Okay, so I’ve been messing around with this idea of “low light vines” for a while now, and I finally got something I’m kinda happy with. It all started because I wanted to add some greenery to my ridiculously dark hallway. Seriously, it’s like a cave in there.
First, I gathered a bunch of stuff:
- Some basic, cheap LED strip lights – the kind you can get anywhere.
- Fake vines – I went for the ones that looked somewhat realistic, not too plastic-y.
- A dark green extension cord, to blend in as much as possible.
- Lots and lots of those tiny, clear command hooks.
- Scissors, obviously.
- A ladder, because, well, my hallway is tall.
The Messy Part
I started by sticking the command hooks all along the top of the wall, where it meets the ceiling. I didn’t really measure, just eyeballed it. I figured a bit of randomness would look more natural anyway. I spaced them out, sometimes closer, sometimes further apart, to create a, well, vine-like pattern. This part took the longest, honestly. Standing on a ladder for ages is not my idea of fun.
Next, I unrolled the LED strip and carefully stuck it to the wall, following the line of hooks. I didn’t want the lights to be super bright, so I made sure the LEDs faced the wall, not out into the hallway. This gives it a soft, indirect glow.
Then came the vines. This was the trickiest part. I started by draping a long piece of vine over the LED strip, using the command hooks to hold it in place. I played around with it, letting some parts hang down lower than others. I wanted it to look organic, like it was actually growing there. I used the rest to create the density that I want.
I kept adding more and more vines, layering them over each other, until I was happy with the coverage. I made sure to hide the LED strip as much as possible, but also to let some of the light peek * is all about how it looks.
The Final Touches
Once all the vines were up, I stepped back and took a look. I snipped off any bits that looked too uniform or out of place. I also adjusted the vines to make sure the light was diffused just right. It is all about try and error.
Finally, I plugged in the lights, and bam! My dark, depressing hallway was instantly transformed. It’s still not bright, but it has this lovely, ambient glow that makes it feel so much more inviting. And the vines look surprisingly good, even up close. It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty stoked with how it turned out!
