# Unique, (and preferably cheap), way I can illuminate my room. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 14, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016 "2015-05-14T08:31:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/1 "2015-05-14T08:31:27Z")
I’m pretty sure I want something colorful, but it’s not mandatory. I’ve considered Christmas lights, but they don’t look appealing to me. Besides trying to figure out what to google so I can see what’s out there, I checked Spencer’s Gifts website, but nothing appealed to me. My one friend has a light that changes colors every three seconds or so. It’s cool. I figure it’s expensive though. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e8c25b/32.png) [@excavating\_for\_a\_mind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/excavating_for_a_mind)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/2 "2015-05-14T11:55:42Z")
A big jar of lightening bugs. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/3 "2015-05-14T12:41:45Z")
You say you checked Spencer’s—didn’t like any of the posters and a black light? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/4 "2015-05-14T12:48:57Z")
LED light strips? ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/5 "2015-05-14T13:19:43Z")
They have smart LED bulbs which you can control via a app, I believe the price is not too out there. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/6 "2015-05-14T13:55:59Z")
[Fusion-powered lights.](http://phys.org/news/2011-09-bottle-brighten-millions-poor-homes.html) It’s the wave of the future. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/7 "2015-05-14T14:26:10Z")
You could use the LED yard lights that Amateur Barbarian rants about in the OP of [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=756788). ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/8 "2015-05-14T14:33:41Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > [Fusion-powered lights.](http://phys.org/news/2011-09-bottle-brighten-millions-poor-homes.html) It’s the wave of the future. I’ve got an older model fusion-powered light outside, but it generates a lot of heat, so you have to keep it a LONG way away. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/9 "2015-05-14T15:12:26Z")
Get sheer fabric in a color and pattern you like and re-cover a plain white lampshade. Pick up a BeDazzler and bedazzle the shit out of the \*inside \*of a lampshade - the light will bounce off all the sparkly colorful things and throw little prisms around. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/10 "2015-05-14T15:55:01Z")
Go old school. Build a carbon arc. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/11 "2015-05-14T16:02:51Z")
Thinkgeek has some stuff, but not necessarily cheap. [Superhero 3D wall lamps](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/1cf2/?srp=1) (actually cheap) [Smartphone light kit](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ijut/?srp=4) (not cheap) [Color changing lamp](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/ef28/?srp=40) (cheaper than previous link) [Light up speakers](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/1f26/?srp=9) [Light up speakers](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/f188/?srp=13) [Light up speakers](http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/htih/?srp=43) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/12 "2015-05-14T16:08:11Z")
> [@TimeWinder](#): > > I’ve got an older model fusion-powered light outside, but it generates a lot of heat, so you have to keep it a LONG way away. Dammit! Mine keeps shutting off at night. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/13 "2015-05-14T16:34:48Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > My one friend has a light that changes colors every three seconds or so. It’s cool. I figure it’s expensive though. They’re really not all that expensive, though maybe we just mean different things. Kits like [this one at Amazon](http://www.amazon.com/SUPERNIGHT-Waterproof-Flexible-300leds-Changing/dp/B00ASHP1CM/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431621106&sr=8-2&keywords=color+changing+led+light) are only $22 for 16 feet of LED lights. At 72 W of power, that’s a lot of light. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/14 "2015-05-14T16:48:44Z")
Hit the local thrift stores. Yes, you can find Xmas lights at some even now. (I know, I saw someone buying some just two weeks ago.) Not to mention other odds and ends. The odder they are, the more likely they’ll end up in a thrift store. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/15 "2015-05-14T16:53:30Z")
55-gallon drums full of burning trash? Limelight? Keep the place damp and grow luminescent mold? ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/16 "2015-05-14T17:34:32Z")
If you are happy with LED light (I prefer it, but many don’t) then go to your [local IKEA](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/lighting/) and look around. Be sure to check the kids section as well as the large lighting bit. I got a lovely overhead light shaped like the sun for Celtling’s old room, and it only cost $15. She was thrilled with it. They have some really “out-there” shapes and styles already, but if you really want to hit it, try [googling](http://www.ikeahackers.net/category/hacks/lighting) [[IKEA hack lighting]](https://www.google.com/search?q=ikea+hack+lighting&espv=2&biw=1510&bih=700&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=vdtUVd6MCo3lggTwtoCoCg&ved=0CC4QsAQ). ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/17 "2015-05-14T18:57:05Z")
Thanks for the suggestions so far. Btw, I use to work at Spencers, so I know about the black lights. Neat, but not what I’m looking for. I’m out, so I’ll look more at the suggestions later. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/18 "2015-05-14T21:06:12Z")
> [@MyFootsZZZ](#): > > I’m pretty sure I want something colorful, but it’s not mandatory. I’ve considered Christmas lights, but they don’t look appealing to me. This is very “college,” but my college apartment had Christmas lights framing some big posters that were hung with thumbtacks (using the tacks to wrap the lights around the perimeter of the poster pretty neatly). I used all white lights, and it was actually a decent mood lighting effect considering it cost all of a couple of bucks. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/19 "2015-05-14T21:17:14Z")
If you have a gas supply you could also go with a gas lamp. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2015, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016/20 "2015-05-14T21:29:01Z")
[Mosaic strip](http://www.amazon.com/Sylvania-72344-Mosaic-Flexible-Light/dp/B008COVFUA) lighting. I bought it as accent lighting for our upper kitchen cabinets. Comes with a remote and you can change colors. At full strength one kit will definitely light up a room! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unique-and-preferably-cheap-way-i-can-illuminate-my-room/720016.md?page=2)