder.
  • Small magnets (I get mine from spoiled speakers).
  • A couch :P

And tools (not all needed, depending on the fasten method selected):

  • Scissors.
  • 3D printer.
  • Solder Iron.
  • Screwdriver.
  • Drill

Step 2: Construction

First we need to print the clips to fasten the strips. Here are the models.

Use clips 2 per strip and snap them to it.

Now attach the small magnets, with double-sided tape, to the strip for the mast. This one is ready to use, attach wherever you want (being a curved magnetic surface).

I haven't enough strips to make an uniform line across all the couch, so I decided to put one single strip behind every seating place.

The next step is measure and mark on the wall the position where we want to put the strips. If you want to use screws drill the holes, put wall stick and screw the clips, otherwise fix the clips with the double-sided tape.

Finally fasten the controller to the wall.

Now its time for wiring. I think that one of the reason (the other is the bad contact of the adhesive as side of the strip is not a flat surface) why the strips fell off the first time was the weight of the hanging wires. Also, long wires means messy tangle. So let's go, cut the wires to the desired long (a little longer to avoid being too tight) and re-solder the connector. This connector is not intended to be unmounted, so this is not an easy task (this step is not essential, you can leave the wires as they are).

Make the connections and the work is done!!! OK, probably you have to move the couch to it's original position.

Step 3: Result

OK, this project is very simple to perform. But I think the result is very showy.

So let's see the dark and the colors!!!