Once you’ve got it down, it’s time to play around with the colors. Like most smart lights, there’s a wide selection of different shades of white and bright colors, as well as colorful themes that take advantage of the giant rows of lights. Lifx’s app comes with a number of pre-made themes, from those inspired by music and artists (I love the art world and Matisse for the colors in my living room) to holidays and sports teams. There’s no camera or other tool to match what’s on the TV screen, so I usually choose a theme or color scheme to match the mood of the show.
Photo: Nena Farrell
If you don’t like any of the included designs, you can use the paint tool in the app to create a custom light placement. You can paint the whole thing at once (you can choose 3 colors to place) or you can manually control it zone by zone. My 6 bar and 1 corner piece has 61 zones, so 10 zones per bar plus one extra for the little corner. You can highlight and modify multiple zones at the same time to get the perfect design, but it will take time.
Buying Time
Lifx Beam is nothing new, but I like that it’s much easier to stick to the wall without worrying about sections falling off, and you can add more segments or change the shape at any time. It feels more like art on your wall than a regular light strip.
My only complaint is that I wish they were a little cheaper: $60 for four, $150 for six. Also, Lifx doesn’t sell the corner pieces separately, limiting your opportunities for design fun. It’s been on the market for years, so maybe it’s too late to expect an expansion. But I’m still attached to my product, including the single corners.
