DIY Floor Lamp with LED Strips

Lamps often come with a high price tag—so the question arises: Can you save money by building one yourself? Truth be told: Not necessarily. But many overlook this fact: DIY projects often use much higher-quality components than cheap store-bought models. As a result, a self-built floor lamp can easily match—or even exceed—the quality of a commercial one, which also extends its lifespan. Low-cost LEDs often only last 2–3 years, whereas high-quality LED strips can theoretically last for decades.
Safety first!
Before you begin, a crucial note: Working with electricity quickly becomes dangerous. Around 50 V AC, an electric shock can already cause serious harm—and home outlets deliver 230 V. Therefore: Any work on mains voltage must be done exclusively by someone with proper professional qualifications!

The base of my lamp is an old scaffolding plank. I was lucky: no dirt, no stains—just a beautiful, weathered look. Even a used plank has its own unique charm and character.

First, cut off the two mounting ends of the plank. Then comes the trickiest part: how to cut a clean opening for the LED lighting right in the center?

There are certainly more professional methods than mine, but it worked!
First, mark out the opening in the center (mine measures 160 cm × 20 cm). Then set the saw angle—a slight angle (at least 10–15 degrees) is advisable so that the light doesn’t shine too flatly but instead casts a pleasing glow into the room. This angle is also necessary for routing the LED channel.
I made the cut using a table saw—risky but doable. A plunge saw or a circular saw with an adjustable angle would be more suitable. Note: The blade is round, so the beginning and end of the cut automatically form curves. Therefore: measure the blade’s radius and leave at least half a blade’s width between your end mark and the cut line.
If you want the LED strips to tilt toward each other (rather than away), you must make the cuts with opposite angles.

After making the two lengthwise cuts, it’s time for fine work: removing the middle piece. I used a jigsaw, gradually repositioning it until both sides were straight. Make sure not to cut into the angled edges! I trimmed those with a handsaw afterward. For especially clean edges, use a chisel.

Now it’s time for the LED profiles. I recommend buying a matching aluminum profile in advance—e.g., from LED-Konzept. They provide a technical drawing with width and depth, which you need for your routing. This step can only be done with a router. Tip: Practice first on a scrap piece of wood! The profile usually has some tolerance, but it should still fit snugly. If not, glue it in place.

You can’t make the wiring completely invisible with this design. I simply drilled diagonally through the profile so that the cable exits at the back of the lamp.

The LED strips should be slightly shorter than the profile—you need space to solder or connect the wires. Since we’re working with only 24 V DC, thin wires (e.g., 0.5 mm²) are sufficient. But be careful: household outlets supply 230 V, so you need a power supply unit that converts 230 V to 24 V. 💡 When choosing a power supply: pay attention to the power consumption per meter (W/m) specified by the LED-strip manufacturer. Calculate accordingly, and if in doubt, choose a power supply with a bit more output rather than too little. You can use Wago connectors for all electrical connections—quick, safe, and solder-free.

Want to dim your lamp or control it via an app? Then install a Zigbee switch module behind the power supply. Requirement: a Zigbee hub, e.g., a Philips Hue Bridge. More on that in a dedicated post.

You can elegantly hide all technical components in the base of the lamp. I chose a hexagon—simply because I’ve always wanted to build one. The important part: the distance from one corner to the opposite inside corner must match the width of your scaffolding plank. Trim or sand the edges as needed so that the plank fits snugly into the base.

This lamp was not a five-minute project—but it was worth it. It’s a one-of-a-kind piece, stylish, functional, and smarter than many expensive designer lamps. Want to create something personal? Then get to your workbench!