The attic easily becomes an ideal place in the house where you can relax, unwind, do your favorite hobby, and possibly work in a calm and secluded atmosphere. Non-standard layout and sloping walls in the room provide many clues for interesting design solutions, but it is not always possible to make it cozy. To make the space really “work” and be comfortable, you need to carefully consider all the nuances of attic lighting.
Attic floor features
Attic space on the top floor of a building, directly under the roof, is called an attic. At first it had no practical value, but in the 17th century it was used as living quarters, which is considered a good idea today.
The main feature of the attic is a sloping ceiling, located at an angle to the walls. It can only tilt on one side, be gable or broken, mercilessly cutting off the space of the room. The walls of such a room are usually low, whichin tandem with a sloping ceiling, it can “press” on perception.
So that the room does not oppress, you need to take care of good natural lighting in the attic. At the same time, windows can be installed not only in the walls, but also on the ceiling, which allows more light to penetrate. Without artificial lighting, too, nowhere. Even if you use the room only during the day, it will come in handy in cloudy weather. Lamps and lamps not only make the room brighter, but also help solve various interior problems - expand it, make it more romantic or turn it into a full-fledged work area.
What to look out for?
When arranging an attic, it is important that each of its elements work in conjunction with others. Then the interior will turn out to be complete and will fulfill the role that was assigned to it. Before you decide on the lighting of the attic with sloping walls, analyze your room. Pay attention to the following points:
- The purpose of space. An abundance of light is necessary if the room will be used as a full-fledged room in which they spend a lot of time. If the attic is planned as a lounge area, a bathroom, or a place to watch movies, then sometimes spotlights or sconces will be enough.
- The shape of the room. Perhaps it has various ledges and niches. In addition to the main one, you can install additional lighting in them and create separate functional areas.
- The slope of the ceiling and the presence of beams. These elements compressspace and can be too massive and intrusive details in the interior. The right light will help hide them a little and shift the focus to something else. If they need to be emphasized, he can do it too.
- Room decoration material. Brick, wood, plaster, wallpaper behave differently in the same light. If one diffuse chandelier is enough with wallpaper, then the brick will like multi-level solutions more. Wood absorbs light and the room always seems darker with it, so it is better to combine local and general sources to illuminate a wooden attic.
- Prevailing shades. Color and light in the interior are always at the same time, so it is important to take care not only about the location and type of fixtures, but also about the spectrum that the lamps emit. Cold light (from 4500 K) is used in bright rooms. But in a white monochromatic setting, it can be oppressive and give the room blue or gray hues. The warm spectrum (up to 3500 K) creates coziness, promotes relaxation, but can make dark walls and furniture more "heavy".
Attic lighting options
The attic can be turned into any type of room - from a bedroom and a workshop to a bathroom or kitchen. It can be divided into several zones or turned into a single vast space. In each case, you will have to choose your own type of lamps and fixtures that will create exactly the atmosphere that was intended.
There are these types of attic lighting:
- chandeliers and pendant lamps;
- braand wall lamps;
- spots for walls and ceilings.
- spotlights;
- mobile lamps and floor lamps;
- LED strips.
They all perform different tasks and are divided into two large groups according to the type of lighting: general and local. The first ones scatter light evenly throughout the room, making the interior complete. The latter are aimed at certain parts of the room, highlighting them and giving the space completeness and volume.
Chandeliers
Pendant lamps are usually a very visible element of decor. They focus on themselves and emphasize the style of the interior. An openwork chandelier with many details looks good in a bohemian, gothic or oriental setting. A modest lamp on a wire will fit into an industrial style, loft or minimalism.
However, as an attic lighting, this option should be chosen with caution. Pendant lights greatly narrow the already small space, visually make the ceiling lower. If you do not want to reduce the room, then choose a chandelier with a short leg and with a small amount of details. Take a closer look at LED models, which are usually more compact.
Sconces, floor lamps, table lamps
Wall and portable lamps are used as local lighting. They make the room more comfortable, create a chamber atmosphere and add zest to the decor. They are placed above the bed, near writing and coffee tables, as well as in darkened areas of the room wheregeneral light. With their help, you can zone the space even without the participation of partitions and dampers.
Point light
Spotlights are one of the most versatile options for a room. They are suitable for creating accents, dividing zones, highlighting individual objects and niches. A few powerful spotlights can be used to fully illuminate an attic ceiling, or placed on the darkest wall in a room to make it stand out. A combination of different in shape and style of such lamps will add originality and freshness to the atmosphere. But it is better to limit yourself to only two types to make the interior artsy and gaudy.
Spots
Spots for walls and ceilings, in fact, carry the same functions as spotlights. They are also used to emphasize individual areas and objects, for general lighting and illumination of work areas. Their only difference is that they are located on brackets and can be rotated in different directions. This is very convenient, especially when the attic is used for various activities.
LED strips
This type of attic lighting is often used in addition to the rest and has a decorative function. Ribbons, as a rule, hide behind interior objects, acting as their illumination. In this way, you can highlight a shelf, cabinet, wall or ceiling, creating an alternative to general lighting. In the kitchen, bathroom or dressing room, it is good to highlight the shaded area with LEDs.work area and mirrors.
Results and tips
Lighting is one of the most important elements of a coherent and stylish interior. It can transform the space, solve its problems and create the necessary environment. When choosing lamps and fixtures, the main thing is to consider the size and layout of the room, its color scheme and style.
Before making a choice, you should analyze all the shortcomings of the room, identify which places to hide and which ones to focus on. Sconces, floor lamps and a warm range of lamps will make a large attic more pleasant and cozy. A small room can be visually expanded by directing the light of the lamps on the wall or placing floor lamps in shaded corners.
Be sure to think about safety. For example, attic lighting in a wooden house should not be installed with internal wiring. Otherwise, in case of a fire, it will be extremely difficult to extinguish the fire, and the flame will quickly spread throughout the building. Instead of plastic boxes, it is better to use steel and copper, and place switches away from windows so that they are not flooded during bad weather.
