A light emitting diode (LED) component comprising a submount with an array of LED chips and a lens over the array of LED chips. A diffuser is arranged so that at least some light from the LEDs passes through the diffuser to mix the LED light in the near field. The light passing through the diffuser appears as a mixture of LED chip light when directly viewed. A lighting device is also disclosed comprising an LED component comprising an array of LED chips and a near field diffuser to mix at least some of the light from the LED chips in the near field. A remote reflector is included to reflect at least some the light from the LED component so that is emits from the lighting device in the desired direction.