Selecting a cable for a lighting system ↑
Installation of lighting in an apartment begins with drawings and calculations, with determining the location of lighting points, lamps and switches. After the ceiling plan with lighting has been drawn up, you should begin installing the wires for the lamps.
The typical cable cross-section is 1.5 millimeters square, representing a maximum load of 4 kilowatts. Of course, it is unlikely that the lighting in the house will reach this parameter, because in such a situation it is necessary to use 40 100 W bulbs at the same time. However, you should never give up; it’s possible that jupiters will be installed for professional video filming at home.
Power of light sources
When you don’t want to pay extra money for a wire, you can calculate what cross-section the cable will need in each case. If the lighting zone consists of three lamps with 60 W bulbs, then the total power of the lamps will reach 180 W. It needs to be divided by 220. Now let’s look at what the result can tell us.
If the number is less than 10, then a cable with a cross-section of 0.75 millimeters square can be installed to the lamps from the box. If less than 15, the cross-section should have a size of 1 millimeter square, and more than 17 – up to 2.5 millimeters square. In our case, it turned out to be 0.8, which means less than one. Whether to use a single-core or multi-core cable is a personal matter for each person.
Types of ceiling wallpaper with patterns
- Single layer paper wallpaper
. The surface of such wallpaper can be glossy or compacted. The simplest and cheapest option is simple photo wallpaper. Their main advantage is their low price. But you will have to pay for this by the fragility and average quality of the resulting appearance of the ceiling. It is worth remembering that thin luminous wallpaper on the ceiling will only emphasize all the unevenness of the base surface.
- Paper wallpaper with embossing
. This solution is much more interesting. They are thicker because wallpaper is made by gluing two separate layers of paper together. In addition, embossing not only has a beautiful appearance, but also allows you to effectively hide minor imperfections in the ceiling surface. - Textile wallpaper
. The basis of such wallpaper is non-woven or easy-to-stick paper (read: “Non-woven on the ceiling: process technology”). In addition, such a surface is decorated with natural or synthetic fiber. Jute, linen, silk, felt, velor or polyester threads can be used as such a decorative design element. The thickness of such wallpaper allows for fairly good heat and sound insulation. - Vinyl wallpaper
is the most practical option of all those offered. PVC with a plasticizer, which makes up the coating of such wallpaper, is easy to clean and tolerates conditions of high humidity. This cloud wallpaper on the ceiling is perfect for the kitchen (about
Standard block diagram ↑
It is better to place separate boxes for ceiling lights to reduce confusion and look neater. Wires enter the apartment under the floor, and in the house they appear next to the door. The cable runs from it to the shield. Near the shield there will be the first box, the task of which is to transmit current to other boxes and distribute the unit for lighting the hallway and kitchen.
Structural lighting diagram: input and distribution of wires usually runs under the ceiling
The second box is located above the entrance to a large room in the corridor, from which a chandelier operates in the hall and transmits voltage to the bathrooms. The third box is needed to service the bathroom, storage room and small corridor, as well as to transmit voltage to the remaining rooms. There is a fourth box in the nursery that serves the switch and supplies power to the bedroom. The box in the bedroom is only needed to service the switch and chandelier. The remaining toilet and bathroom are powered by the sixth box.
Tips for choosing
Luminous wallpaper is best used as a design accent in a particular room. This will give the room more expressiveness. It is important to consider the purpose of the room for which they are selected. Small drawings glow dimly, but a large-scale painting emitting a powerful glow, installed, for example, in a bedroom, can interfere with restful sleep, especially for sensitive people.
For decoration, choose one wall, since it is very difficult to be in a room where all the walls are glowing. It happens that not the entire image glows, but its individual fragments.
A universal 3D decor solution for all rooms (children's, living room, bedroom) - starry sky.
If panoramic luminescent wallpaper is your dream, keep in mind that they are only suitable for large rooms, since a certain distance is necessary for the correct perception of the image. It will not be possible to appreciate all the beauty of the canvas within the confines of a small room. The way out for small rooms is to decorate the ceiling with luminous images. The sizes of panoramic canvases can be different: from 1.3x1.8 m2 to 3x5 m2. Cost varies depending on size. The average price on the market is 1,500 rubles per 1 m2.
When choosing a theme for wallpaper, keep in mind that the same composition can quickly get boring. But you won’t be able to change the covering as regularly as paintings and other wall accessories. It is best to choose for the image motifs that surround us in everyday life: the sea and its inhabitants, celestial phenomena, nature. Psychologists are sure that the brain perceives such images best.
You should not choose wallpaper with images of popular people (actors, politicians), film stills, architecture, as these pictures will quickly get boring.
If the room is spacious enough, you can use a removable luminescent image or install the composition on eyelets , which will allow you to update the panel from time to time or remove it if necessary.
Rules for installing switches ↑
Switches of any type are always placed on the phase wire. There is only one cable suitable for the switch, which opens and closes inside the switch. From the outside it may seem like there are two wires. However, the phase conductor forms a loop that rises or falls towards the switch. The loop is cut at the top and the ends are connected to the dimmer or switch contacts.
Switch installation diagram
If you install a dimmer as a switch, you should take a closer look at its power. If the device is marked 300 W, then it is designed for a chandelier, which consists of five light bulbs, each 60 W. There are 1000 watt dimmers available for home use. With the help of such a dimmer, the lighting level can be changed in several rooms at once. The dimmer is installed in the same way as a simple switch, only on the contacts of the dimmer there is an inscription indicating which wire to connect to which contact.
Application of luminous wallpaper
Those who don’t want to bother with paint and varnish solutions should offer luminous wallpaper, which is also glued to the surface of the ceiling. Buyers today have access to three varieties of this material – fluorescent, phosphor and silver coatings. The most common materials are those coated with acrylic paint and additives in the form of phosphor. This is a classic solution for children's rooms, the implementation of which involves the use of ordinary wallpaper glue. If you need a more modern luminous ceiling, then you should resort to fluorescent coatings. With the help of such wallpaper, for example, they create designs with 3D images on a polyester base. An even more technologically advanced option is silver wallpaper, which uses special glow elements. While this development is not so widespread, experts say that coatings with silver conductors can be controlled remotely.
Selection of lighting devices ↑
Each lamp consists of an electric light bulb and fittings, which are necessary to enclose the light bulb, connect it and illuminate it. How to make lighting for suspended ceilings - a photo selection of lamps will help you figure it out!
Lamps, the fittings of which are fixed directly to the ceiling itself, are called ceiling lamps. Such devices are used to create the overall lighting design for the ceilings in a room. Ceiling light sources are suspended, surface-mounted and built-in.
A multi-lamp ceiling chandelier is traditionally located in the center of the room, evenly distributing the flow of light throughout the room
Pendant lamps are placed at a certain distance from the ceiling. They are best suited for tall rooms. These include pendants, multi-lamp chandeliers, lampshades and other devices. Surface light sources are directly attached to the ceiling. These include various types of ceiling lamps, which are distinguished by their compact size. They are especially good for small spaces like a hallway or bathroom.
A near-surface ceiling lamp is most often installed in small rooms that do not require bright lighting
Lighting of suspended ceilings and suspended ceilings is traditionally done using built-in lamps. They can be installed anywhere in the room to create the most effective lighting in your home.
The popularity of spots is also growing - metal structures with halogen lamps that can be rotated to the sides. The spot is easy to mount and allows you to direct the light flux as you wish.
A spot with halogen lamps attracts with its stylish design and the ability to easily change the direction of the light flow
Spotlights that can be installed in cornices, suspended ceilings and inside furniture are becoming popular. For the most part, spot lighting of ceilings is used to focus attention on local surface lighting. Nowadays, to single out one type of lamp that would be considered more popular than the others, because they all have their own advantages that make them attractive to citizens.
Glowing ceiling as main lighting
Content
Recently, new design opportunities have emerged. The luminous ceiling, as the main lighting, has become widespread among consumers.
What it is
If you position the lighting fixtures correctly, you get uniform, soft illumination of the canvas. This amount of light is quite enough, so you don’t have to overload the interior with chandeliers, sconces and other similar accessories.
Fig.1. Installed LED strips for ceiling lighting
The design visually expands the room and has a beneficial effect on the psyche. It seems to a person that he is in an open space.
The house creates the illusion of natural daylight. Therefore, this solution looks interesting in residential buildings, offices, and entertainment venues. It always turns out beautifully, no matter what the design.
For your information!
To maximize the effect, it is better to use LEDs.
They provide the brightest luminous flux and illuminate the room better through the matte diffusing material. In addition, these devices are preferable to use from a practical point of view. They last a very long time and do not burn out. This is important because to replace the electronics you will have to remove the entire panel. You can buy the LED strip using the link.
Translucent film
If a luminous ceiling is used as the main lighting, then translucent films are often used. The peculiarity of this material is that it transmits approximately half of the light flux and scatters it. The material is very durable and also stands out among its analogues.
Fig.2. Translucent suspended ceiling indoors
With a fairly wide variety of colors, translucent canvases are usually produced in light shades. This is explained by the fact that the less saturated the shade, the better the light from devices passes through it.
But sometimes dark colors appear in design projects. More often - in combination with light areas or other textures.
During the installation process, LED modules or LED strip are attached to the ceiling before tensioning the membrane. They can be of several colors, as well as with different brightness. This will allow, for example, to increase the light in the late afternoon or dim it at night.
Such subtleties depend on the project and what the purpose of the room is. Sometimes a luminous ceiling, as the main lighting, is not able to cover the entire area of a spacious room. In such situations, they resort to combination with other textures - satin or matte.
Built-in backlight
Glowing ceilings, which are used as the main source of lighting, also include multi-level ceiling structures. The lighting is placed around the perimeter of the levels, one of which is also made of translucent film and ceiling lighting is used. It turns out quite beautiful and attractive - a characteristic pattern is created on the surface, complementing the overall style of the apartment.
Built-in lighting is found in many stylistic directions. These are both modern options and ethnic motifs from different eras.
Starry sky
One of the popular types of ceiling finishing is surfaces that imitate the starry sky directly in the house. Such beauty is created in a simple way: special optical fibers, which play the role of stars, are attached under the film and released out through the coating. The material is most often dark blue, but there are also more original membranes - purple, orange, brown.
Fig.3. Stretch ceiling “Starry sky”
There are also variations using projectors. They direct their rays directly onto the coating, thereby changing its saturation and shade.
In which rooms is this design appropriate?
To install a luminous ceiling, which will become the main source of lighting, several installation options are used. Among them are translucent films, built-in lighting in a multi-level design, or stylized starry sky.
This unusual design manages to fit into completely different interiors. For example, an idea with a translucent membrane is suitable for both a living space and a nightclub. In a business office, it’s also a good idea to build a classic white covering that also glows.
Fig.4. Double Vision luminous ceiling in the kitchen
“Starry Sky” is suitable not only for a nursery or bedroom, but also for the kitchen and living room. This finish is also no less popular in restaurants, cafes or clubs.
When installing, in addition to beauty, it is important to remember that light diffusers overhead visually raise the height of the space. Therefore, in houses with low ceilings this technique is especially valuable. Moreover, the thickness of the structure itself is minimal.
Using light panels, you can zone a room or place certain accents on it. You just need to place your sources wisely.
It happens that the room is not equipped with windows. For example, the bathroom. In this case, a luminous ceiling structure is perfect. It will add comfort and freshness to the environment, which will make water treatments even more enjoyable.
The kitchen is also a suitable place for such structures. Here people spend a significant part of their time preparing food and eating it. Therefore, the issue of comfort should not be overlooked.
Whatever space it is planned to install such a structure, first of all, you should calculate the amount of light required. Excessive brightness is just as inappropriate as insufficient brightness. Contact us. We are always ready to help our clients in selecting equipment.
Installation of lamps: technology ↑
After the installation of the suspended ceiling lighting is done, and the switches and dimmers are installed, you can attach the lamps to the surface. To attach spotlights, you need to cut a round hole in the drywall using a crown with a variable blade diameter, after which the light bulb is simply inserted inside. In this case, the spring legs must be held with your fingers, pressing them against the body.
Installation of a spotlight in the ceiling is carried out after laying the entire range of electrics
When the light bulb goes deep enough into the canvas, the paws will press the light into place. First you need to connect the cable to the contacts. The most commonly used spotlights in everyday life are those marked R80, R63, R50 and R39. The numbers indicate the size of the bulbs corresponding to the hole diameter in millimeters.
You can change your home beyond recognition by shifting the accents in space. An effective solution is to illuminate a plasterboard ceiling using LED backlighting, which features a “dimming” effect to set the brightness depending on the mood of the residents and the time of day. If the LED strip needs to be cut, then it is worth remembering that the cut is made in specially designated areas. If done incorrectly, it will be quite difficult to solder the tape back. To achieve uniform ceiling lighting, you need to secure the LED strip to the ceiling well.
Installation of LED strip can be easily done by a completely inexperienced performer
An ordinary chandelier is attached in two ways: hung on a hook or screwed with screws or dowel-nails. There are holes on the plate that is located inside the decorative bowl that covers the joint. If the chandelier is placed on a hook, then you should use special dowels that have a hook instead of a regular screw. When you need to install a massive chandelier, you use a metal anchor, which has a diameter of about 8–10 millimeters and can withstand a load of up to 80 kilograms.
Movable elements and combination
This can only be achieved with the help of moving elements skillfully mounted above the level of the suspended ceiling. Such moving elements can be both lighting and reflective parts. For example, LEDs can be located on a movable curved axis. Rotation will change the direction of the beam, and lights will “play” on the suspended ceiling film. It's not difficult to do this. But even here you will get several small problems: the noise from the electric motor will disrupt the overall idyll of the created atmosphere.
And finally, there is the opportunity to make a ceiling with your own hands, combining various methods. Then you and your family members will definitely not be bored by the monotony: many options for ceiling lighting will allow you to see something new every evening. This will be the best rest for the eyes.
For painting
This is the best option for a ceiling if you need to mask defects that distinguish the original surface. Finishing has other advantages:
- the ability to change the wallpaper pattern many times, at your discretion. A relevant property for rooms where too much dirt gets on the surface;
- Any image can be easily applied to them, even if they include complex patterns, such as the starry sky or clouds.
Paintable wallpaper is an ideal option for creativity: you can paint stars, including luminous ones, clouds, or turn them blue or pink.
- Paintable wallpaper opens up wide scope for experimentation for the buyer. Such coatings can be repainted multiple times without deforming and retaining their properties, just like tension ones;
- relief on the wallpaper will appear on the reverse side if you apply a roller to completely non-woven wallpaper. This is a durable and reliable coating that saves any repair;
- There are options with textile fibers as a backing for fine-pored vinyl. They are distinguished by a smooth back side, which does not duplicate the pattern of the decorative coating with wallpaper.
The photo shows wallpaper that can be painted in pink and lilac shades, as well as with clouds:
