Setting up your Nanoleaf smart lights isn't all fun and games - and picking the best design for your room can be tough if you're new to the idea. Once it's stuck on, you don't want to have to reposition them with more sticky tabs.
You may want to follow the outline edge of your TV, fill up a thin strip of wall or make the lights the centerpiece of a room, with a design sprawling onto the ceiling using Nanoleaf's Flex Linkers. Whatever you have in mind for your triangular Nanoleaf panels, we've got design ideas and inspiration for you to explore.
Thread: Nanoleaf Essentials review
And once you have a bit of an idea of the kind of designs you can create, there's even the in-app layout assistant to experiment further. Check out the 10 we've created down below.
Best Nanoleaf light panel designs
The standard Nanoleaf light panels come initially as a pack of nine panels, with expansion sets coming as a pack of three panels, 15 panels or a whopping 30 panels. That gives you plenty of scope to design whatever you want, providing you're willing to make the investment. And, remember, even though you can't have designs wrap around walls in the layout assistant, using Nanoleaf's flexible linkers will allow them to bend onto ceilings and the like.
The triangle
The Nanoleaf panels themselves are triangles, so why not extend the picture and turn your kit of nine into one big pyramid? This one is simple, but it could be just what you need if you're looking for a block of light in your room - or, you happen to be a big fan of Zelda.
Snake
There's plenty of ways to do this, and picking a snake-like design is perhaps the easiest way to make use of the flexible linkers and spread your lighting onto the ceiling or around an edge of wall. The great thing about snaking your panels in a line is that you don't need many to get started, and adding over time is much simpler to keep coherent than with a block shape.
Miscellaneous #1
Hey, they can't all make sense, can they? Since many people will stick with the nine panels that come with the starter kit and still want to get creative, this is a design that spreads the light into two triangular shapes with an extra panel sticking out on the side. Simple and neat.
TV wrap
One of the best areas to place your lights is around your TV. Since light is already coming out from the TV, the panels' light isn't as jarring to have in the background. And if you match it to the TV's rectangular shape, it can look even smarter.
The claw
Maybe you see a claw, maybe you see a dinosaur's footprint or maybe you just want an 'M' shape on your bedroom wall - either way, it's possible with the starter kit and an extra panel. Plus, if you decide to add an extra four panels over time, you can add them to the bottom row and transform this into a mountain shape with two peaks at the top. Versatile.
Eyes
If you pick up an extra panel to your 9-panel starter pack, you're able to combine them to create two hexagons. The result may look a bit like a pair of eyes stuck to your wall, but this is a neat way to get a clear block of light in a given room.
Diamond
If you have a thin space of wall you want to fill, but you don't fancy a snaking design, you only need eight panels to create a diamond shape. It may not be the most adventurous design, but remember you can turn this on its side and also wrap it around a corner to make it a bit more lively.
Smarten up your home in style
Smarten up your home in style
Two diamonds
If you don't mind dishing out the cash, you can create a diagonal wall of light with this 16-panel design. It's a little tricky, since this means buying two extra 3-pack expansions and then a singular panel, but the result makes for a great centerpiece.
The star
The natural shape of the panels allow you to quickly and easily link together a star shape, though you will need the expansion pack featuring three panels to pull this one off. If you do, just be aware that this also looks like super stars from the Mario series, or, you know, a sheriff's badge.
Miscellaneous #2
A great design for those who just want to stick to their starter kit of nine panels, this works for thin spaces and still manages to spread the light out. Why not place this on one side of your TV and line it up with a flipped version on the other side?
Nanoleaf smart lights
Nanoleaf Light Panels
From $199.99, Amazon | nanoleaf.me
This is Nanoleaf's current modular, color-changing lighting panel, previously known as Nanoleaf Aurora, and the starter kit now comes as a Rhythm Edition - meaning it can listen to your music in real-time and respond with light. The starter kit gets you nine triangular panels, a base station and the add-on Rhythm module (see below).
After that, you can buy extra panels separately (again, see below) and there are also bundles of 15 and 30 panels. In the Nanoleaf app, you can create, share and switch between themes, both static and animated, set schedules and light alarms and change the hue, colour temperature and brightness of individual panels.
Nanoleaf Hexagon
From $199.99, nanoleaf.me
Nanoleaf's latest wall panels are Hexagons. Six sides enable much more combinations than the four on the Canvas and three on the Tiles. You'll get up to 500 Hexagons per Control Hexagon, but you'll need extra power for every 25 Hexagons. Even better, they'll be touch enabled, like the Canvas, so you can play games.
Nanoleaf Canvas
From $199.99, Amazon | nanoleaf.me
This is the latest version of the light panels, which comes with square panels, rather than triangles. There's still all the same features and compatibility, though, and up to 1,000 Canvas panels can be connected in one space. There's even built-in Rhythm support, so you won't need the add-on module that the Nanoleaf Light Panels require.
Another cool thing about the Nanoleaf Canvas is that the panels are touch-enabled. This basically means that you can tap on the squares and play some games. So, you'll be able to load up a version of Simon, Whack-A-Mole and even Pacman, right there on your fancy wall.
In Q3 2019, you can look forward to a mounting grid for the Canvas that'll make it much easier to set up, too. Right now, it's a bit of a hassle, and, as you can read in our full review, you'll need a couple of people to help you out when sticking them to your wall.
Nanoleaf smart lightbulbs
From $9.99, Amazon | nanoleaf.me
Nanoleaf also has a few smart lightbulbs in its collection. The Nanoleaf Smart Ivy is a $9.99 design lightbulb that comes in 'love' (bright pink with hearts), 'leaf' (leaf patterned) and black models, as shown above. It can be controlled via the app, the Apple Home app, Alexa and there's Zigbee on board, too. The Smart Ivy requires a Nanoleaf Hub, which you can get as part of a Smarter Kit with two smart bulbs.
That same signature look continues in Nanoleaf's affordable and environmentally friendly Classic series, which includes the Nanoleaf One and Nanoleaf Bloom, both of which you can get as an E27 or B22 bulb. Both of these lightbulbs are made from folded PCB and have a huge 30,000 hour lifespan. There's no app or voice controls here, but the Bloom uses nifty programming and switch controls to make it a dimmable lightbulb that, well, doesn't need a dimmer.
Nanoleaf also has two lighting fixtures for showing its light bulbs. There's the $44.99 Pendant, which comes with an inline dimmer switch and hangs from the ceiling, and the $59.99 Lamp Base, which is a block of wood with a light switch.
Nanoleaf accessories
Nanoleaf Remote
$49.99,Amazon | nanoleaf.me
The Nanoleaf Remote not only controls Nanoleaf lighting, but it also works as an Apple HomeKit controller. It's a truly unique dodecahedron Remote that connects to your tech over Bluetooth. It works so you can set each of the remote's 12 sides in either the Nanoleaf or the Apple Home app. You need a Rhythm module too, though.
Nanoleaf Rhythm
$49.99, Amazon | nanoleaf.me
If you bought Light Panels before the announcement of the Rhythm module, don't panic - you can also buy it separately as an add-on. As you'd expect, it turns your smart lighting into a real time, colour changing music visualiser. You'll need the panels themselves to get going though, obviously.
Nanoleaf Linkers
From $8.99, Amazon | nanoleaf.me
Nanoleaf's Linkers are an essential cog in your wider design, and you'll need to stock up on more if you plan on building out your collection with the expansion packs, detailed below, or you messed up the first time around.
It's critical to note that these Linkers come in two different variations - Rigid Linkers and Flex Linkers. The stiff linkers will only allow you to link panels on the same wall, while the bendy linkers, shown above, will let you wrap your design seamlessly around walls or even onto the ceiling.
Rigid Linkers will work for both standard Nanoleaf panels and Nanoleaf Canvas, while you'll need specific Flex Linkers for the Canvas and different ones for standard panels, which you can buy here. Oh, and Flex Linkers will cost $1 more for a pack of nine - just so you know.
Nanoleaf Expansion Packs
From $59.99, Amazon | nanoleaf.me
Once you begin spreading Nanoleaf onto your walls, you may not be able to stop, with endless potential existing for both the standard kit and the Canvas. Unlike Lifx, you can add to your design over time with Expansion Packs, which come in sets of three, 15 or 30 panels.
It works out at roughly $20 per panel, and it's probably best to map out your expansion design before you buy. Also, obviously, keep in mind that you have to add the same shape to your current design - no mixing and matching is allowed.
Coming soon
There's no word on pricing yet, but you can expect them in Q4 2019.
