In the decor of the premises, lighting is of great importance. The correct location of the fixtures on the ceiling allows you to transform the room. There are several methods for placing light sources. About popular options for the location of lamps on the ceiling is described in this article.
Lighting planning
Lighting design includes several stages:
- The choice of type and type of appliances for the interior.
- Determining the number of light sources.
- Creating an installation diagram.
The planning procedure begins with determining the style in which the lighting system is built. The type of light sources is also taken into account. In this case, there are two options: selection for the design of the room or contrast.
Then it is required to determine the areas of the apartment that need an individual luminous flux: brighter or muffled. Comfort and convenience depend on this. After choosing the type of fixtures, you need to determine their number, and then draw up a layout.
Types of lighting
To choose the location of the fixtures on the ceiling, you should familiarize yourself with their types used in houses and apartments. In residential premises are often used:
- Chandeliers. These are traditional lighting fixtures that are usually located in the center of the ceiling. Usually they have many horns that perfectly illuminate the room.
- Built-in spotlights. They also have the name spots. Usually they are placed on suspended and suspended ceilings. The case is located above the level of a clean ceiling, only the decorative part and the front surface are noticeable. They can be placed both over the entire area and in specific areas.
- Backlight This type of lighting differs in that linear light sources, which are absolutely hidden from the eyes, are used more often. They are used on suspended or suspended ceilings, but even on ordinary ceilings you can make a box of drywall, behind which hide lighting devices.
There are also wall, table lamps, floor lamps. The choice of lighting depends on the room. Combining different types of lamps, it will turn out to provide modern lighting.
Lamp types
Considering the topic of the location of the fixtures on the ceiling, you should familiarize yourself with the types of socles used. Under different socles have their own lamps. When choosing them, you need to consider the necessary lighting and the type of ceiling into which the lamps are built.
For stretch ceilings, restrictions apply: the fabrics and films that are used for them are difficult to tolerate heat. Therefore, halogen and fluorescent lamps with a power of not more than 20 watts are installed on film stretch ceilings. Incandescent bulbs are also suitable - no more than 40 watts. On fabric install 35 and 60 watts.
There are LED light sources, but there are no restrictions on them, since they heat less. Therefore, choose in this case should be in shape, color temperature and brightness.
Backlight
When choosing the location of the fixtures on the ceiling, all light sources, as well as the backlight, should be considered. For the latter, linear lamps are usually chosen. They are divided into luminescent and neon. LED linear are also used.
The best are LEDs. They have several advantages. They are economical, durable, heat less than others. But there are also disadvantages: a low voltage is required for power, so converters are needed. They are more expensive, and they must be placed in an accessible place for repair.
If the LEDs do not like, you need to choose fluorescent and neon lights. Usually the first of them is chosen, since their installation and connection are simpler. But the minus is the flickering light and the "cold" glow. The installation of neon lamps requires the connection of other light sources.
Distances
As you can see from the photo, the location of the fixtures on the ceiling in the form of sequentially placed devices looks beautiful. When placing, you should take into account the power of the lamps, their distance to the walls, as they also heat up. If a row of lamps is located along the wall, then the distance to it should be at least 20 cm. Otherwise, there is a risk of heating it very much.
You should also consider the minimum distance between the built-in ceiling lights - it is 30 cm. This is the main point that you need to pay attention to when developing the layout of the fixtures on the ceiling in the room.
Number
Before choosing the location of the fixtures on the stretch ceiling in the room, determine their number. Typically, the calculation is performed from the standards. For different rooms they are different.
To determine the number of fixtures, the following rules are taken into account:
- The area of the room must be multiplied by the norm of illumination. It turns out the total power of the desired lighting.
- Then you should determine the power of light sources and their type, determine the luminous flux.
- The total power is divided by the power of the lamps, their number is obtained. Then you need to choose only the layout of the fixtures on a rectangular ceiling.
Example
To make it clearer, you should look at an example of determining the number of lamps. So, the basis will be a living room of 16 square meters. m. It requires placement of LED lamps with a power of 2 watts. This is 200 Lx. The calculation looks like this:
- The required luminous flux is set according to the norm: 16 * 150 = 2400 Lx.
- Then the number is determined: the resulting figure must be divided into the luminous flux of lamps: 2400/200 = 12 pieces. It turns out that for the room you need 12 lamps.
At this rate, lighting is bright, but sometimes a muffled, soft light is required. This should be considered when choosing the location of the fixtures on a stretch ceiling. It is advisable to make the lighting vary. To do this, the lamps are divided into several groups.
If two are selected, then they are connected to one line through one and lead to a two-gang switch. In this case, it is possible to turn on the lamps through one, as a result, a dim light will be obtained. At the request of the lamps can be divided into a larger number of groups, which can be displayed separately on the switches and turn on if necessary.
With chandelier
The location of the fixtures on the suspended ceiling in a rectangular room is selected based on the shape. The presence of other light sources and other factors is also taken into account.
As can be seen from the photo, the location of the lamps on the ceiling with a chandelier looks beautiful. And in many rooms the presence of a chandelier, which is located in the center, is assumed. From this point and build further compositions. They can be symmetric or asymmetric, but the main device must be considered the starting point:
- Lamps are placed in the corners of the room, and a chandelier remains in the center. This option is great for small rooms.
- Still devices can be placed along one wall.
- Lighting devices are placed on two opposite walls.
- For large rooms, there is also a variant: there are three lamps in each corner of the room.
- Looks nice option in a semicircle from one wall.
- Semicircles can also be parallel.
- To make the room light, the devices are placed on all sides, evenly distributing them.
- Wave-shaped placement of lighting devices is allowed.
- Lamps can be installed in one corner.
- The placement of devices in a circle around the chandelier looks beautiful.
- The option looks originally when the lamps are placed near the chandelier and in the corners of the room.
No chandelier
If the lighting is based only on built-in lighting devices, no less options. In this case, the light sources should be divided into groups based on the level of illumination. The best options for the location of fixtures on a stretch ceiling in a hall or another room include:
- Different light sources can be alternated around the perimeter of the entire room.
- The lamps are stirred symmetrically.
- Lamps of two types are arranged in the form of a pattern, for example, eights, circles, and semicircles.
For each zone, you can create your own lighting. It is enough to turn on the necessary devices to provide the necessary atmosphere in the room.
Living room
The location of the fixtures on the stretch ceiling in the hall can be different. A chandelier is usually used in this room, and usually a large one. If the room is square, then it is better to choose symmetrical options. They allow you to emphasize the correct geometry.
This is suitable for those cases where you do not need to emphasize zoning. In this case, asymmetry is effective, and spots of various types can be used. The location of the fixtures on the ceiling in the hall can be represented in groups. This allows you to vary the light intensity.
Whichever option is chosen, with or without a chandelier, but the schemes include more than a dozen spots, and more often a few dozen. Therefore, to save electricity, LED lamps should be placed. Although they are more expensive, but in terms of efficiency they have no equal.
Bedroom
You need to choose the location of the devices on the basis that the atmosphere in this room should be cozy. Therefore, when buying lamps, you should pay attention to devices with a warm glow temperature, that is, those that create a slightly yellowish light. If you place appliances in the bedroom with a blue or bright white tint, it will be difficult for you to relax.
Lighting schemes usually do not differ. You can install appliances in certain areas, such as above a dressing table or workstation. Moreover, it can be both ceiling lights and wall. The main thing is to do everything succinctly.
Kitchen
The location of the fixtures on the ceiling of the kitchen is diverse. Even if the room is small, it is usually divided into two parts. In one, food is being prepared, and in the other, it is being taken. If there is a stretch ceiling, the location of the fixtures in the kitchen needs to be such as to emphasize these zones. Therefore, spots are usually placed along the headset, and above the table - a rectangle, oval or other figure.
If the room is small, complex schemes are not suitable. In these cases, the spots are located around the perimeter or along two walls. The oval or square also looks beautiful. Just do not use large lamps with complex shades in a small room. They look beautiful, but are ideal for the living room.
You can install lamps of different types. It can be devices and on long legs. Plafonds are different in shape, but most in demand are cylindrical or round.
Children
If the lighting is improperly designed, the children's room will be uncomfortable. A diverse scheme is needed. A schoolboy needs a separate learning area where it is better to make bright lighting. Enough light should be in the game part. And over the area of sleep it is better to use dim lighting.
If bunk ceilings are used, lighting devices are placed along the level boundary. For flat schemes more - you should take one of the existing ones or come up with your own.
Bathroom and toilet
No chandelier is required in these rooms. This is due to the small area and electrical safety. The spotlights used in the bathroom are installed in the form of a rectangle or oval near the walls. An additional wall-mounted device is hung above the mirror. A wall-mounted appliance can be placed above the mirror.
In addition to design, it is important to remember the high-quality moisture resistance of devices. Due to the high humidity, it is better not to allow the use of fluorescent lamps, the choke of which is leaky. It is important that the fixtures withstand vapors and splashes of water.
Location is device specific. Usually two or three lamps are placed above the bathroom and shower, and several in the rest of the room.
Corridor and hallway
The placement of spotlights on the ceiling depends on the geometric shape of the room. In a narrow opening there are enough spots installed in one row. In a rectangular room, it is better to use four lamps that form this geometric shape.
Spotlights can be mounted under the ceiling, as well as in various objects. This technique allows you to make the design of the room exquisite.
The choice
The procedure for installing suspended ceilings and fixtures does not take much time compared to the choice. Be sure to take into account the design of the room, height and width. If the dimensions allow, then built-in spotlights are added to the chandelier, and then the room will be as light as possible.
If the ceilings are low, then a small chandelier with standard bulbs is suitable, most importantly, their power should be no more than 45 watts. Light should be directed downward, not the ceiling. Often, for this option, an LED strip is chosen, which is hidden at the joints.
For small rooms, experts advise installing spot or track lights, since this lighting allows you to achieve the effect of increasing space with the help of light. When choosing devices, you should check the quality and integrity of the structure, otherwise there is a risk of the stretch ceiling catching on a chipped lamp housing.
Still fixtures are selected according to the general geometry of the accessories in the room. If all objects are rounded, then angular devices can violate the general concept. Select fixtures based on the practicality of the stretch fabric. With the fabric version, the search circle increases, since the fabric can tolerate heat from light bulbs. With PVC, fixtures with less power are needed. Preferably halogen or LED.
Which are better?
Determining which luminaires for a stretch ceiling is better is difficult to determine, but some have several advantages that will be decisive when choosing. Many masters recommend choosing spotlights instead of a massive and voluminous chandelier. The reason is that all devices have their own size of the inner part, which is hidden in the ceiling niche.
As a result, recessed luminaires require a reduction in the overall ceiling height. The size of the niche depends on the type of luminaire, that is, the more you should hide the body of the device, the lower the coating falls.
From light bulbs it is better to choose LED. Halogen ones have an aesthetic disadvantage: the reflector is highlighted during operation, part of the light is passed into the stretch ceiling, which is why all the fixtures and wires are noticeable. In this case, it is inconvenient to change the light bulb. A LED lamp, on the contrary, does not let light in and easily changes.
When choosing recessed fixtures, the light falls at an acute angle and does not scatter. Therefore, it is desirable that the bulb protrudes slightly from the main plane, scattering it near itself.
It is preferable to choose recessed luminaires with a base GX53. They sell LED and energy-saving bulbs for them. Although it may seem that it is better to choose an economical one, but the LED lasts longer and lights up almost instantly.
Thus, the location of the fixtures in the room can be varied. It is important that the circuit fits perfectly into the room. Only then will the lighting create a cozy atmosphere.