The Chic Ceiling Light Alternative That Adds A Custom Look To Any Dark Space

If there is one thing that the internet seems to unanimously agree on, it is disdain for overhead lighting. These "main lights" (aka "big lights") — often found in living rooms and bedrooms — somehow manage to be perceived as both overwhelmingly bright and too dim to be used as effective task lighting at the very same time. It's no surprise, then, that people who find themselves moving into homes without traditional overhead lighting are searching for ceiling light alternatives.

A company known as Skirtingline posted a video on TikTok showcasing their brand of side-illuminated linear light strips. These strips attach directly to the ceiling and emit light from the sides, avoiding the harsh downward angle of classic overhead lighting. They come in several different hardware colors and the lights can be toggled between three colors and infinitely dimmed. If you've been searching for stylish statement lighting ideas to serve as alternatives to traditional ceiling lights, side-illuminated linear light strips might be exactly what you need in your living space. 

While the video posted by Skirtingline on Tiktok showcases an impressive-looking product, attempting to buy the actual lighting strips featured proved to be quite difficult. Luckily, you can find several strip lighting diffuser channel products on Amazon to achieve a similar look for an affordable price. These products work as surrounds for traditional strip lighting, providing an evenly diffused light source and a more elegant aesthetic. For example, Thmoother is currently offering a set of six 16-inch channels for less than $16 on Amazon.

A diffuser channel is intended to be combined with a traditional strip light, like Govee's 16.4-foot dimmable LED light strip, currently available on Amazon for $19.99. Place the LED light strips inside the diffuser channels and attach the set to your ceiling in the configuration of your choosing. Depending on the type of strip lights you choose, you can feature brightly colored party lighting, bright white task lighting, warm and cozy mood lighting, or even rotate all three.