It's no secret that the design of the corridor is often given much less attention and time than this complex room requires. The difficulty of its design is that this room is not intended for a long stay in it, so the owners are not confused by the small size and dimmed lighting of the corridor.
But we should not forget that the corridor in the apartment is the first room from which the guests begin acquaintance with your home, and, as a rule, it gives the first impression of it. Today we will not give recommendations on the design of the hallway. The purpose of our article is to figure out what should be the lighting in the corridor of the apartment. You will learn about some secrets that will help turn even the smallest room into a more spacious and comfortable.
Corridor Lighting Features
Consider lighting in the corridor before starting construction and finishing work. In this case, you can correctly place the necessary switches and sockets, as well as wiring to the lamps.
How many fixtures are needed for the corridor?
To choose the right option for your premises from the huge assortment presented today in the distribution network, it is necessary to take into account the corridor configuration and its dimensions. Even a long and narrow corridor can be arranged and decorated no worse than a spacious hallway.
In recent years, spotlights on the ceiling have become very popular. With a uniform distribution of such light sources, even a narrow corridor will become beautiful and cozy. In addition, they will help to significantly save money when paying electricity bills.
The lighting in the corridor should not be limited to the ceiling chandelier. To make the interior look natural, it is advisable to combine at least two types of light sources. For example, along with spotlights on the ceiling, sconces that can focus on the entrance area or key shelf will be appropriate in this room.
The corridor in a larger apartment can be supplemented with a floor lamp. He will well illuminate the table for newspapers. Even the smallest entrance hall cannot do without a mirror. This necessary element of the interior will serve for the proper lighting of a narrow corridor. If you install a backlight near it and direct a beam of light on a mirror surface, you can get a visual increase in area due to reflection in the mirror.
How to choose a lamp?
It is important to choose high-quality lamps. Wall, floor and ceiling light sources can enter the corridor. For a spacious hallway, their choice is huge. But what should they be in a small, irregular or narrow room?
All light sources are divided into general and local. Both of them are aimed at concealing the shortcomings of the room. Lamps in the corridor are selected in accordance with the dimensions of the room. Artificial lighting in the corridor is especially important due to the fact that, as a rule, especially in old buildings, the corridors are very dark, they rarely get (or do not get at all) natural light. There are no windows, so the only way to create a modern and comfortable room is to choose the right lighting fixtures.
These include:
- floor lamps and sconces;
- chandeliers;
- Wall lights;
- Spotlights;
- spots;
- Neon lights.
Original solutions
- Unfortunately, halls in old-built houses often differ not only in a tiny area, but also in very low ceilings. In order to create lighting in the corridor, for example in Khrushchev, you can use a lamp that fits tightly to the ceiling.
- The cornice around the perimeter of the corridor in which the LED strip is hidden looks original.
- For wardrobes, spotlights are suitable. These are small halogen lamps that are available in various shapes. By placing spots in the closets, you will greatly simplify the search for the right things.
- The backlight of the plinth looks very impressive in the hallway.
How to light a mirror?
The upper part of the corridor is easy to highlight with a properly installed mirror. But you can achieve the desired effect only if the surface of the mirror is at a height not exceeding the height of a person.
You can install lamps on the wall by the mirror or fix suitable devices on the mirror surface itself - this simple technique will allow you to reflect light rays, which will visually increase the room.
In the hallway a mirror (preferably full-length) is necessary, but at the same time light rays reflected by its surface should be perceived comfortably. Therefore, it is advisable to fix the fixtures in the upper part of the frame.
Lamps that are selected to illuminate the mirror must be functional and practical. The best option is a luminaire with a simple shape that allows you to gently scatter light.
Quite often, the mirror in the hallway is located on the cabinet door. In this case, built-in light structures or rotary lamps on the ledge are suitable. Convenient and light sources with flexible movable brackets. It should not be forgotten that the lighting of the mirror only complements the main source of light.
Corridor Lighting: Design Tips
- When creating lighting in an apartment (especially small), it is necessary to remember that its brightness should be the same in all rooms. If you prefer well-lit rooms, then the entrance hall should not be an exception.
- In a too narrow corridor, massive chandeliers and lamps should be abandoned. Far from always classic lighting options give the desired result. Whatever lighting you choose in the corridor, it should contribute to a visual increase in space.
- If you want to focus on a specific design element, it is better to use vertical lights. They effectively emphasize the necessary elements of the interior, create a sense of space, raise the ceiling.
Wall lights
For those who are annoyed by too bright light, a lamp is suitable in the wall corridor. He perfectly emphasizes individual elements of the interior: a picture, shelves, a mirror, a table for correspondence. Most experts believe that such lamps are most suitable for the hallway. They illuminate both high and low rooms equally well.
When choosing such a lighting device, you need to know that the closer the lamp is to the wall, the more thorough the surface finish should be. The fact is that the side lighting will visually raise the texture, and as a result the slightest flaws will appear.
The small corridor will also be made more elegant by picturesque and graphic illuminated miniatures hung at regular intervals. In this case, it is important, as in the case of a mirror, to choose the correct level of their location so that they do not reflect into the eyes.
Light zones
A narrow and long room should be divided into several light zones. For example, the front door can be lit with LED strip, in the center the lighting in the corridor can be point, and a sconce is suitable for the far wall. This combination of different light sources will help to avoid the impression of a long tunnel. In addition, the installation of several lighting fixtures in the hallway allows you to turn on only part of the system.
Accordingly, the switches should be installed in different places of the corridor. In the hallway, the light should not be excessively bright. The resistive switch will help you control its brightness. For even greater convenience, you can set the automation - then you do not have to constantly approach the switch. We entered the room - the light came on, left - after forty seconds the lighting turned off.
When creating lighting in the corridor, use incandescent or halogen lamps - they are the most natural and pleasant to perceive, and matte shades will give the interior softness and comfort.