Modern technologies allow you to create new ways to decorate the apartment. One of the options to decorate a familiar room is the end lighting of the windows. Carry out the procedure for installing the backlight and mounting the shelves for anyone who wants it. And the result of the work will pleasantly surprise even the most fastidious hosts.
Where is the end light used?
Most often, the backlight is used for lighting:
- shelves;
- the ceiling;
- signage;
- company and store logos;
- and even stairs.
Such widespread use leads to the rapid development of technology and the emergence of new elements that simplify the installation and use of the backlight. These include:
- glass processing technology for shelves;
- varieties of aluminum profiles and their characteristics;
- the use of various types of glass (plexiglass, acrylic and others);
- creation of LED lamps and tapes, which greatly simplify the installation of lighting in the groove of the profile.
End lighting has many ways to use, but the key to its popularity is the creation of fastening profiles with a prepared groove.
Highlight Profile
The aluminum profile has two critical functions:
- is the location of the LED strip, which provides lighting for the shelf;
- provides fastening of the shelf and its reliable holding.
For such profiles, shelves made of glass with a thickness of about 1 cm are suitable. If you use a shelf with a smaller thickness, then you need to use a special gasket that will compensate for the difference in thickness and hold the glass firmly in the profile.
Interesting!!! End lighting of glasses can be used for glass stairs. It will provide comfort by illuminating the road in the dark, and will create a beautiful soft glow.
A LED strip installed in the profile will not spread light at the edges, it will be aimed exclusively at the end of the glass, this will provide additional savings, since the light will not be scattered in vain.
Acrylite and its manufacturing technology
Acrylic is a thin glass panel, which is engraved. For the manufacture of acrylite are used:
- acrylic glass;
- LED Strip Light;
- aluminum profile.
The mechanism of action of the backlight is based on physical laws. The light coming from the end is evenly distributed inside the glass. In the place where the matte engraving was applied, the light is scattered, and the inscription begins to glow. Acrylic glass for end lighting It spreads light well and ensures the brightness of the inscription.
Such lighting systems are mainly used for interior illumination of logos. The light has a high degree of contrast and looks very impressive. Another advantage is the ability to adjust color and light weight.
Framelight and its characteristics
Framelight is the latest invention, which is an ultra-thin lighting system. The big advantage of such systems is the ability to replace the poster without unnecessary effort, this is due to the presence of a click system. The image that needs to be highlighted is placed inside the lighting system.
End lighting of windows (framelight) has many advantages, among which:
- brightness;
- profitability;
- uniformity of lighting;
- simplicity when changing images;
- a wide variety of models (one-sided, two-sided, without a click system);
- modern design.
The system can be mounted either vertically or horizontally, suspended from the ceiling or mounted on a wall. For greater security, the framelight can be equipped with a protective acrylic screen.
The aluminum profile has a minimum thickness, so the system is thinner than the framelight does not exist.
Distinctive qualities of shelves with backlight
Luminous shelves are increasingly used in modern interiors. They give the space originality and style and consume minimal amounts of electricity. In addition, indoor flowers can be arranged on a shelf, they will not overheat and will be beautifully illuminated at any time of the day.
- The use of luminous shelves allows you to visually expand the space and make it interesting.
- When installing LED strip on the glass end, it becomes possible to adjust the color of the backlight or set the function of smooth color transitions.
- Color management is carried out using a radio transmitter or controller.
- The illumination of glass shelves is small, so it is successfully used even for lightweight constructions.
- The backlight provides uniform illumination of all objects located on the shelves.
Glass shelf lights
The end lighting of the glasses can either be mounted with one's own hand or purchased in a finished form, already attached directly to the end of the shelf. It’s quite simple to arrange lighting with your own hands, in addition there is a great opportunity to realize a unique idea.
The LED strip is placed in the profile for the end illumination of the glass. This arrangement provides an even distribution of light.
Note!!! To make the glow more uniform, it is necessary to make the outer edge of the shelf matte, and the inner, on the contrary, leave it transparent.
The frosted glass backlight features a special design. To do this, the LED strip is installed in an aluminum profile, and then a frosted glass shelf is attached to the profile. The matte surface allows the light to create soft diffused lighting.
Backlight mounting method
You can install the backlight in the profile as follows:
- Cut aluminum profile to fit. It should clearly match the length of the glass shelf. The thickness of the profile should also coincide with the thickness of the shelf. To be able to set the backlight on the profile, you must remove all the tabs.
- After that, it is necessary to prepare holes in the profile and fix it on the wall (it is important not to forget about the use of the level).
- When the profile is firmly fixed, you can proceed with the installation of the front lighting of the glasses. It is installed in the groove, which is specially provided in the profile.
Important!!! A plastic insert must be in the groove of the profile, it cannot be removed, otherwise a short circuit may occur due to the contact of the LEDs with aluminum.
- Then you can install glass in the profile, for greater strength it can be hammered with a rubber hammer.
Plexiglass Ceiling Light
Plexiglass is a material that has good sound and heat insulation. Often a glass ceiling with backlight is arranged from it. Since there is often nothing apart between floor slabs and flooring between apartments, the sound insulation is very low. Installing a plexiglass ceiling will solve this problem.
Before installing the ceiling glass must be prepared. To do this, with the help of a hacksaw, he is given the necessary shape, the edges are machined and holes are drilled into them, in which LED bulbs will later be installed.
If desired, a picture or inscription can be applied to the glass, then it will be highlighted, and the rest of the surface will have a soft contrast glow. The drawing is initially applied to self-adhesive paper, and then drilled along the contour in glass. The illuminated glass ceiling looks very stylish in the interior and visually makes the room more spacious.
Using the backlight of the glass surface, you can create a unique design. The ease of installation makes this way of decorating the interior more and more popular. In addition, the use of LEDs saves energy and provides maximum safety and durability.