There’s something fun about turning down the lights in the living room and letting Netflix act as the only light in sight. It keeps your focus on the movie. It makes you feel like you just paid $12 for a movie ticket. It also...wrecks your eyes. Once you’re done with your shameless binge session, you may find your eyes worn out and the light of the bathroom downright blinding. So, how can you have your cake and eat it, too? Enter bias lighting.
What the Heck is Bias Lighting?
Bias lighting is a string of LED lights that, when attached to back of your TV or computer monitor, shine light onto the rear-facing wall. The effect of this indirect light is reduced strain on your own eyes.
How Does Bias Lighting Work?
Whenever you’re watching TV or using your computer for long periods of time in a darkened room, the only light your eyes can absorb is from the screen itself. This light can feel like it’s piercing the darkness on its way to your eyes. The contrast was fun at first, but after a few hours, can be a little more than your eyes can handle comfortably. If the content you’re watching changes in brightness throughout the movie or show, this constant dilation of your pupils can make your eyes grow tired. Bias lighting creates a soft, indirect light that removes the stark contrast of the TV screen from the darkness of the room.
Why Not Just Turn On a Lamp?
It’s true — you could just relieve the contrast of the screen by turning on a shaded lamp nearby. One of the reasons why many prefer bias lighting to an alternative light source elsewhere in the room is due to the consistency of focus and room distraction. A lamp elsewhere in the room illuminates that entire section of the room. Bia lighting, on the other hand, only illuminates the wall behind the screen — not the screen itself. This removes the possibility for screen glare and the illumination of any distracting items that may take you out of the viewing experience.
What Color Bias Lighting is Best?
Many bias lighting kits will allow you to select the color temperature of light you would like to show. Ideally, the color temperature of your bias lighting may depend on the Kelvin rating (color temperature) of your screen. Many screens run in the 6000-6500K range, so you should take this into consideration. A low Kelvin rating can reduce the impact of bias lighting. A Kelvin rating that is too high can wash out the image of your television as it competes for your viewing. It may take a little experimentation to find the color temperature that is just right for you.
If you’d like additional tips on how to properly light your entertainment space, consult the LED experts at Lighting Inc in Tulsa, OK.