In the organization of home lighting, two characteristics come to the fore - functionality and design compliance with the interior. In other words, the devices must be user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing. At the same time, for each room, interior lighting is implemented differently, taking into account the conditions of use.
Basic rules for organizing home lighting
At every stage of the development and implementation of a lighting project, situations of ambiguous choice will arise - for example, what is better, the saturation of the light in the room or its moderation. Some of these questions can be discarded in advance with the following guidelines:
- Optimal brightness level for comfortable lighting ranges from 200 to 300 lux. But even in this range, the exact choice will depend on the material and texture of the furniture, the color of the walls and ceiling, the finish, the type of flooring, etc. It must be borne in mind that each surface inThe interior reflects light: dark - absorbs, matte - scatters, and shiny - makes it saturated.
- Monotonous lighting will expand the boundaries of the room. To increase this effect will help the placement of identical lamps around the perimeter of the room with equal indentation from each other.
- In a small room, you should refrain from using a chandelier in the central ceiling part, as it hides the height. In this case, the best solution would be to place compact wall lamps for indoor lighting around the perimeter of the room.
- When using ceiling lights, it is important to maintain a distance of 2 m from the floor to the lowest point of the fixture. Therefore, in the same small rooms with low ceilings, it is better to abandon elongated models.
- The total power of the lamps of a chandelier for a room of 18-20 m should be at least 300 W.
- In the local lighting system, when using sconces and floor lamps in a zonal way, the total power is at least 100 W.
- Emphasis is often placed on uniform lighting in a room, but it is much more beneficial in terms of energy savings, and for design reasons, it will be the division of interior lighting into zones with different sources according to specific needs.
- In the living room and rest rooms, it is recommended to position the lamps so that people's faces are under the shadow, and the streams of light spread lower.
- Tungsten lamps and fluorescent strips should be used to organize central lighting. The former are more expensive, but give a soft and warm light, andthe latter are distinguished by sharp radiation, but are more economical.
Choosing luminaires for general indoor lighting
The main focus is on diffused light, which will cover all corners of the room. First of all, this task will be performed by ceiling lamps - these can be traditional chandeliers with a lampshade, as well as original pendant and luminous balls with integrated LEDs. Many turn to groups of directional vertical reflectors, but they will not achieve the same result. Halogen ceiling lights should also be abandoned, since their potential is only enough for fragmentary illumination of the floor and walls, especially when it comes to a large room. Separate lighting of the ceiling will also become a difficult task. To do this, the device must be slightly lower, hanging down. Interior lighting fixtures or hanging chandeliers will help in this matter. A wall sconce in a glass shade will also give good support for direct lighting - from the top of the room to distant surfaces and corners.
The choice should be given to fluorescent lamps, which are just characterized by the supply of uniform light. Moreover, you can safely use several ceiling lights of this kind - this will not lead to a significant increase in energy consumption.
If you focus on originality, then a flashlight will do. Models representing this segment are distinguished by the presence of frosted glass covering the lamp. When placing indoor lighting fixtures of this type, it is important to ensure uniformityglass locations. Shallow lanterns can be attached to the side surfaces, but ceiling versions will give more visual space.
Choosing luminaires for functional lighting
In organizing such light, the main rule will be the placement of lamps above the table with the possibility of diffuse radiation, for example, people should see objects located on the work surface. Light streams are also directed to faces, but do not irritate the eyes. This problem will be solved by a lamp with a deep shade covering the lamp. In the areas where the sofa or armchair is located near the wall, lamps with soft radiation, convenient for reading, are installed. Structurally, it can be a floor lamp or a wall lamp.
Special attention is paid to the light oriented in the area of mirrors. Again, the stream should illuminate the faces, but without blinding. You can use wall lights for interior lighting above eye position. At the next level, in addition, you can use small lamps fixed above the mirror in the lowered ceiling. Directional light is used for purely work surfaces like a kitchen worktop, ironing board or desk. Devices are selected with the narrowest flow angle.
Choosing fixtures for decorative lighting
The directional light technique is widely used in designer lighting. This is how spot lighting of photographs, paintings and other interior items that have a decorative function is realized. Installation is carried out in walls with the expectation of supplypure concentrated light on a specific area. You can entrust this task to ceiling spots, also built-in or overhead. If the device itself must play a decorative role, then preference is given to sconces of suitable shapes - these can be stylish aluminum boxes or classic reflector models.
A popular choice among interior designers is a range of console luminaires designed to mount directly above paintings. Arranged in a row devices with directed beams of light will also serve large decorations - photo wallpapers, paneling, masonry, fireplace lining, etc. From the point of view of textural expression, LED wall lamps will be beneficial. For internal illumination of objects with distinct shadows, a reflector must be provided in the device. Automatic flow control will allow you to take advantage of daytime and evening time.
To highlight objects on the shelf, it is better to use rear sources. A small lamp is built into the same shelf at the location of the object, creating a vertical strip of light. The flow can also flow from a fragment of a wall integrated into the furniture, or it can be directed from under the lockers.
How to choose indoor lamps?
Having determined the approximate set of required fixtures, their designs and functional features, you can start choosing lamps. This is a more subtle task, which takes into account a whole range of technical and operational parameters. In theirincluding the following:
- Power. The indicator that determines the rate of conversion and transmission of electrical energy is measured in watts. The most productive and at the same time economical is the internal LED lighting, which, even with a small voltage of 12-24 V, will fill the room with a sufficient amount of light. For other types of lamps designed for large rooms, 220-240 V will be required.
- Plinth type. Depends on the lamp holder, under which the lamp is selected. The most common standard base is E27, for screw structures, marking E will be required, and for minions - E14.
- The shape of the flask. The most common designations are B35, T60 and A65. Accordingly, the letter indicates the shape of the flask, and the number indicates its thickness in millimeters.
- Scattering angle. Marking of halogen lamps with reflectors. The degree you specify (for example, 38°) determines the range in which you can reorient the light beam.
- Temperature of light. Do not confuse this characteristic with the direct thermal energy released during the operation of the lamp. This value indicates the color perception of the light flux - from warm (red and yellow) to cold (blue and green). Comfortable interior lighting with LED wall lights for a living room or bedroom, for example, will help create lamps with a temperature range from 2700 K to 3200 K. Incandescent lamps perform optimally in the same spectrum, and their light is more natural and comfortable for the eyes.
Instructions for organizing an electrical circuit
Even before the start of the fine finish, a planning map with installation points for lighting devices should be prepared. On its basis, the corresponding electrical wiring is carried out. The network must be divided into separate circuits - they will supply current to groups of outlets, lighting points and single devices that require power supply.
Wiring is laid parallel or perpendicular to the floor in a closed or open way. Closed laying is usually carried out under a layer of finishing material, and open laying on wooden surfaces, which requires fire safety.
Experts recommend organizing communications for the internal lighting system along the walls with a distance of 15-20 cm from the edge. If the current circuit is designed to supply the socket, from which the lamp will also be powered, then the distance from the edge should be up to 30 cm. Within the same room, it is desirable to place the wiring lines on the same level with the taps in height relative to specific installation points of the device. Routes with several circuits should be enclosed in electrical boxes. In this case, wall chasing is not required and the laying can be done directly on the floor along the corner.
Installation of lighting fixtures
At the first stage, a hole in the wall of the desired diameter is formed. By this time, the electrical connection will already be made, but special installation of a wall niche may be required forinstrument housing integration. For fastening the lamp, different methods can be used, the choice of which is determined by its weight and design. For example, for lightweight models, it is quite possible to confine yourself to self-tapping screws, screwing them through the holes in the device case. But it is also important to keep in mind the features of the wall surface - whether it can cope with the load that the same self-tapping screws or other screws will provide. For example, for soft-bodied drywall and wood panels, you will have to use anchor connectors that are recessed to a greater depth to rationally distribute the load over a larger area. If the interior lighting of the premises is organized in a room with concrete walls and plaster finish, then it is better to use dowels in this case. Plastic elements with antennae and protrusions will allow you to securely place self-tapping screws, facilitating their entry. After installing the main fixture, the carrier plate or the entire body is mounted, depending on the design of the luminaire.
Lamp connection
The standard electrical supply circuit of the lighting device provides for the inclusion in the circuit of the shield-current source, the distribution box, the switch and the working device itself. The phase circuit is laid through a protective auto switch, which is located inside the shield. Then it is passed into the junction box of the room, and then to the switch and lamp. The zero circuit from its bus through the same junction box goes directly to the lamp with a cartridge. Also, indoor electric lighting is not complete without a PE conductor,having its own bus with an output to the device case from a relay with wiring.
Wall-mounted models with an integrated switch and an external cord with a plug do not require any special wiring at all - it is enough to plug them into the previously provided power outlets. To reliably control the operation of a group of spotlights or spotlights from one switch, all lamps are connected in parallel. In more complex schemes, special control panels, motion sensors, drivers and glow parameter regulators may be provided - they are provided with separate contactors and connection lines.
Features of spotlights
These devices are small in size, have low power consumption, and have an unusual installation configuration. Installation is recommended to be carried out in thin-walled partitions made of plastic, chipboard or drywall. A slot is cut out under the body, into which the device with a cartridge is placed. Further, stranded wires are connected to the luminaire, which are connected through the output terminal blocks.
Power lines are usually laid in the subceiling niche during the installation of the panels. After that, the device with wires is integrated deep into the prepared hole in such a way that the fastening mechanism of the device turns out to be behind the finishing panel with a slot and rests against it from the inside. As a rule, tendrils-staples act as retainers, which later perform a holding spring function. Contours if desiredconnections of the luminaire body to the edges of the slot can be sealed, but rigid fixation will further complicate repairs.
Indoor lighting of this type can be serviced without complete dismantling, but in the operations of replacing wiring and its elements, you cannot do without disassembling the device. One way or another, most often the repair of spotlights consists in replacing individual diodes. This is done by soldering after the discovery of extinguished dark crystals.
Conclusion
The lamp in the room performs much more functions than in landscape design. If in the garden spotlights and lanterns fall mainly on the practical tasks of lighting and lighting, then a chandelier or sconce often sets stylistic accents in interiors. At the same time, there are general trends in the organization of indoor and outdoor lighting, both aesthetic and technological properties. Quite indicative in this respect is the transition to LED sources, which, despite their small size, make it possible to implement efficient, beautiful and economical lighting. It is also worth noting the innovations related to control technologies. At home, for the convenience of using devices, it is possible to provide means of automatic control and regulation up to an innovative software level.
