2021 ᐈ

Device features and benefits of use

Spotlights got their name due to the small size of the lamp and the external effect of radiation from a single point. The lamp is enclosed in a shade; hence the main feature of the spots: the light dispersion angle does not exceed 30°, and the light flux itself has the shape of a cone.

A small angle allows you to illuminate a limited part of the space, so for uniform lighting, use a group of spots with a fairly dense arrangement.

The steady demand for spot lighting is explained by the following benefits of use:

Spots are practically invisible and therefore adapt to any interior. Small ceiling lamps are hidden under the surface when installed and therefore do not burden the space.

You can choose spots for any style. Some models allow you to adjust the direction of the light, which increases their design capabilities.
You can evenly illuminate any room. A chandelier does not always cope with this task, but well-placed spots on the ceiling will easily solve the problem.
You can organize partial lighting of the room, and thereby significantly save electricity.

Separate switches and dimmers

When using a dozen or two devices, you should definitely think about installing several switches that are responsible for individual groups of lamps.

This will allow you to turn on only some of the lamps when there is no need for bright light.

A good engineering solution in this case would also be dimmers that effectively reduce or increase the intensity of the light flux.

Types of spotlights

If we talk about appearance, then, in addition to round ones, there are models of square, oval and non-standard shapes. It is convenient to classify spotlights according to the place of attachment:

Built-in. Such lighting fixtures decorate suspended and suspended ceilings, walls and stairs. They require lamps with a minimum heating level so as not to damage the base.

Invoices (external). There are wall and ceiling; the structure is fixed with screws, the light flow is distributed by the diffuser of the outer housing.

Furniture. Mortise and overlay spot models help illuminate furniture fronts, work surfaces, as well as the interior space of shelves and drawers.

Hanging. Such spotlights take up more space in the interior, since installation is carried out on special mounts, and the device remains visible. Many hanging models are equipped with a rotating mechanism.

Built-in ceiling models, in turn, differ in the type of installation:

Models for installation in rigid suspended structures (plasterboard, plastic panels, slatted ceilings); equipped with two fastening clips.
Models for suspended ceilings. In this case, installation is carried out using special brackets before the canvas is tensioned.

General requirements

The main thing when choosing lighting fixtures is not only the aesthetic side, but also certain nuances regarding the design that will have to be taken into account in order for them to cope with their task on ceilings made of stretched fabric. Among the latter are:

heating temperature;
direction;
distance from the canvas.
sharp edges.

Stretch ceilings are made of polymers that are sensitive to high temperatures. The process of installing the canvas involves heating it with hot air, as a result of which it stretches and changes in size. That is why it is necessary to take into account the maximum temperature to which the lighting device can heat up. If it is too large, then the area near this emitter may become deformed or completely melt, which will require a complete replacement of the canvas, since its local repair is almost impossible. Experienced installers advise that when using filament lamps, choose models whose power does not exceed 35 W.

The body of the lighting device must be well insulated from heated elements or have low thermal conductivity. If this is not observed, then several light bulbs in a chandelier can heat up the body quite well, which will lead to the consequences described above. If for a regular plastered surface it is considered normal to direct the emitter directly to the ceiling so that the light is better scattered and reflected, then this method is better not to use with tension structures. It is desirable that there is a reflector between the light bulb and the canvas, which will compensate for the strength of the radiation, and, accordingly, the heating.

Fancy shaped lamps are very popular. When choosing, you should be careful, avoiding products with sharp edges. The latter can quite easily damage the canvas, which will also render it unusable. The distance of the lamp from the seam, if present, also plays a role. The minimum distance to it should be 20 cm.

How many spots are needed and how to place them

To determine the optimal number of spotlights (if you mean main lighting), there is a special formula, but the calculation can be done in a simpler way. To do this, the following calculations are carried out:

The total number of watts per room is determined. The area of the room is multiplied by the number of Watts required by lighting standards per 1 m2. According to SNIP, the lighting level for a bedroom is 12 W/m2, for a nursery - 15 W/m2, for a living room - 20 W/m2.
To determine the minimum number of lamps, the total number of Watts is divided by the power of the selected lamp.

Inverse problem: to determine the power of one lamp, the total number of Watts is divided by the number of lamps.

Spotlights are installed taking into account the following conditions:

The distance to the wall must be at least 70 cm.
To determine the distance between lamps, the length of the wall is divided by the number of spots.
To determine the distance of the lamps from the wall, half the length of the wall is divided by 2.

Dependence of the quantity on the purpose of the room

The purpose of the room plays a decisive role in solving the problem of the optimal number of devices.

For example, in the bedroom there is no need to install a couple of dozen lamps.
A TV and a garmoncino computer installed there will make up for the lack of light due to the bright glow of the screens.
At the same time, in the nursery, where homework is done in the evenings, as well as in the living room, where all household members periodically gather, you can install many more lamps.

Advantages and disadvantages

Positive and negative qualities of products that will help you understand whether this lighting method is beneficial.

Advantages

Due to their compactness, they fit perfectly into the design of any room in an apartment or house.
Can be used both as main and additional lighting.
They allow you to achieve zoning of space and provide light to individual areas.
By using spotlights with LEDs or halogen bulbs, energy costs are reduced.
This type of lighting is characterized by an unlimited choice of installation locations. The products can decorate any area, niche, arch, etc.

Due to models with spectacular decor, it is possible to advantageously emphasize the style of the interior.

Lamps with warm or cool shades can create a comfortable atmosphere in the room and give the design a certain mood, depending on individual preferences.

Flaws

Surface-mounted and recessed lighting fixtures have some installation difficulties and require a professionally designed installation diagram.
For products with 12 Volt light bulbs, the purchase of a special step-down transformer is required.
Some types of light sources require a ceiling with a special design.

Basic location rules

Before you begin installing lighting fixtures, you should take into account the requirements for this process. To ensure high quality and actual luminous efficiency, the following standards must be observed.

The distance from the spot to the connection point between the ceiling edge and the wall should be at least 20 cm.
If a single chandelier is used, it must be hung exactly in the geometric center of the ceiling. At the same time, in studio apartments it is advisable to hang one chandelier above each functional area.
In a suspended ceiling design, the distance from the built-in device to the seam of the polymer film must be at least 15 cm.
Each individual spot can illuminate at most two square meters with light. That is why, when calculating how many lamps are needed to illuminate a particular room, one should proceed from the consideration that one device will illuminate one and a half square meters of surface.
In the case of symmetrical placement of devices on the ceiling, it is necessary to maintain an equal distance between them, the chandelier and the wall.
Care should be taken to ensure that the combination of light coming through the windows and light from the ceiling results in a uniform light flow towards all things located in the room.

Ceiling options

The placement of spotlights needs to be thought out in advance, especially if a suspended ceiling is to be installed.

The backlight can be located either symmetrically or in a chaotic manner.

Light sources built into a multi-level suspended or suspended ceiling will allow you to create a unique interior, highlight the architecture and atmosphere of the room.

The lighting will be uniform and of the highest quality if the devices are installed so that the rays of the light flux intersect above all elements in the room.

The best option is built-in spotlights along the perimeter of the ceiling plane. They can be switched on together with a central chandelier to create more intense lighting.

The parallel arrangement of lamps in several rows will help to achieve proper comfort in the room.

A cross-shaped arrangement of light sources will fit perfectly into a small room with a low ceiling. The corner space is equipped with single models, and a gimbal structure is installed in the center.

Also, for a small room, the arrangement of lamps in the form of a square is appropriate.

In order to illuminate a certain area, an arc-shaped arrangement of lighting fixtures is used. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to soften the strict interior.

Some rooms require the installation of light sources in a checkerboard pattern. For example, a similar solution is often found in the design of an island-type kitchen, where good lighting of all zones is required.

Recommendations for lighting design

Modern interior solutions combine several types of lighting to create a cozy atmosphere at any time of the day. To do this, LED lighting is built in, which creates a soft light and has many applications.

Along the perimeter

Installing an LED line along the walls is called contour lighting. It visually expands the space and creates the effect of a “floating ceiling”.

Inside

They equip the entire area of the canvas with illumination “from the inside” or create figures and drawings from LED strips, which, when turned on, convey an unusual design.

Starry sky

This effect is created in 2 ways:

In the space behind the ceiling, light guide threads (fiber optics, needle elements) powered by a light generator are placed in a chaotic manner.
LEDs illuminate the canvas depicting the starry sky.

Photos in the interior of the rooms

Features of installing lamps in the interior of specific premises.

Spotlights in the kitchen

The kitchen space requires a lot of light. It is advisable to install several devices with a bright and soft light flux. In this way, you will learn how to create enough lighting in the kitchen and at the same time achieve a pleasant environment.

If there is not enough free space, you can equip the kitchen wall cabinets with lighting.

Spot lighting in the kitchen in combination with an LED strip of different colors will add even more originality to the design.

Spotlights in the living room interior

In the interior of a living room with a ceiling chandelier, it is better to install light sources with low power. Thus, when the chandelier is turned off, a pleasant, soft and muted glow will emanate from the lamps

. In this case, point devices can be placed only on one side of the ceiling.

For a hall without a central chandelier, almost any arrangement of light sources is suitable, for example, in the form of a circle, square, oval or even a diamond.

Examples in the interior of the corridor

Typically, the design of a hallway assumes the most simple arrangement of lighting fixtures. For a narrow corridor, one row of 3 or 5 point lamps is suitable. In a square room, it is appropriate to install two rows consisting of 3 or 4 light bulbs.

Spot lighting in the bedroom

Perimeter lighting will look great here. A good solution is to install a multi-level stretch ceiling, decorated with dim lighting.

LED strip mounted on the sides of the ceiling plane will complement spotlights advantageously.

Thanks to light sources, the bedroom can additionally be divided into an area with a bed, dressing table or wardrobe.

Summary

As you can see, in a living room with a ceiling made of tension material, you can use different types of lighting, which can influence the geometry and mood of the room in different ways. Warm colors create a friendly atmosphere that promotes communication. If possible, dim lighting should be provided for the living room. It is necessary in the evening hours, when the family spends time watching TV or chatting. Too bright lighting prevents the body from relaxing and getting ready for sleep. The best temperature for lighting is considered to be the one closest to sunlight. It’s good if each lighting unit has its own adjustment and its own switch.

Light sources in spotlights

Various types of lamps can be installed in these lighting devices. Manufacturers' products include incandescent, halogen and fluorescent light sources. All of these devices have certain pros and cons. But the best option is LED ceiling spotlights.

They have several obvious advantages that set them apart from other light sources.

LEDs:

have maximum light output;
use electrical energy economically;
create uniform light;
have the longest service life.

These devices have another important advantage. The LED recessed ceiling lamp can be installed in tension systems without fear for the integrity of the canvas.

During operation, these light sources practically do not emit heat and do not have a negative impact on the structure of the polyvinyl chloride coating.

Popular lamp manufacturers

There are dozens of items on the packages of light bulbs. Products of certain brands differ in the technologies used in production and in cost.

According to the rating compiled at the beginning of 2022, the top 5 best brands included Philips, Osram, Gauss, Feron, Camelion. Lamps from these manufacturers are reliable, have a long warranty period, and a high price. There are many models.

The top 10 is completed by ASD, Navigator, Jazzway, Era and Kosmos. Their light bulbs are distinguished by low prices, long service life, and availability. However, marriage is more common among them than among the leaders of the rating.

Determining optimal power

Determining the required power depends on several factors:

purpose of the system;
room area;
ceiling height;
lamp parameters.

The use of recessed or overhead spotlights for ceilings as the main lighting requires calculations according to general rules. On average, a 35W light source is installed per 2m2 of area. If this is additional lighting, the indicators of the ceiling chandelier are subtracted from the total power.

When creating comfort in a certain area, the fundamental calculation criterion is its area.

The number of light sources required depends on the type and power of the lamps. Halogen, traditional, LED recessed spotlights have different parameters.

Many models are designed to accommodate any type of lamp.

Calculation of the number of spots

If it is necessary to install many spots, the calculation of ceiling lamps should begin with determining their exact number.

In this case, the above-mentioned rule “one device per one and a half square meters” applies, but it would not be superfluous to take into account the power of each specific spot.

If low-power luminaires are used, they can be placed closer together.
Original interior design projects can include a lot of weak spots, since such a solution allows you to create unique comfort and coziness.

Lamp arrangement

All spotlights have a similar design, including:

mounting base;
housing with diffuser;
Light source;
connecting cable.

The model range of these lighting products includes various modifications with more complex designs and additional devices. Built-in and overhead ceiling spotlights can be adjusted by remote devices. There are models with an extended lighting angle, equipped with dimming that corrects the illumination.

Lamps differ in the level of protection from dust and moisture, which determines the scope of their intended use.

Installation of spotlights

The question of how to install a spotlight is of interest to many craftsmen who are doing this for the first time. There is nothing complicated in this work.

The main thing is to decide on the installation method and carry out all the work as carefully and accurately as possible.

It is worth noting that, depending on the installation method, a distinction is made between recessed and surface-mounted lamps.

Let's take a closer look at both types:

Built-in. When installing such spotlights, a hole is made in the canvas. The lamp is installed in such a way that part of its body protrudes outward, that is, it turns out to be built into the ceiling surface.

Such lamps are used on frameless bases, such as a brick wall or a concrete ceiling.

Surface- mounted spotlights are used exclusively for suspended ceilings. Their level is always below the ceiling level.

When choosing spotlights, you must take into account the method of mounting them - this will allow you to avoid annoying mistakes. Installation of overhead lamps requires the presence of a frame.

In turn, recessed lamps can be divided into two groups depending on their purpose. They can be for suspended or suspended ceilings.

The configuration of spotlights directly depends on their type. Thus, the standard design of a surface-mounted luminaire consists of a special housing equipped with a diffuser and a fastening part.

A recessed lamp consists of fasteners and clamps for lamps built into a special housing.

Installation of such lamps is extremely simple; even a beginner can cope with this task.

Material of manufacture

Experts in the field of interior design are unanimous - the best material for a stretch ceiling in an apartment is PVC film with the addition of a plasticizer. As for classification, there are such types of ceilings as:

mirror;
glossy;
matte;
fabric (satin).

The first one is the most beautiful, but also very capricious. It is not easy to take care of it, because there should be no streaks on the mirror surface. Washing is possible only with soapy water; any abrasive substances cannot be used. But such ceilings visually expand the space, giving it additional height, depth and volume, which is extremely valuable in rooms with a small ceiling height, but spacious in area.

The same applies to gloss, however, such a canvas has its own specifics: if a mirror surface reflects everything clearly, then a glossy surface reflects blurryly, as if in a fog. Glossy ceilings look great in small living rooms, giving them an airy feel. The colors most often chosen for this type of design are light and neutral - white, milky, beige, coffee with milk, light gray. You can make the ceiling dark, but keep in mind that this may create discomfort for some people.

Matte canvases do not visually increase the height of the room, but they create an atmosphere of comfort and tranquility, and they also look very noble.

And fabric canvas is the best option for wooden houses. It is not advisable to use it in city apartments, since it is not airtight and is not protected from leakage.

Adjustment type

All of the above types of spotlights can also differ in the type of adjustment. Depending on this, spotlights are:

non-rotating – illuminate part of the room, but the direction of the light flow cannot be adjusted;
rotating - allow you to adjust the angle of incidence of light and its direction;
rotating and retractable spotlights are used to change lighting zones.

In terms of functional features, spotlights can also vary significantly.

Modern models are equipped with remote control, have a wider angle of light incidence, protection against dust and moisture, and other functions.

Lamps for spotlights

The characteristics of spot lighting indicate that absolutely any lamps are suitable for them - incandescent, halogen, LED.

The choice of lamp type does not in any way depend on what type of lamps is selected.

Let's look at which lamps are better:

LED lamps have a long service life - up to 5 years. They are economical in terms of electrical consumption, and their light is pleasing to the eye.
Halogen lamps do not heat up, which is very important for suspended ceilings (especially film ones). The light from them is quite bright, but does not irritate the eyes. The service life of such lamps is decent - up to 4 thousand hours.
Incandescent lamps have a lower cost compared to halogen and LED lamps. And this, perhaps, is perhaps their only advantage. Incandescent lamps get very hot, so they are rarely used for lamps such as spotlights.

Looking at photos of spotlights in various interiors, we can conclude that with proper and thoughtful placement, this type of lighting is an ideal option for almost any room.

Thanks to them, not only good, proper lighting is obtained, but also a stylish interior design.

In addition, spotlights are universal, because they will fit perfectly into any style, and the soft light will make the room warm and cozy.

Care and operation

A high-quality suspended ceiling with perimeter lighting or spot diodes is a guarantee of many years of flawless operation.

Each type has its own advantages and specifics of operation. It is best to order spectacular film ceilings from a specialized company in order to be entitled to post-warranty service.

It is worth recalling the recommendations of care specialists:

you cannot mechanically impact or rub ceilings with a mirror coating with a rag - it’s easy to ruin the amalgam; mount it where there is minimal likelihood of staining them with something;
When caring for a suspended ceiling with LED lighting, you should not use a vacuum cleaner, hard brush, abrasive cleaners or chemicals;
if dust is noticeable, carefully sweep it away with a dry sponge;
in the room where food is prepared, a powerful exhaust hood is needed - fumes quickly accumulate on suspended ceilings with lighting in the hall combined with a dining room or kitchen block;
the membrane can be damaged mechanically, especially with low ceilings and high cabinet furniture - even cats can damage them, deprive pets of access to the elastic surface;
if you want to renew the surface of an extravagant ceiling, disguise patches or defects, use aerosol cans;
if the membrane is slightly sagging, it can be returned to its place using a heat gun, the backlight will not be affected.

Variable design – great opportunities for interior modernization. Spot and contour lighting of a stretch ceiling will look great in a retail space, in a minibar or cafe, recreation for visitors to an office center and a small hotel.

How to calculate the number of lamps

Before choosing a suitable arrangement of lamps, you need to calculate the required number. It should be calculated based on the standards. These standards vary significantly for different premises.

In non-residential premises, the light should not be as bright as in residential rooms. Current standards can be found in the relevant SNiPs.

The number of ceiling lighting fixtures is calculated as follows:

You need to multiply the area of the room by the light standard according to the standard from the table above. The result will be the total lighting power (example: 16 m? * 150 = 2400 Lux).
Next, determine the power of the lighting sources and their types. You should know their luminous flux (let's say this value is 200).
Then the total power must be divided by the power of one lamp. This way you can calculate the number of lamps (2400:200Lx=12 pcs).

It happens that the standards specified in SNiPs imply too bright light. But sometimes you really want softer lighting. This must be taken into account when choosing methods for lighting the ceiling with spotlights.

It's better to do everything so that you can have different options. For this purpose, lighting devices are divided into groups.

If there are two groups, then they are connected through one to the line, and then connected to a switch with two keys. The first row of lamps on the ceiling can be the main one, the second - secondary. Then you can turn on the light bulbs one at a time, and as a result the glow will be either dim or very bright.

If necessary, the lamps can be divided into a larger number of groups, output them separately to different switches and turn on as needed.

Modern Living Room Lighting - Tricks and Tips

Light can work wonders in an interior. If necessary, it will either highlight or hide unfavorable elements. It can also affect the optical change in interior proportions. The number of light points, their type and light intensity are important. Thanks to them you can make the room taller, wider, more spacious

Lighting in a low living room: If you light the ceiling strongly, that is, use a ceiling lamp or pendant lamp with the shade or shades pointing upward, the living room will appear taller. Likewise, if you hang a chandelier with the shades facing down, the ceiling will be in shadow and the room will appear lower than it actually is.
Lighting in a narrow living room: The interior will appear wider if one of its long walls is illuminated more than the others. A good solution is also to use light strips on the ceiling or in the crease between the ceiling and the wall. It is also worth highlighting a niche or furniture shelf.
Lighting in a small living room: the room will look larger if there are many points of light in it - floor lamps, ceiling lamps. You'll make a space appear larger by highlighting small wall features such as recesses, pictures, and shelves.

Minimum distance

When determining the location of lamps, it is important to know that lamps can become very hot and affect the surrounding area. Therefore, it is not recommended to place lamps too close to the walls; the optimal distance from the outermost row of lamps to the wall is 20 cm.

If the height of the room is no higher than 2.5 m, then there should be a distance of at least 30 cm between the rows of devices.

Options for suspended ceilings

There are no secrets when it comes to lighting suspended ceilings. It is important to choose the right lamps. The lamps are positioned similarly to ceilings made of plasterboard structures. You need to select lamps based on the ceiling material.

For example, you should not use traditional incandescent lamps together with PVC film - they are too hot, modern fabric allows lamps less than 60 W, but no more.

If there is no central lighting in the room, then the installation of more powerful lamps with the ability to rotate will be required. You can get harmonious lighting by choosing a tone.

To be able to adjust the brightness, experts advise installing a dimmer. It is an adjustable device - you can create a dim, pleasant light or a bright glow.

Above or at ceiling level

This category includes lamps for suspended ceilings. Their peculiarity is that the glow is emitted directly from the ceiling. It looks very, very impressive. However, there are disadvantages. Thus, the efficiency of the light is not fully utilized; a significant part of the glow will fall above the level of the ceiling structure.

Due to the fact that there is no flow of fresh air between the base and suspended ceilings, the lamp and luminaire heat up. It is better to use LED lamps, they do not heat up to high temperatures.

Below ceiling level

These below-ceiling solutions feature maximum dispersion. But there are problems with power and current. So, the light bulb has a power limit of less than 35 W. The voltage is below 220 V, which means a transformer must be used.

Other options

You can also highlight overhead lamps. Installing them is more difficult - you need to prepare the ceiling surface. But there is much more choice. The advantage of such models is that they can accommodate light bulbs of any type.

Where can I order illuminated tension structures?

In every city there are construction companies offering many color options for PVC film with different light reflectance - matte, satin, glossy and almost mirror-like.

Each type of membrane panel has its own type of lighting, which is why preliminary consultation with a measuring specialist visiting the site is so important. It is recommended to contact a specialist who will tell you which stretch ceiling lighting option will be most suitable for your type of room.

Note!

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When choosing the appropriate option, it is important to consider how it will look and whether the new finish will fit organically into the specific housing conditions. If the walls of the house are made of fragile material, it is important to think about how to secure the profile for a stretch ceiling with lighting.

Any type of membrane coating can transform any room beyond recognition, especially with a thoughtful combination of design, lamps and LED colors.

Unusual ideas for placing lamps

Quite unconventional methods of installing and placing lamps in rooms are often used. In addition to the general light, they create a starry sky effect - it looks amazing.

There are a lot of different ideas, but you need to choose them wisely. The golden rule is that these ideas must be combined with the interior.

You can illuminate the picture, place lamps in a plasterboard structure at the head of the bed. Sometimes they make multi-level light. All this looks very impressive.

How to choose

An important criterion when choosing lamps in the interior is their design, which is consistent with the style of the room. For a classic room, you can choose models with ornaments or crystal pendants. In a room with a modern design (modern, high-tech, loft) standard white lamps of a simple shape are suitable.

In addition to the appearance and material of the lampshade (it can be glass or acrylic), when choosing, pay attention to the following details:

Design. If the ability to change the angle of light is important, pay attention to rotating lamps.

Base type (usually GU10 or LED).
Dust and moisture protection class. Important when installing in a bathroom, open veranda or kitchen.
Possibility of changing the type of lamp (LED instead of halogen).
Possibility of connecting a dimmer.

Criteria for selecting LED strips

As for LED strips, there are no restrictions for them, since during operation such devices heat up several times less than conventional light bulbs.

That's why when choosing a tape, it's best to focus on its

Configurations;
Glow brightness;
Color "warmth".

The last of these criteria visibly modulates the light flux, making it snow-white or sunny yellow.