Oct 09, 2026 / By the Lumibox team / in LED Guides
LED strip lights and aluminum channels can do far more than glow behind a TV. Paired well, a strip, a profile, a diffuser and the right power supply turn into a finished lighting fixture: a clean line under the kitchen cabinets, a soft wash from a ceiling cove, a safe path on the stairs or a bright, even bar over a workbench. This guide works project by project, for homes and for businesses across Canada.
We will not repeat the technical basics here. To compare COB and SMD, 12 V and 24 V, or IP ratings in depth, read how to choose LED strip lights. For cutting, soldering and connectors, see how to install LED strip lights, and for every profile shape, our aluminum LED profile guide. Below, you get a ready-made recipe for eight common projects.
Whatever the room, each project combines the same four parts. Choose them together, not one at a time, and the result looks like a built-in fixture instead of a DIY add-on.
| Project | Strip | Profile and diffuser | Power supply |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under kitchen cabinets | 24 V white or COB, CRI 90, 3000K or 4000K | Surface or corner, frosted cover | Indoor, dimmable |
| Ceiling cove | 24 V COB or CCT, RGBW for colour | Open or wide profile, or none | Indoor, sized for long runs |
| Stairs and steps | 12 V or 24 V, short lengths per step | Small surface or recessed profile | Staircase controller + power supply |
| Drywall (recessed) | 24 V COB | Trimless recessed, PC cover | Indoor, dimmable |
| Bathroom and vanity | 24 V, CRI 90, IP65 near water | Closed profile with cover | Installed away from moisture |
| Outdoor and deck | 24 V IP65 or IP67 | Outdoor-suited profile, sealed end caps | Outdoor rated |
| Signs and displays | COB, RGB or neon flex | Slim profile or neon track | Sized to the sign |
| Garage and workshop | 24 V high output, 4000K or 5000K | Surface profile, frosted cover | Hardwired, enough headroom |
Under-cabinet lighting is a work light first. Choose a white strip with a CRI of 90 so food and counters show true colours, in 3000K for a warm kitchen or 4000K for a crisper look. A 24 V strip is a safe default for runs that go around a corner. A COB strip gives a continuous line with no reflection of dots on a glossy counter.
Use a surface-mount profile with a frosted cover, set toward the front edge of the cabinet so the light lands on the counter, not on the backsplash. A corner profile angles the beam toward the counter when the cabinet bottom is shallow. Plan a dimmable power supply hidden in a cabinet, and see our cove lighting page for more indirect ideas in the same kitchen.
A cove hides the strip in a ledge and bounces light off the ceiling. The goal is an even wash with no visible line of dots, so a COB strip is a natural fit. For a living room or bedroom that changes mood through the day, a CCT strip lets you shift from warm to cool white, and an RGBW strip adds colour while keeping a true white channel. See the full range of RGB and RGBW LED strips.
Coves often mean long runs. Long-run 24 V strips are made for this: in the catalogue, a COB long-run strip offers 8 W/m and 640 lm on a 10 m roll. Feed long runs from both ends or from the middle if you see the far end dim. A profile is optional in a deep cove, but it still helps with heat and keeps the strip straight.
Stair lighting is about safety at night. A short strip under each nosing, or in a small profile along the wall, marks every step without glare. Choose 3000K for homes; it is soft on the eyes at night.
For the "wave" effect where steps light up one after the other, a staircase controller drives each step as its own channel. The staircase controller for 12-24 V strips handles up to 28 steps at 15 W per step, up to 420 W, with adjustable modes. It still needs a power supply at the strip voltage. More options are on our LED staircase lighting page.
For a line of light that looks built into the wall or ceiling, use a trimless recessed profile. It is set before the drywall finish, then taped and mudded so only the diffuser shows. Some models install after the drywall, which helps in a renovation. In the catalogue, examples include the trimless recessed profile 5515 with PC cover, the 3515 and 6114 after-drywall profiles and the knife edge 7330, all in 10 ft lengths.
Pair a recessed profile with a COB LED strip: the line stays perfectly even even when the diffuser is close to the strip. Plan an access point for the power supply before you close the wall.
Around a mirror or under a floating vanity, colour rendering matters for grooming, so keep a CRI of 90. Use 3000K for a warm, relaxing room or 4000K for a bright vanity. Near the shower or tub, choose a strip rated IP65 or more and a closed profile with its cover and end caps.
Install the power supply outside the wet zone, in a vanity cabinet or a nearby closet, and follow the electrical code for bathrooms. Under a floating vanity, a strip in a profile pointed down at the floor makes a soft night light.
Outside, the IP rating comes first. IP65 resists water jets; IP67 goes further, for spots that can be splashed or briefly covered. Our outdoor LED strips include white, COB and RGB models. A good example is the outdoor 24 V COB tape light: 3 W/ft (10 W/m), 480 LEDs/m, CRI 90, dimmable, in 3000K.
Run strips under deck rails, step nosings or the edge of a pergola. Use profiles and end caps suited to outdoor use, seal every connection and pick an outdoor-rated power supply. For deck steps, small recessed lights such as a trimless 12 V, 0.5 W, IP67 deck light complete the strip nicely.
Retail shelves, display cases and signs need a clean line with no dots, often in a narrow space. A COB strip in a slim profile lights a shelf edge evenly. In a showcase, choose a CRI of 90 so merchandise colours look right, at 3000K for warm products or 4000K for a neutral look.
For letters, logos and outlines, LED neon flex gives the neon look without glass. It mounts in its own track and many models are rated for outdoor use, such as IP66 or IP67 neon in 24 V. RGB strips and neon flex need a controller to manage colours and scenes.
In a garage, strips are a task light over the workbench, a shelf light or a line on the ceiling. Choose a 24 V white strip with higher wattage, in 4000K or 5000K for a crisp, alert light. A surface profile with a frosted cover protects the strip from dust and knocks and reduces glare when you look up.
For a hardwired installation, choose a power supply with enough headroom over the total strip load. For general lighting of the whole space, strips complement fixtures; see our garage and workshop LED lighting guide for lumens and layout.
The method is the same for all eight projects. Add up the length of strip, multiply by its watts per metre or per foot, then choose a power supply above that total so it does not run at its limit. The voltage must match the strip: a 24 V strip on a 24 V supply, a 12 V strip on a 12 V supply.
Browse LED power supplies by voltage and wattage. If a supply hums or a strip flickers when dimmed, check that the dimmer and the driver use the same dimming type.
Not always, but it is strongly recommended. Aluminum LED profiles act as a heat sink, keep the strip straight, protect it and, with a diffuser, hide the LED dots. In a deep cove a strip can go without, but under cabinets, on stairs or in the drywall a profile gives a finished look.
24 V is the safer default for most rooms because it handles longer runs with less voltage drop. 12 V suits short runs, small furniture and products made for 12 V, such as some puck lights and deck lights.
3000K is warm and suits living rooms, bedrooms, stairs and bathrooms. 4000K is neutral and works in kitchens, offices and stores. 5000K is crisp and suits garages and workshops. A CCT strip lets you change it later.
No. An IP20 strip is for dry indoor spaces only. Outdoors, use a strip rated at least IP65, and IP67 where water can collect or splash.
COB gives a continuous line with no visible dots, ideal in shallow profiles, recessed channels and displays. SMD with a good diffuser works well in deeper profiles. Our guide on how to choose LED strip lights compares both in detail.
Install a short strip or a small profile at each step, then wire each step to a staircase controller. With motion sensors at the top and bottom, the steps light up in sequence and turn off on their own.
Ready to start? Pick the strip that suits your project, the profile that will hide it and the power supply that matches. Start with our COB LED strips and aluminum LED profiles, then build the rest of the kit around them.
