A side-emitting light emitting device (100) is provided, comprising a substrate (101), a reflector (102) arranged spaced apart from said substrate (101) and extending along the extension of said substrate, and at least one light emitting diode (103) arranged on said substrate and facing said reflector, said substrate (101) and reflector (102) delimiting a wave guiding region (104) for light emitted by said at least one light emitting diode (103). Further, a wavelength converting material (105) is arranged at the lateral edge of said wave guiding region (104). The invention provides a compact side emitter with controlled color emission.