Ambient lighting is a great way to add some aesthetics to your entertainment setup—it does a lot more than just glow. Some ambient lights enhance the visual experience by acting as an LED backlight for the TV that changes with the picture and music, creating an immersive and soothing experience—it’s like watching your favorite movie bleed into your living room one shade at a time, and it’s a wonderful experience.
These LED strips are designed to look stunning with the support of thousands of colors and various effects that can reduce the strain on the eyes caused by watching TV in a dark room or for long hours. They are so soft on the eyes and quite mesmerizing that you wouldn’t want to go back to the old way of watching movies. Some of the higher-end ambient lights use a camera or microphone to react to what’s being played, while some are just for decorative purposes that you can customize using a remote control. Either way, there are tons of options for everyone.
In this article, we’re going to list out some of the best ambient TV lighting that caters to different budgets, setups, and lighting preferences.
Is TV Ambient Lighting Worth It?
Yes, TV ambient lighting is definitely worth it, especially if you watch TV or play games in a dark room. The thing about ambient lighting is that it not only adds some aesthetic value but also helps reduce eye strain by softening the brightness of the display, making the long viewing sessions more enjoyable. It also offers different colors and effects that, depending on your choice at the moment, can be changed with a remote control. So, since it gives you a lot of customization options, you can personalize it to fit your requirements.
Best Ambient Lighting for TV and Living Room in 2025
From reactive lights to decorative lighting, these are some of our favorite ambient lighting options that you can choose from.
Govee Envisual TV Backlight T2
Philips Hue Play Gradient Smart TV Light Strip
KANTUTOE RGB TV LED Lights
Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite
BEST WITH CUTTABLE STRIPS
FFJ L01 Pro TV LED Backlight
Govee Smart LED Light Bars
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Why We Love
Easy installation
Intuitive mobile app
Dual-camera system for efficiency
Synchronize with other Govee lights
Various customized modes
But…
May malfunction under direct sunlight
The Govee Envisual TV Backlight T2 should be your go-to option if you want to give your entertainment setup a glow in the most stylish way. This ambient light for TV features Govee’s patented Envisual technology. This feature uses two cameras and RGBIC LED technology to efficiently determine what is playing on your TV and generate matching colors with the utmost precision instantaneously. And if you have any other Govee lights in your house, you can synchronize all of them using the DreamView feature, lighting up your entire room. With the help of its mobile app, you can customize it to your favorite color and dynamic effects to bring it to life! This is one of the best ambient lights for TV.
Why We Love
Includes mounting kit
Supports over a million colors
Total control with Hue Bridge
Complete customization with mobile app
Integrate with voice control features
But…
Need Hue Sync Box and Hue Bridge for dynamic effects
The Philips Hue is a high-end ambient TV light strip that, unlike the Govee Envisual T2, uses a Hue Sync Box and Hue Bridge (sold separately) to create an atmospheric experience. With its support of over a million colors, you can turn your living room into a mini cinema, gaming hub, or dance floor, whichever you’re feeling for the night. Tailored for TVs between 55 and 75 inches, this strip easily mounts behind the back of your TV and projects a smooth gradient of colors. When combined with the Hue Bridge, the effects are vibrant and highly reactive for a lag-free experience. Controlling it is quite easy with the Hue app, and since the system is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you can command it to be simple or dramatic, and it will do it.
Why We Love
Very affordable
Timing and dimming capabilities
Supports over 16 million colors
Bluetooth connectivity option
Controlled by remote, buttons, and a mobile app
The KANTUTOE RGB TV LED Lights, for the price that they come at, are surprisingly good at setting a mood. These lights are USB-powered and offer millions of color options and over 20 dynamic modes. A built-in microphone lets the lights react dynamically to what you’re playing. This does recreate colors based on the content, but instead acts as a light-based visualizer for your TV and other devices. You can control the lights via the Lofur Lanfern Bluetooth app, physical buttons, or with the included remote, for those who want a simplistic approach. The provided adhesive and mounting tools make the installation process a breeze.
Why We Love
Accessible pricing
Fish-eye correction feature
Voice assistant support
Great for ultra-thin TVs
Vibrant colors with RGBICW technology
But…
Calibrating may take time
The Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite is a worthy successor to the Envisual T2. It offers a more affordable and refined version while retaining some great features. Instead of a dual camera system, this uses a fisheye correction camera, which expands the field of view with better calibration and improved edge detection. The LEDs are also integrated with warm white chips to produce brighter whites and a wider range of colors. This also supports Govee’s DreamView to synchronize it with other Govee lights. Additionally, it also features black bar detection, making it more efficient and adaptive to different content formats.
Why We Love
Instant reaction
Cuttable LED light strip
Lifespan of up to 50,000 hours
24 dynamic light scenes
Smart sensors for auto turn ON/OFF
Also suitable for ultrawide monitors
If you’re not ready to spend hundreds of dollars on brands like Govee, then the FFJ L01 Pro TV LED Backlight is a great alternative. It offers a versatile lighting solution that features an advanced sensor that detects the on-screen content, allowing the backlight to change color in real time. One of its best features is the cuttable strip—whether it’s a TV or a PC monitor, you can easily trim the strip to fit your setup. The lights are controlled via a smartphone app, where you can adjust brightness, choose colors, and switch between lighting modes. On top of that, it even has music and gaming sync modes, so the lights react to sound, adding extra intensity when things get intense in the game.
Why We Love
Multiple placement capabilities
Good pricing
Wi-Fi support
High-sensitivity microphone
RGBICWW technology
Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
But…
Lacking high brightness
The Govee Smart LED Light Bars are a fun and easy way to give your home lighting, whether it’s behind your TV, on your desk, or even just to set the mood in a room. These two light bars can stand upright or be mounted behind your displays—it’s super easy to install. Featuring RGBICWW technology, the bars support millions of colors and add a white LED and warm white LED to the mix, allowing for a wider range of color and brightness control. Its standout feature is its music sync mode, where the lights react to whatever you’re listening to. So, if you want a TV ambient lighting to sync to picture and music, this is a great choice.
Why We Love
Impressively bright LEDs
Multiple simple dynamic effects
Hassle-free installation process
10 brightness and speed levels
Easy to manage around the curves
If you want an LED light strip that isn’t too flashy with its effects and features, then the HAMLITE LED Lights are perfect for you. It is a simple solution that comes with 17 colors with various brightness and speed levels, all of which can be controlled with its remote control. With an 18-foot (5.5-meter) LED strip, it provides ample coverage for all four sides of your screen, creating a balanced and immersive ambient glow. Powered via a USB connection, it conveniently plugs into your TV’s USB port, ensuring the lights turn on and off with your TV. This is one of the best ambient lighting options for TVs and living rooms on Amazon.
How We Chose the Best TV Ambient Lighting
These ambient lights were chosen by our team of experienced professionals who have tested over two dozen ambient lights. Each of them was tested on factors like brightness, color accuracy, responsiveness, ease of installation, smart features like app control, and more! On top of that, the team also did extensive research online to understand other users’ experiences and issues with these products. After all the results were gathered, the team finalized this list. Whether you’re watching movies, gaming, or just setting the mood, these picks add comfort, reduce eye strain, and elevate your experience.
FAQ
Can I add ambient lighting to my TV?
Yes, by adding ambient lighting to your TV, it not only improves your watching experience but also creates a soothing environment.
Is ambient light good for the eyes?
As long as the effects are not too flashy or bright, ambient lighting helps in reducing eye strain.
Is it safe to put LED lights on the TV?
Yes, these LED lights are completely safe to be used on your TV.
What is the best ambient light color for watching TV?
Pick any color that is soft and neutral.
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