I mentioned in my review of the Edifier MG300 I’m an RGB guy now. I used to find any kind of lighting almost tacky, but recently I’ve realized just how soothing RGB lighting can be. Stressed out? Whack on some RGB lights and your favorite tracks and kick back.
As someone on the spectrum, my mind is often a smorgasbord of multiple thoughts. When I’m working, that’s great as I can flow from one sentence to another while also thinking about tone, whether I’ve overrun and need to add a comma, and what comes next. But when it comes to simple things everyone can do, like relaxing, that’s what I find hard.
What I found with my speakers is the RGB lights had a calming effect. Not massively as they’re only small speakers, but when I’m working, I find staring at them helps to keep me calm, focused, and chill just a bit. This did, however, lead to a thought: What would happen if I decked my room out in RGB panels? Would I finally be able to turn my room into a chillout zone where I can actually just exist without needing to think about a million different things at once?
Enter the Nanoleaf experiment.
What Is Nanoleaf Exactly?
Every time I talk to people about Nanoleaf, and despite it being everywhere, no one has a clue what they are.
Nanoleaf is, essentially, a selection of RGB light-up panels. If you’ve ever watched a streamer or YouTube video with neon lights in the background, chances are they’re using a Nanoleaf setup.
Nanoleaf isn’t just your usual run-of-the-mill RGB lights, though. They’re wall mountable through some ultra-sticky pads, some react to music, and can be programmed and customized to move in different ways. You can have them pulse through different colors, or you can have them work like the lights on Knight Rider or move like Pac-Man. Sounds cool, right?
Can Nanoleaf Really Help You to Relax?
For the purpose of this experiment, Nanoleaf sent me some of the hexagon and triangle sets. I was initially worried the sticky double-sided pads wouldn’t be strong enough to hold an entire set of nine seven-by-seven-inch panels to my wall, but I’m looking at them now and they haven’t moved even slightly.
So, did they help me to relax? Let’s dig in. The plan I had in mind was to mount them above my toy collection and sync them with my phone. This would allow me to scroll through different presets until I found one I liked, and I could play music from my phone to my speakers and the Nanoleaf would react to the music.
Let me tell you, there’s nothing more therapeutic than after having a long day then coming up, turning the main light off, and blasting tunes while the Nanoleaf lights dance to my favorite tracks. The Nanoleaf panels are bright enough to bathe the entirety of my bedroom in soothing hues, and when you factor in the right type of music, I’m able to finally sit back and relax and focus on sound and light.
This won’t work for everyone, and it may not work for everyone on the spectrum. But for me, I’ve created the ultimate chill-out zone. Whether I’m gaming or just lying in bed, I can feel my mind become less busy, and that, in my book, is the ultimate key to relaxing.
What’s the Setup Like?
Setting up a Nanoleaf pack is deceptively simple. When I first opened the box I was a bit lost looking at all the panels and connectors and the black box with symbols on. It turns out, it’s all really straightforward.
- Whack a mount into a panel and attach a sticky pad and a connector.
- Push it onto the wall while rubbing the front in a 360-degree motion.
- To add more panels, do the same but push the next panel onto the connector.
I also added the black control box to my first panel to make it easier to work out where the other eight panels should sit.
Getting the actual lights up and running was easy enough, too. If you’ve ever paired a Bluetooth device to your mobile phone or tablet, it’s the same kind of thing, albeit you’ll be using the Nanoleaf app as well.
Keep the app installed as well. Depending on your mood, you will want to switch the current setup to match that, and the app lets you change profiles on the fly.
Is the Price Worth it?
Prices range from $99.99 to $199.99 depending on what shapes and sizes you’re after. You can get knock-offs for cheaper, but in my experience, those are often poor imitations that aren’t as sturdy and don’t offer the same features.
My advice if you’re looking at the $199.99 price tag and grimacing, is to grab one of the cheaper sets to start out with. I’ve also got the smaller triangles and they work just as well as the larger sets. The great thing about Nanoleaf sets is you can always upgrade later on and use the older sets on a different wall. You don’t ever lose anything by starting off with the more affordable sets.
Verdict.
As someone who’s always looking for ways to truly switch off, I’m a fan of what Nanoleaf has created here. The lights soothe, the setup process is easy, and the app gives me full control over everything.
If you’re looking for a way to relax, or you’ve got a room in need of a quick, one-shot makeover, Nanoleaf comes easy to recommend.
Disclosure: Review unit provided by PR on behalf of Nanoleaf | All photos captured by Wesley Copeland. To learn more about our review policy click here. | Alternatively, click here to find out why you can trust me.
