Like others have said, the key to using LED strip lights is diffusion - you have to diffuse that light or else it is a bit overwhelming if you can't dim it. I achieved a nice look in my room by attaching a small furring strip to the wall about 4" down from the ceiling, placed the LED strip (cheap Utilitech strip from Lowes) on top of it, and then attached a 1x3 trim board about a quarter inch away from the face of the furring strip to allow the light to diffuse upwards and downwards. Initially, I attached the 1x3 directly to the furring strip but it forced all of the light upwards which made a distinct blue line on the ceiling. I wanted a softer effect so pulling the 1x3 away from the wall created a much softer effect because the light goes upwards and downwards. To get the 1x3 away from the furring strip I used 1/2" long metal tubes (they look like straws) and ran the screw through the face of the 1x3 and through the tubes into the wall. This keeps the 1x3 away from the wall. Sounds complicated but it's very simple.

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