This page contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. These comparisons are based on practical use cases and common barracks living needs.
What’s right for decorating your wall?
Barracks rooms can be small, boxy, and let’s face it, not the most appealing. But that’s an easy fix.
With a few purchases and some creativity, you will have your room looking like home in no time.
If your unit has no issues with you decorating your walls, lights have been a popular choice over the past few years. Easy and inexpensive, and with different color bulbs, it gives you somewhere to work with creatively.
Whether you choose string lights, LED, or both, you can always move them around, or when you change your room, pack them up, unlike wallpaper, which is a one-time use.
Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose: String Lights Vs LED Lights
Feature
String Lights
LED Lights
Discreet
⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Safety
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Allowed
⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐
Appeal
⭐⭐⭐⭐
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost
$10-50
$10-50
Bottom line: Both are great choices to give your room some flair. I would go with LED lights used to backlight cabinets & headboards. It’s a more subtle look that won’t scream take me down during an inspection.
Best for when your unit is open to having items on your wall. Some may have a policy against how much, or whether you’re even allowed to put any holes in your walls. If they don’t care, go nuts.
Best for when you have a room to yourself. Not everyone prefers these kinds of lights, so if you have a roommate, be considerate and talk to them first. Or not, just ask yourself if this is the hill you want to stand on lol.
You may be able to change out the bulbs depending on what light kit you get, so you can have a bit of your personality shine through.
If you are limited on the number of outlets or wall space, maybe this is not for you.
If you’re gone for an extended time, make sure to turn them off or at least get a timer or keep your curtain closed. No need to bring attention to yourself.
Depending on how you install your lights, the wires could look messy. If you can hide the wires, go for it; if you can’t, you may want to look at other options.
They work great for giving fixtures like your bed and closets a bit of flair. A nice low light to illuminate them, without being bulky or standing out like a sore thumb.
Easy to hide; they don’t take up a lot of space. When you’re not in your room or during an inspection, you can turn them off, and if you have your cords consealed its like they’re not even there.
They make for great mood lighting for when you have company over.
They don’t produce enough light other than mood lighting, so for any task like reading or cleaning, you would need to turn on the overhead light.
They come in strips, so they have less flexabilty of string lights. Flat surfaces are where they shine, not so much on walls. Not to say you can’t if you’re creative, but generally a straight line is all you’re going to get.
Check out the Decor Guide for more tips to keep your room inspired and with personality.
