Looking for a piece of wall art that doubles as lighting for your home?
You’re in luck. Aurora, launched by Canadian smart-lighting startup Nanoleaf, is a set of smart LED panels designed to go on your wall.
The panels are triangular (about 9″ on each side), and can be connected to basically make any shape or design you want. Nine come in a set, and you can buy packs of three more to create more intricate designs. They are connected by a small “chip” that literally connects the two together. Since they connect together only the first panel needs to be plugged into the wall.
One more thing – Aurora is a hassle to put on your wall.
The panels don’t necessarily stay connected together that well so you’ll have to make sure each one is mounted really well before you can mount and connect the next. Plus, since you organize the panels to make your own shape, it’s really important to measure and make sure each panel is in the right spot and level – or else your either design will be messed up.
The kit comes with those 3M damage-free hanging strips with the pullable tabs that are supposed to be easily removable, but as I learned removing the panel after mounting them is easier said than done – especially if you want to hide those tabs so they aren’t sticking out.
But if you have the patience to hang them and creativity to organize the panels into a cool design, Aurora could really spruce up a boring wall.
The starter kit with nine panels retails for $199.99, and the expansion pack of three panels retails for $59.99. Expensive for lights, but again – you need to think of Aurora as wall art, not lights.
Ultimately, if you’re just looking for smart HomeKit-enabled lighting, you’re better off buying smart bulbs from the multitude of companies that are now selling them (including Nanoleaf). But if you want a really cool piece of wall art and are willing to put up with a slightly frustrating installation process, Aurora may be for you.
