In all houses, where more than 1 floor, there is a staircase. Often it is in a dimly lit place. Climbing it in the dark will be unsafe. Highlighting steps allows you to solve this problem. There are many ideas for additional lighting that fit perfectly into the interior. The types of lighting and its installation are described in the article.
Benefits
Designers offer different options for lighting steps:
- The use of long chandeliers illuminating several spans. In this case, they are installed in a house with a small number of storeys. It will be difficult to remove dust from such lamps.
- Side lighting is often used, placing sconces on the wall or installing a floor lamp. But excess objects interfere with the ascent and descent.
The best choice would be the step lighting that illuminates the stairs. Compared to other lighting sources, it:
- Universal. This lighting is ideal for stairs of different widths and different materials.
- Easy to install. No cable routing is needed during backlight creation. The light source is placed on the steps.
- It has practical benefits. Highlighting steps helps to clearly indicate their beginning and end. This prevents falling and injury.
- Allows you to visually increase the space if you select point light sources.
Thanks to such lighting, it will be possible to emphasize the design of the room. It will be much more comfortable. But first you need to determine what type of lighting is ideal for the room. It is important to consider not only the aesthetic factor, but also safety, durability. A suitable light source will be original and reliable.
Varieties of light sources
When choosing the illumination of the steps of the stairs, it is necessary to take into account the color scheme, type of stairs, material. To create a backlight, LED strips, neon bulbs, spotlights are used. Some owners choose more than one option, but use several. In this case, it is necessary that each source has its own function, so that there is no overload of the situation.
The illumination of the steps of the stairs is able to fill the entire space. And it can only be on the line of movement or flicker dimly. Differences in light sources are associated with the installation method. Stair lights are external, built into the railing or stairs. All options look original, but for your room you should choose the most suitable form.
Lamp lamps
The backlight should delight without causing any trouble. To do this, you should know which lamps are used and what are their features:
- Neon They emit soft light without creating a shadow. Lighting ensures safety at any time of the day. Neon lamps last a long time. But they have a minus, which is important to consider if children live at home. The material is fragile, so the lamps need protection.
- Halogen. A uniform saturated light is emitted with them. Such lamps become very hot. It is important that they do not come in contact with other surfaces in order to prevent problems. Power surges noticeably reduce lamp life.
- LED light. Highlights of steps of this type are a popular source of light. They have a long service life, a wide selection, the presence of design ideas. Compared to halogen lamps, they hardly heat up. There is a staircase lighting on the steps with a motion sensor. This is a “smart” lighting that looks great and is considered practical. With the backlight of the stairs on the steps with the sensor, energy consumption is reduced, since the lights turn on at the time when someone moves up the stairs. They are also convenient in that you do not need to look for switches in the dark. Illumination of steps with a motion sensor is easy to install.
- LED overhead lights. Great for a private home. They have a sufficient scattering angle.
Lighting is chosen based on the interior decoration of the house. The main thing is that the light is soft, does not blind eyes and does not create bright shadows. This will help to harmoniously fit additional lighting into the interior.
Spiral staircases
They usually install LED backlight. The steps of the stairs with it also look attractive. Thanks to the flexible material, steps of the original form, of different sizes, are illuminated.
A small strip will be enough to add light to highlight the steps or railing. Original LED strip placed on the wall, which is adjacent to the stairs.
Transparent steps
Some houses have transparent stairs. Their steps are made of glass or acrylic. LED backlight looks original. The lower part is equipped with material that scatters the light. If desired, end-lighting can be installed in the handrails. All this provides the effect of internal glow. For better organicity, the tape is combined with the fixtures of the steps.
Metal and wooden stairs
When choosing fixtures for illuminating steps, one must take into account whether or not there are risers. If they are absent, then LED strips are used, installing them inside the steps. When there are risers, it is better not to choose this lighting. LED strips can be replaced with solid or spot lighting.
Concrete and brick stairs
The use of LEDs on them is problematic. During installation, masking profiles are used, bends and transitions of the tape are created. You should first calculate where the light flows will fall.
Usually, in the areas where such stairs are located, the lighting elements deteriorate with constant movement. It is better to choose a zigzag illumination. She is on the side wall, copying the profile of the stairs.
The choice
When choosing lighting fixtures for stair steps, it is important to consider some nuances:
- If the stairs are long, it is better to install diffused light, and in the opposite case, point.
- The lighting at the spiral staircase should clearly highlight the steps.
- When choosing a type of lighting, other light sources must be taken into account.
- For steel stairs, it is advisable to choose a white light, since it emphasizes the metallic luster.
- For a wooden staircase, the best choice would be yellow light, which is in perfect harmony with the natural color of the wood.
After choosing a light source, you should decide on the control. The best solution would be motion sensors. With them, the time spent searching for the circuit breaker is reduced, and energy is saved. There are sensors with automatic illumination of some fixtures.
Spot lighting
It began to be used not so long ago, but it has already become popular. Spot lighting can be installed on different stairs. An important rule is that a lot of light is not required. Many small bulbs are fixed at some distance from each other. The main thing is that they fit into the interior.
Wall Spot Light
Lamps are mounted on the wall adjacent to the stairs, and it is advisable to do this before facing the latter. This is due to the fact that the eyeliner must be hidden. If you begin to install lamps after the repair, then it will need to be performed again.
For wall decoration in this case, it is better to choose drywall, on which different lamps can be fixed. Using this material will not be a problem in the design of the premises. Drywall perfectly aligns walls and also holds decorative details.
If spotlight is selected on the steps, then holes of the required size must be made. But the wires will not be so easy to hold. If you miss this, you will need to dismantle part of the structure, lay the cable, and then return everything to its place.
If the backlight is installed with the installation of the stairs, then 2 light sources are often chosen along the edges. But you can choose the option when they are in the center. Also, the backlight is able to be placed on the risers. An original solution will be the choice of different colors when illuminating steps and railings. In this case, one must skillfully combine shades.
Installation
Demanded is LED lighting. It is used for their homes. First, steps are measured, the backlight is set when there is:
- adhesive LED strip;
- aluminum frame or rail;
- self-tapping screws;
- drill;
- stabilizer and connector.
Before work, it is necessary to lay the wires, a voltage stabilizer is connected to them. Installation is performed according to the following instructions:
- You will need an aluminum profile, which is cut into elements of the desired size.
- Using self-tapping screws, the profile is fixed to the bottom of the steps.
- The frame and steps must be degreased with a special solution, alcohol or acetone.
- It is necessary to prepare an LED strip: the required length is cut off. It is important not to damage the LEDs themselves.
- A connector is attached to the edge of the tape closer to the wall.
- 2 wires are connected to this element.
- Remove the protective film from the tape and fix it on the adhesive on the rail.
- The wires must be hidden under the stairs, decorated in the wall.
- The wires are connected to the stabilizer and supply voltage.
Connecting fixtures as follows:
- Using a puncher, holes are made in the wall for fixtures, sensors and channels for laying wires.
- It is necessary to prepare a cement mortar.
- Wires should be packed in a plastic waterproof sheath.
- Podrozetniki, casings for fixtures are installed in the holes.
- Then you need to install and secure the lamp clamps.
- The holes must be sealed with cement.
- So fixtures and motion sensors are fixed.
Installation must be carried out in compliance with safety rules. If there are no skills, then it is better to entrust this work to specialists.
Auto backlight
Automatic lighting is not difficult if there is at least some idea of the sensors and the operation of the closed circuit. Using the Arduino microcontroller, everything will turn out to be done accurately. This requires patience, experience and time, as well as the acquisition of wires, tools. There is a possibility of choosing a ready-made solution and acquiring the necessary equipment, the installation cost will be much higher, especially if the work is carried out by a specialist.
The following actions are allowed during lighting setup:
- Setting the desired switching speed.
- Setting the on time.
- Organization of the simultaneous inclusion of the illumination of all steps during the approach of a person.
- Set the power-on mode alternately.
- Turn on standby mode.
The automatic backlight kit consists of:
- The controller.
- Motion sensor.
- Set of wires.
The device can be placed in different places convenient for operation. Usually 2 motion sensors are located on the extreme steps that respond to a moving object. With his approach, the lamps turn on, lighting the entire staircase. And when there is no movement, the light goes out.
This lighting can be on the stairs inside and out. During installation, it is necessary to take into account temperature fluctuations, humidity changes. Automation is more suitable for the home, which reduces the risk of damage to appliances. For long stairs, it is desirable to alternately adjust the illumination of several steps.
Homeowners will surely enjoy the presence of such a light. This is necessary not only for safety, so as not to fall while moving up the stairs, but also for the beauty of the interior. Such lighting makes the room more comfortable.