Today, more and more often, stretch ceilings are used in the design of residential premises - for the hall and bedroom, kitchen and hallway, and even for the bathroom. Such materials have many advantages: their installation is simple, the design can be multi-level and curvilinear.
In addition, there are many ways to design such coatings: the effect of the starry sky, color photo printing, the use of multi-color film. Stretch ceilings are durable and aesthetic, quite durable and waterproof. With indisputable advantages, the stretch ceiling also has some disadvantages. Lighting of such structures designers refer to one of them.
Only certain types of fixtures can be installed in such ceilings. Their power should not exceed 40 W, and their shades must have thermal insulation. In addition, stretch ceilings can “collapse”: in drafts, the film is attracted to the main ceiling covering. In this case, much depends on the quality of the installation.
Which fixtures are best for a stretch ceiling?
For the manufacture of ceiling structures, elastic materials are used, which impose special requirements on the technical characteristics of the luminaires and on the method of their installation. Thin fabrics do not withstand high temperatures, so you need to choose lamps of a certain power.
The shape of the lighting elements is also important. The chandelier and lamps in stretch ceilings should not be in the form of an open plate, have plafonds pointing upwards. As a rule, experts recommend opting for the following options:
- spot lighting;
- mounted and suspended chandeliers;
- combined options;
- additional illumination.
Pendant lamps
Stretch ceilings for the hall allow the use of pendant lamps and chandeliers that are mounted on the hooks of the base ceiling. Not a very pretty part of the design is hidden behind the canvas. Plafonds must be directed downwards. This will help to avoid excessive heating of the canvas and eliminate the formation of glare on the glossy ceiling.
A stretch ceiling imposes certain requirements on suspended spotlights. Lighting with such devices is allowed only with a properly selected length of the rod to which the housing is attached. We must not forget that most of the rod is located in the interceiling space, so there is a risk of locating light sources in close proximity to the web.
Howchoose a chandelier?
In order for the stretch ceiling chandelier to serve for a long time and with high quality, you must adhere to the following rules:
- for a matte finish, you should choose a chandelier, the light of which is directed towards the walls and floor, in this case the lighting will be much brighter;
- glossy coatings will help save a little on lighting: the room will be bright due to the reflection of the light flux;
- glossy ceilings are suitable for chandeliers without plafonds, which reduce the level of lighting, make it more dimmer and diffused.
Stretch ceilings for the hall, as a rule, are mounted using a chandelier and spotlights. We will talk about them below.
Spotlights
Their installation is much more difficult, however, answering the question: “Which lamps are best for a stretch ceiling?” - experts say that this option is optimal. The advantages of such lighting include:
- Variety of lamp types.
- The ability to connect them according to any scheme.
- Lamps of this type can be turned on in different ways: in rows, in separate groups, all at once, to create the effect of "running lights".
- Lighting options for stretch ceilings may be different depending on the characteristics of the room in which they are mounted, and the lighting scheme, on the devices that are involved in it.
- These fixtures are very convenient for mounting multi-level structures.
Lighting in the kitchen with a stretch ceiling is notdoes without spotlights. The same can be said about bathrooms and hallways. For these spaces, this is the best choice.
And yet, what should be the lights on the stretch ceiling? The lighting of this design will be harmonious if you correctly combine the chandelier, which is installed in the center of the room, with LED lamps. They are located either in separate areas or around the perimeter of the room. This, as a rule, depends on the purpose of the room and its size. For example, a living room without central lighting (chandeliers) will seem unfinished, and in the bedroom it is quite possible to get by with spotlights and lighting.
LED strip
Flexible board with diodes stands out among stretch ceiling fixtures. This is just an additional source of light. Such lighting is used in rooms with low ceilings, which become even lower when installing stretch fabrics. LED strip visually increases the height of the ceiling. It is often used to illuminate the working area in the kitchen.
The brightness of the glow depends on how densely the LEDs are located. But in any case, the total power is not enough for full lighting.
Which fixtures are not recommended?
To ensure the safety of the room and prevent deformation of the ceiling, you should stop using:
- lights with halogen lamps and lampsincandescent, which are located close to the surface of the web;
- spotlights above 40 watts;
- non-standard square spotlights: this will complicate installation.
Recommendations for luminaire placement
How to arrange lamps? There is no universal answer to this question. First of all, it depends on the purpose of the room. We suggest you consider some of the most popular options.
Chandelier
Located in the center. In order to be able to adjust the level of illumination of the room, it is advisable to buy a model with several switching modes. Since LED devices are most often used, it is advisable to choose a chandelier based on them. This will ensure that the room is evenly lit.
LED strips and spotlights
As a rule, they are placed along the perimeter. By choosing the right scheme for their inclusion (by sectors or all at once), you can ensure both zoning and uniform illumination of the entire territory.
Types of luminaire layouts
There are two main ways to place lamps on a tensile structure. We will consider them below.
Classic scheme of lighting fixtures on a stretch ceiling
In this case, a lot of medium power spotlights are used. They represent scope for the imagination of both designers and homeowners. They are arranged in the form of the most intricate figures. Relatively affordable cost (compared to chandeliers) makessuch lighting is a financially beneficial solution.
Such lamps can be divided into groups and connected to different sources of electricity, which allows you to zone the room.
Combination circuit
This scheme differs from the previous one by the presence of a chandelier in the center of the ceiling, which becomes the main source of illumination, and spotlights located around the perimeter or in the corners complement it.
What influences the choice of scheme?
Natural light must be taken into account. In bathrooms, hallways, where it is too small, the lamps are located at the rate of 1 light source per 1.5 square meters of area, sometimes their number is calculated so that the lamps are located at a distance of two square meters from each other.
Furniture Arrangement
Careful attention to the location of lamps and chandeliers at the installation stage requires the presence of high furniture (this is especially important with not very high ceilings). Since the installation of tensile structures is carried out with the furniture removed, it is necessary to determine in advance where the tall cabinets will be located so that they do not block the light fixtures.
Location of recreation areas
If you are installing a stretch ceiling, the lighting of recreation and work areas (sofas, beds, desks and computer tables) should be quite powerful. These zones must be taken into account when choosing the necessary scheme.
Scheme options
There are many options for placing fixtures that can be installed on a stretch ceiling. We will bringthe most common.
Lamps create an oval, illuminating the perimeter of the room. The center of the room remains dark. To make it brighter, you will need to use a chandelier. In this case, if desired, you can turn on intense lighting in the room or create twilight.
If the lamps are arranged in a circle, the center is illuminated as much as possible, and around the perimeter it will be more subdued.
The backlight, located in the corners of the room, will form diffused light without putting accents on a specific area.
The location of the fixtures in one part of the room accentuates a specific part of the room. For example, for the kitchen, the option with a chandelier located above the dining table is suitable.
To illuminate the far corners, you can use a scheme of two semicircles. However, this option requires a central chandelier.
Spotlights, located in the form of a cross, can create an alternative to a chandelier. And located around the perimeter of the kitchen, they will visually expand the room.
Undoubtedly, these are not all options for the location of fixtures on a stretch ceiling. The owner of the apartment can create his own scheme that meets the characteristics of his home, and experienced craftsmen will bring his idea to life.
