Why do people put lights behind their tvs?

People put lights behind their TVs for a variety of reasons, primarily to enhance the viewing experience and create a more comfortable and visually appealing environment. Here's why this trend is popular and the benefits it offers:

1. Reduce Eye Strain

• Contrast Adjustment: One of the main reasons people place lights behind their TVs is to reduce eye strain. When you're watching a TV screen in a dark room, the bright, high-contrast light from the screen can be taxing on your eyes. By adding a soft, ambient light behind the TV, the contrast between the bright screen and the dark surroundings is reduced, making the experience more comfortable.
• Balanced Lighting: The light from behind the TV helps to balance the room's overall lighting, reducing the intensity of the TV’s brightness and making the transition from the screen to the surrounding space less jarring. This is particularly important for longer viewing sessions, as it prevents your eyes from having to adjust constantly between the bright screen and dark room.

2. Improve Picture Quality

• Ambient Backlighting: Adding ambient light behind your TV can actually improve the perception of picture quality. When your TV is surrounded by ambient light, it can make the image appear more vivid and dynamic, as your eyes are not adjusting between extreme contrasts. This is especially useful in darker scenes of a movie or show, as the light enhances the details and provides a better viewing experience.
• HDR (High Dynamic Range) Enhancement: For TVs with HDR capability, backlighting helps to enhance the perceived depth and richness of colors, making them appear more lifelike. The additional lighting around the screen can make it easier for your eyes to distinguish between different shades of color and contrast.

3. Reduce Glare

• Minimize Reflections: If you have light sources (like lamps or windows) that create glare on your TV screen, placing lights behind the TV can help to reduce these reflections. The backlight acts as a buffer between the TV and bright external light sources, reducing the likelihood of reflections that can disrupt your viewing experience.
• Even Lighting: By placing lights behind the TV, you avoid direct light hitting the screen, which can create glare or wash out the image. Instead, the light is diffused, creating a more even and comfortable viewing environment.

4. Create a Cinematic Ambience

• Mood Lighting: Adding backlighting behind your TV can help to create a more immersive and cinematic experience, similar to what you might find in a movie theater. Soft, colored lighting can set the mood for a movie or TV show, adding to the overall ambiance of the room and making it feel like you're in a theater environment.
• Customization: Many people use RGB backlighting (multi-colored LED lights) to match the mood of the content they're watching. For example, a red hue for an action movie or a cool blue for a sci-fi show. Some LED strips can even sync with the content on the screen (using technologies like Ambilight from Philips or bias lighting systems), changing colors based on what’s happening on-screen for an even more immersive experience.

5. Enhance Room Aesthetics

• Modern Look: LED strip lights or bias lighting behind the TV provide a sleek and modern look that complements the minimalist design of modern TVs. The soft glow around the TV can serve as a decorative element, making the TV area stand out and creating a stylish focal point in the room.
• Space Illusion: Backlighting can also help to make the TV appear more integrated into the room’s decor, especially if it's wall-mounted. The ambient light draws attention to the TV while also softening the edges of the space, creating a cozy atmosphere without overwhelming the room.

6. Energy-Efficient Lighting

• Low Power Consumption: LED lights, which are commonly used for backlighting behind TVs, are highly energy-efficient. They use very little electricity compared to traditional light bulbs, making them a cost-effective option to improve your viewing environment without significantly increasing your electricity bill.
• Long Lifespan: LED lights also have a long lifespan, meaning you won’t need to replace them frequently, making them a low-maintenance, long-term solution for improving the aesthetics and functionality of your TV space.

7. Aid in Sleep Hygiene

• Gentle Lighting: Instead of watching TV in complete darkness, the soft light from behind the TV can create a more relaxed atmosphere that’s better for your sleep cycle. Bright, harsh light can interfere with your body's natural circadian rhythm, while a soft backlight allows you to enjoy entertainment without the overstimulation of a brightly lit room.
• Avoid Blue Light Exposure: For those who are concerned about blue light exposure from screens, using a backlight can help reduce the overall brightness of the TV without affecting image clarity, which might make it easier to wind down before bed.

How to Add Backlighting Behind Your TV

If you're interested in adding lights behind your TV, there are a few ways to do it:

• LED Strips: One of the most popular methods is using RGB LED strip lights. These can be attached to the back of the TV and are often customizable in terms of color and brightness. Some LED strips even come with remote control or smartphone apps for easy adjustments.
• Bias Lighting Kits: Bias lighting kits are specifically designed for TVs and come with pre-set color temperatures (typically warm white) that are optimal for reducing eye strain.
• Smart Lighting Systems: Some advanced systems like Philips Hue can sync with the content on your TV, changing colors based on what’s happening on-screen for a fully immersive experience.

Conclusion

Putting lights behind your TV is a simple and effective way to improve your viewing experience. Whether it’s reducing eye strain, enhancing picture quality, or creating a cinematic atmosphere, backlighting has many benefits that make it an appealing option for most people. With the availability of energy-efficient and customizable lighting solutions, adding lights behind your TV can significantly enhance both the functional and aesthetic aspects of your living room or entertainment area.