Light level detection
Too bright or dim light negatively affects the organs of vision, and it is also located in the house
with excessive or insufficient lighting it is simply unpleasant.
The first step in choosing lamps
is to study the lighting standards for various rooms. Optimal indicators are reflected in SanPiN 2.21/2.1.1/1278-03.
The dimmest light should be in bedrooms and children's rooms - 150 and 200 lux, respectively. For rooms at home
, where you plan to read or work with documents, the optimal indicator will be 300 lux.
to consider before choosing lamps
for a specific room.
Determination of design and dimensions
If you plan to install a hanging lamp
, it is necessary to take into account the parameters of the room.
For rooms with ceilings of about 2.5 m, it is better to purchase flat lamps
rather than pendant chandeliers.
In this case, selected
device should not be small.
Calculate the size of the lamp
easy if you use the following formula:
(L + M) × 10,
where L is the length of the room, and M is its width. The final value will indicate the optimal diameter of the lamp
if it is round in shape.
Or the length of the larger side selected
model, if it is rectangular.
The figure is very approximate, since much depends on other characteristics of the lamp
, for example, volume.
Thin and weightless models may have a larger diameter or side length, while heavy lamps
are better
to choose
a slightly smaller size.
Organization of lighting zones and selection of brightness
Type of lamps
The lights that can be used and their brightness depend on the type of room. Often several lighting zones are organized in rooms. In this case, you should adhere to several rules:
- The light emanating from the central chandelier should be brighter than from the sconces placed on the walls.
- Kitchen work surfaces should be well lit, and light bulbs for the lampshade above the table should be selected with soft and subdued light.
- The main source of light in the bedroom is a chandelier; sconces and floor lamps
serve for spot illumination of individual zones.
When selecting lamps
It is also important to rely not only on existing standards, but also on your own feelings. For example, if you plan to read in the bedroom, you can increase the brightness of the sconce hanging above the bed.
Types of lamps
Before choosing a lamp, it is useful to know what types of lighting fixtures exist.
According to their design, lamps are divided into floor and table lamps.
Floor lamps
Floor lamps include a floor lamp, which is a universal lighting device for various types of rooms.
It is used not only for local illumination of any area in the room, but also as a decorative element.
Floor lighting fixtures can have a variety of designs, but most often they are made in the form of a lampshade on a high leg.
At the same time, in modern models the height and position of the leg can be adjusted, and the lampshade can be removed, which is very convenient.
Moreover, such a device does not require complex installation, but it is only suitable for highlighting individual zones.
Table lamps
Table lamps are mobile and compact portable structures on a leg with the ability to adjust the tilt, characterized by ease of use and low cost.
They are divided into working and decorative, and depending on the purpose, a number of corresponding requirements are put forward for such devices.
Pendant lamps
Ceiling lamps are classified as hanging fixtures. They are designed to highlight individual work areas and zoning space.
They can also be mounted at different heights.
Wall lights
Wall lamps include sconces that are mounted on the wall.
Most often they are used for accent lighting or highlighting individual areas in a large space.
Recessed luminaires
It most often includes spotlights (spots).
They are small lighting fixtures with directional light propagating at a certain angle and can be used in any room as an additional light source.
Calculation of power consumption
Brightness directly depends on the parameters of the installed light bulbs. However, not every lamp
designed for installation of powerful lighting elements. It all depends on the cartridge with which the device is equipped. Its power is indicated in the instructions supplied with the chandelier or sconce.
Standard sockets are designed for 40–60 W bulbs. And if you install a more powerful lighting element, the lamp
may fail. However, similar limitations should be taken into account when using halogen lamps. LED or fluorescent lamps are able to create bright light while consuming little power and without overheating.
LED lamps
This category produces a wide variety of lighting devices, which we discussed above. They are united by progress, that is, the use of the latest technologies.
Volumes have been written about the positive aspects of “ice”, as people have already called them, chandeliers and sconces, but very sparingly about the disadvantages.
Let’s try to objectively evaluate LED lamps in the interior of our home:
- The service life is advertised up to 50 thousand hours of operation. This equates to approximately 6 years of continuous lighting. No one checked, there was no need for everyday life. But frequent switching on and off negatively affects the longevity of the LED light bulb. Therefore, when installing in apartments, you need to keep this in mind. It is better to use such lamps in rooms where it is not customary to constantly use a switch.
- The light spectrum of a light bulb is not always favorable for vision. Only well-known brands have achieved the natural warm yellow color of LED lighting. Cheap samples of unknown origin illuminate the space with a caustic bluish or blinding white light. If you stay in a room with such lighting for a short time, there will be no health consequences. However, eyes that are tired during the day will quickly notify you of improper lighting. Read on the topic - what are the standards for indoor lighting?
- Low electricity consumption. This is the absolute truth. You can use the lamp for as long as you like, it will have little effect on your bills. Let's calculate the price for the light bulbs, the rest is profit.
- Highly environmentally friendly. No objections. But other light bulbs are not noticed to damage the environment, unless you break a fluorescent lamp, which actually contains harmful substances. Why break it?
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If your apartment is about to be renovated, take a closer look at overhead spotlights, of course, from well-known brands that guarantee the quality and durability of their products.
Lamps with a remote control are also easy to use.
Choice of base
The sockets are designed to work with light bulbs with a certain type of fastening, which is called a “base”. The latter come in several types:
- Threaded, also known as Edison socket. The determining parameter is the diameter of the screw. You can find out the indicator for a specific light bulb from the alphanumeric designation. For example, E14 means that the base diameter is 14 mm.
- Pin. You can recognize them by the marking G. The number after indicates the distance between the pins with which the light bulb is attached to the base. There may be an additional letter indicating the modification
Use in lamp
A light bulb with the wrong base will not work. Therefore, it is worth purchasing lighting fixtures that work with popular types of lighting elements.
Precautionary measures
Be careful when installing the chandelier. Connect all wires correctly, following the instructions. After connecting the device, turn on the chandelier, making sure that no one is under it. Incandescent lamps may explode when first turned on.
Remember that chandeliers with fabric lampshades can be dangerous and ignite if used incorrectly, especially halogen chandeliers in combination with fabric lampshades.
First, keep in mind that when replacing a lamp, you must turn off the lighting fixture. If the product fails, do not try to figure out the breakdown yourself, but take the chandelier to a repair shop.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for choosing light bulbs. The attached passport or instructions must indicate what power is allowed.
When using a high-power lamp, the lampshade loses its shape or becomes deformed. This can serve as a violation of the thermal regime and cause a short circuit.
Selection of protection index
In ordinary premises, devices marked IP22 are installed. For bathrooms, it is necessary to use devices with enhanced protection, for example IP23. And to illuminate showers and areas where the lamp will come into contact with water, you need to install models with at least IP44.
Attention should be paid not only to the technical parameters, but also to the design of the lamp. It is important that it fits perfectly into the interior of the room and emphasizes the dignity of the room.
In the “Lighting” section on our website you can buy lamps of various types.
Recommendations for choosing a lampshade for a table lamp
- The simpler the shape of the lamp base, the more varied lampshade styles can be used
- The lower diameter of the lampshade should not be greater than the height of the lamp base.
- Match the color of the lampshade to the color of the trim in your room and the base of the lamp. Don't be afraid of black or bright colors as an accent.
- When choosing a lampshade, consider the style of the lamp. Complex, self-contained lamp shapes usually require a simpler shade.
How to determine the right lampshade size?
When talking about the size of a lampshade, we usually mean three parameters: upper diameter, lower diameter, height, but more often one parameter is indicated - the lower diameter.
- The height of the table lamp shade should be approximately 30-40% of the total height of the lamp.
- The bottom diameter of the lampshade should not exceed the height of the lamp base, and should be approximately twice as wide as the widest part of the base.
- The bottom of the lampshade should fit the top of the lamp body so that no mechanical parts, such as the socket, are visible. A view of part or all of the lamp neck is allowed.
- It is important to consider the height of the lampshade seat. The seat is the place where the lampshade is attached to the base of the lamp or floor lamp. Usually mounted on an electric socket using rings.
Are there any restrictions when it comes to choosing the color of fabric for the lampshade?
There are no restrictions, here you can be guided by your taste and ideas about beauty. But when choosing, you need to take into account the light transmittance of the fabric, stretchability (the fabric should stretch a little), and also take into account the texture (on some types of fabric, the weaving on the front and back sides is different, which means that when the lampshade is turned on, the weaving on the wrong side will glow, which does not always correspond to the idea). You should also always look at the fabric against the light, since there are cases when the fabric, when looked at, delights, but the same fabric, when held up to the light, looks like it when the lamp is on and evokes completely different emotions.
The most reliable option when choosing fabric would be to consult with a master designer who has extensive experience in making lampshades and knows how a particular fabric will behave on a lampshade.
Is there a universal lampshade shape that fits most lamp bases?
A universal shape of a lampshade, suitable for most bases, can be considered a cone. For classic bases - a soft cone made of fabric on a frame, with or without additional trim (braid, fringe), for modern bases - a cone made of fabric on a plastic base. The cone shape is also suitable for bases with complex shapes or antique bases.
It must be remembered that cone lampshades are not always suitable for printed fabrics (with patterns). The development of the cone is shaped like a crescent. Many patterns fit poorly into this pattern, or take up quite a lot of fabric to place the pattern correctly in the pattern.
The ideal recipe for selecting a suitable lampshade is live fitting in the workshop of various models of lampshades on your base.
