A method for increasing the luminous efficacy of a white light emitting diode (WLED), comprising introducing optically functional interfaces between an LED die and a phosphor, and between the phosphor and an outer medium, wherein at least one of the interfaces between the phosphor and the LED die provides a reflectance for light emitted by the phosphor away from the outer medium and a transmittance for light emitted by the LED die. Thus, a WLED may comprise a first material which surrounds an LED die, a phosphor layer, and at least one additional layer or material which is transparent for direct LED emission and reflective for the phosphor emission, placed between the phosphor layer and the first material which surrounds the LED die.