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A few years back, after my children discovered TikTok, they were eager for LED lights in their rooms. This type of colorful decoration is all over the platform; if you spend enough time scrolling, you’ll come across countless Gen Z bedrooms adorned with these vibrant lights strung across ceilings. My kids bombarded me with images of various colors and pleaded, “Everyone has them! Can we get some?”
To be honest, I wasn’t thrilled about the bright purples, electric blues, and dizzying greens they chose. I lean toward neutral shades like white, black, or tan, as too many colors can be overwhelming for me. However, I recognized that their rooms belong to them, not me, and I had already lost the decorating battle ages ago.
The only research I did before succumbing to this trend was to check prices and functionality. They appeared straightforward to install and were reasonably priced, so I decided to get some for my kids’ rooms. They are available everywhere—Amazon, Wish, Target, and Walmart—so I figured if we encountered any issues, replacements would be easy to find. (Every seasoned parent knows the importance of ensuring that what you buy actually works!)
Once the lights arrived, my kids immediately got to work. They quickly learned how to use the remote control and collaborated to hang the lights throughout their rooms. They taped the LED strips along the walls, baseboards, and even across the ceilings, ensuring I’d never sleep soundly again. I’m not exaggerating when I say that even with their bedroom door shut, the glow from those lights is like a perpetual twilight in our home.
Their love for the lights didn’t stop there; they decided they needed some in the bathroom and basement too. I let them have it—after all, they were affordable, and it brought them joy. I figured I could wear sunglasses around the house for the sake of their happiness.
That is, until the kids thought it would be fun to rearrange the lights while “redecorating” their spaces, which led to a shocking discovery: I came home to find paint peeling off the walls and damaged sheetrock. I had a gut feeling I wouldn’t like these lights, and once I saw the damage, my instincts were confirmed. Whatever adhesive is used on the back of those strips is powerful—possibly strong enough to lift a fifty-pound weight.
My children were understandably anxious about my reaction to the chaos. I attempted to touch up the paint, but nothing worked. Overwhelmed, I told them they could never have LED lights again and dramatically collapsed into bed.
It took me a year to properly repair the damaged areas, as each time I encountered the stripped sheetrock, it felt like I was falling apart again. Now that I’ve finally finished the arduous task of applying a skim coat, primer, and paint to their rooms and the bathroom (the basement remains a work-in-progress, possibly as a reminder), I feel compelled to warn parents everywhere about these decorative strips that can cause more destruction than a new puppy in your home. Do yourself a favor: stick to fairy lights or other decor that won’t require you to use all your vacation time on home repairs when your kids tire of them or want to move them around.
And if your children have already installed these lights throughout your home, I suggest stocking up on sunglasses and letting them stay put for eternity.