Everyone Loved It In The '80s: The Living Room Lighting To Recreate With Modern Tech

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Neon was a big hit in the '80s, and neon lighting, in particular, was a luxe addition to many nightclubs and bars of the time. While it fell out of favor for a while, neon is back, and there is a way to use the '80s trend in your home without it looking outdated. Rather than using the traditional neon lights with highly saturated colors and glass tubing, modern colorful lighting can be more subdued. Folks today prefer pastel colors and a soft ambiance that creates a gentle tone for the space. And while neon signs are still popular for some applications, like a Gen Z gamer aesthetic, it isn't the only way to capture the essence of this '80s trend. Colorful, neon-inspired lighting, like color-changing bulbs, could add a playful touch to your space.

If you're wondering whether neon light fixtures are a cute home accent or seriously outdated, color-changing lightbulbs could be a good alternative. Like modern neon lights, which are often powered by LED bulbs, they can come in an array of colors that can be changed via a remote or an app. The Philips Hue LED Smart Bulbs are a good example. Additionally, color-changing light bulbs can function like normal bulbs whenever needed, meaning you don't have to take down LED strips, neon signs, or alternative neon-inspired lighting when you change your aesthetic.

To achieve the soft and colorful glow of neon lights, you can use Philips Hue bulbs in place of some of your 60W lightbulbs around your home. These colored bulbs utilize technology powered by Chromasync to achieve a variety of colors. Chromasync can be accessed via an app or your home's voice control systems, like Alexa. This allows you to achieve the exact color you want with tech that is right at your fingertips. Additionally, bulbs like the Philips Hue can be ultra-customizable, so you aren't saddled with a color that isn't quite the same as your existing palette. They can be dimmed down to 0.2% and have a large scope of color temperatures from 1000K to 20000K.

While these bulbs offer a breadth of possibilities, they also come at a steeper price tag. A 3-pack of the Philips Hue E26 Smart Bulbs costs $134.99 on Amazon. Additionally, while the Chromasync smart tech doesn't require a home hub or smart system since the lights are Bluetooth compatible, some features may not be accessible to everyone without a hub, depending on the specific light fixture and its limitations. Of course, knowing how to use color to create a contemporary retro '80s style in your home is just as important as knowing the right bulb to use, so be sure to consider color theory when inviting colorful lighting to your space.