Brighten Up Your Boring Wall Decor With LED Lights

If your wall art or mirrors are feeling a little blah lately, you don't need to buy new décor to switch things up. Instead, you can try this renter-friendly lighting trick to bring your wall décor to life: Add a rechargeable LED strip light to the back of your chosen item. It takes less than five minutes, costs under $20, and totally changes the vibe of your space. Instead of swapping out your décor, you're just adding some subtle backlighting to make it pop. As you put this together, be sure to avoid these mistakes everyone makes when installing LED strip lights.

To try it, take down your art, shelf, or mirror and lay it face down on a flat surface. Grab a rechargeable LED strip light (any peel-and-stick style will do,) and run it around the outer back edge of the piece. Stick a battery base on a flat section near the bottom so it's easy to access without getting in the way. Once everything's secured, hang your piece back up and flip the switch. 

That soft, glowy light adds instant depth and looks especially good at night or in low-light corners. This lighting tip works well on just about anything: framed art, canvas prints, floating shelves, and even thrifted mirrors. Since the lights are rechargeable, you don't need an outlet or any messy cords. It's a low-effort, high-impact upgrade that's perfect for renters or anyone looking to level up their space without spending money on new wall décor. You can also try illuminating your space by transforming Dollar Tree shelves into a floating wall light to mix with this LED solution.

Once you've decided where you want your LED lighting to go, there are plenty of ways to tweak the look so it fits your style. You can use warm white lights for a cozy, relaxed feel, or go for cool white if you prefer something clean and modern. Color-changing strips with remote controls are also an option if you want to play around with moods or holiday themes. Try red and green for Christmas and purple and orange for Halloween.

It's also a good idea to consider tips and tricks that will make installing LED strip lights a breeze, like planning ahead and laying your LED strip out before you actually attach it. If you're working with shelves, try sticking the lights underneath instead of around the back. That gives a spotlight effect for your plants or keepsakes placed on it. For bigger pieces like mirrors or headboards, layering the lights in two rows creates a soft halo effect that feels designer-level, even if you're working with a tight budget. 

If you're short on space, you can trim your LED strip to size using the marked cut points. The battery pack may stick out, but you can spray paint it to match the back of your frame or use Velcro so you can easily remove it for charging. This DIY LED light trick works whether you're styling up a gallery wall or adding ambiance to a bedroom. It's simple, renter-friendly, and way more affordable than rewiring your place for custom lighting or completely redoing your wall art.