I tried the rope light from home depot/lowes and it gives off kind of a feathered look resulting from the ridges in the clear casing. You can see it a little in the attached picture. This effect is magnified when I put it up behind the crown moulding.

Is there another brand, product, or method of diffusing it that will give me a smoother looking light for lack of a better term?

I went with a non-clear rope light for just this reason. This is what I have in three different trays: http://www.1000bulbs.com/product.php?product=29346

You may also be able to get some plastic diffuser pannels at HD/Lowes/etc. This is typically sold in sheets, and can be used for light fixtures, etc. You could cut this in strips and place it over your existing rope light to see if that helps.

You may also want to line the bottom of the tray (or whatever the rope light will rest on) with slightlly crimpled aluminum foil. This will help diffuse the reflections, plus give you a bit more brightnes.

Tom

Thank you VERY much Tom! I just ordered a small piece of that to try out. Did you use the 3/8" or 1/2" version and how was it in the brightness department compared to the clear stuff?

The link above is exactly what I ordered (1/2"). I did not try the clear stuff, so I have no comparison to make. In the theater room, my ceiling is a very dark blue, and it wasn't very bright. I just made 2 loops around the cove to double the amount of light, and it's perfect. In my family room, with a darker beige paint, one loop was more than enough.

Also, if you get the spool, it is cuttable. Any rope light sold with a UL lable can not be advertised as field cuttable, but the marking are there.

Tom

Mike,

I put aluminum duct insulation tape on the back side of my crown and it help reflect the light more evenly and brighter. Just a thought.

Mike,

I put aluminum duct insulation tape on the back side of my crown and it help reflect the light more evenly and brighter. Just a thought.

I will try that out tonight also. The combo of both the non-clear rope light and the reflective tape might be just the trick.

i cant decide if i should get this or the LED ones....do you have a picture showing how bright it is?...thx

I ended using a single thread of rope lights and it was plenty bright for me. I used it on the floor, so my results will be different than yours. Check out my theater link for pictures. I believe page 5.

BTW - If anyone still needs rope light, I've got an extra 90 feet of clear that I'm not using and would be happy to part with. It comes on a spool, and I think I have a couple extra plugs and connectors as well. It can be cut every 3 feet. I also have two 30-ft sections with plugs already installed, if anyone is interested. I ended up overbuying and would love to help out a fellow AVS'r.

Blipszyc - you have a PM.