Multi-Light Background Configuration¶

The multi-light background feature allows the card background to light up when any light entity in the room is on, instead of only when the main room entity is on. This is particularly useful for rooms with multiple lights where you want the background to reflect the actual lighting state of the room.

Multi-Light

📖 See Multi-Light Background Example for configuration details.

Basic Setup¶

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: kitchen
features:
  - multi_light_background

Features¶

Automatic Discovery: Automatically finds all light entities in the specified area
Mixed Entity Support: Can track any entity type (light, switch, binary_sensor, etc.) that reports on/off state
Manual Override: Specify exactly which entities to track with the lights configuration
Smart Background: Shows lit background when ANY tracked light is on

Automatic Light Discovery¶

By default, when multi_light_background is enabled, the card automatically finds all entities in the area with the light. domain:

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: kitchen
features:
  - multi_light_background
# Automatically tracks: light.kitchen_main, light.kitchen_under_cabinet, etc.

Manual Light Configuration¶

You can override the automatic discovery by specifying which entities to track:

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: kitchen
features:
  - multi_light_background
lights:
  - light.kitchen_main
  - light.kitchen_under_cabinet
  - switch.kitchen_pendant # Can include non-light entities

Note: The lights configuration accepts any entity type (light, switch, binary_sensor, etc.) that reports an on/off state.

Ambient Lights¶

Ambient lights are a special type of light that only affect the card background, not the main icon or title. This is useful when you have RGB LED strips or accent lighting that should color the background while a main ceiling light colors the icon.

Ambient-Light

Ambient Light Configuration¶

To mark a light as ambient, use the extended object format with type: ambient:

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: living_room
features:
  - multi_light_background
lights:
  - light.living_room_ceiling # Regular light - affects icon AND background
  - entity_id: light.living_room_led_strip
    type: ambient # Ambient light - affects background ONLY

How It Works¶

Regular lights (string format or object without type): Affect both the card background AND the main icon/title styling when on
Ambient lights (type: ambient): Only affect the card background styling when on, the icon/title remain unaffected

This allows for scenarios like:

Red LED strips coloring the background
Yellow ceiling light coloring the icon
Both can be on simultaneously with distinct visual effects

Ambient Light Example¶

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: bedroom
features:
  - multi_light_background
lights:
  - light.bedroom_ceiling # Main light - yellow icon when on
  - entity_id: light.bedroom_rgb_strip
    type: ambient # LED strip - red background, icon stays yellow
  - entity_id: light.bedroom_nightlight
    type: ambient # Another ambient light

Examples¶

Basic Multi-Light Setup¶

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: living_room
features:
  - multi_light_background

Mixed Entity Types¶

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: bedroom
features:
  - multi_light_background
lights:
  - light.bedroom_ceiling
  - light.bedroom_bedside_left
  - light.bedroom_bedside_right
  - switch.bedroom_accent_lighting

Kitchen with Under-Cabinet Lighting¶

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: kitchen
features:
  - multi_light_background
lights:
  - light.kitchen_main
  - light.kitchen_under_cabinet
  - light.kitchen_island

Office with Smart Switches¶

type: custom:room-summary-card
area: office
features:
  - multi_light_background
lights:
  - light.office_desk_lamp
  - switch.office_overhead
  - switch.office_accent_lights
  - binary_sensor.office_monitor_backlight

Implementation Details¶

The multi-light background feature seamlessly integrates with existing functionality:

Backwards Compatible: Existing configurations continue to work unchanged
Performance Optimized: Light entities are tracked efficiently without impacting card performance
Theme Aware: Respects dark mode settings and maintains existing styling behavior
Consistent: Uses the same state checking logic as other card features

This enhancement makes the card more responsive to the actual lighting conditions in multi-light rooms, providing better visual feedback and a more intuitive user experience.

Troubleshooting¶

No Lights Detected Automatically¶

If automatic discovery isn't finding your lights:

Verify the entities are in the correct Home Assistant area
Check that entities use the light. domain
Use manual configuration with the lights option

Background Not Lighting Up¶

If the background isn't showing when lights are on:

Verify the light entities are actually reporting "on" state
Check that multi_light_background is in the features list
Use the skip_entity_styles feature flag if you want to disable background color styling

Performance Issues¶

If you notice performance problems:

Limit the number of tracked entities using manual lights configuration
Avoid tracking entities that change state very frequently
Consider using groups or scenes instead of individual entities