Ceiling lighting will create a special atmosphere in the room. Correctly installed and adjusted lighting in tiered ceiling- the source of real magic, created with your own hands. If you additionally make a skirting board and cornice with LED lighting, the effect will be simply amazing.

However, if you overdo it, you can ruin everything. Therefore, before taking on such work, you must first disassemble different kinds ceiling lighting and how to install it.

Types of illuminated ceilings

Before you make a ceiling light, you need to understand one fact: such a design can significantly reduce the height of the ceiling. On average, 10 - 15 cm will be lost in height. Therefore, it is better to immediately take these figures into account when installing the structure.

All illuminated ceilings are of two types:

multilevel;
single-level.

The latter type of ceilings is great for small rooms... Thanks to this design, the height will not decrease significantly. Of course, creating something complex in this way will not work.

For really beautiful and bright lighting, large rooms with high ceilings are still better suited. However, even in a small room, you can work a miracle if you approach the matter with love and imagination.

Ceiling lighting is created using special professional materials. There are three main technologies for creating such lighting:

LEDs.
Neon.

Another interesting lighting method is to use a regular chandelier with several lights. What type of lighting to choose depends on the preferences of the owner of the apartment.

Comparison of materials

Duralight is a great solution when the owner of the premises wants to create something unusual. Duralight has a number of advantages: it is bright, flexible, has many colors and shades. If the owner suddenly decides to highlight not only the ceiling, but also decorative elements interior, then with the help of duralight tubes, he will easily solve this problem.

LEDs

On this moment this type of backlighting is the most popular solution. LEDs can be installed both in the form of lamps and in the form of strips. LED strip has the same advantages as duralight. She is extremely flexible and colorful. It can perfectly illuminate both the edges of the ceiling and different solutions in the interior. True, the tape needs additional protection.

Lamps allow you to arrange spot lighting in the apartment. With their help, you can create the effect of a starry sky and much more. Working with luminaires is easier than working with tape.

The working principle of LED backlighting is shown in the following video:

LED installation process LED backlight RGB is presented in the following video:

Neon

One of the most better solutions however, it is better to entrust the installation of such pipes to professionals. Neon can change the very atmosphere in the room. And, unlike duralight, such lighting works for a very long time.

How to create a backlit ceiling

A backlit ceiling is created in several stages.

Before making a backlit ceiling, it is necessary to replace all the wires on the ceiling, as well as on the walls. If in the future there are any problems, you will have to re-mount the ceiling. Therefore, it is better to do everything in advance. Some lighting fixtures require additional cables.

The illuminated ceiling is made of plasterboard or other similar materials... Drywall has a number of advantages, so this material is used more often than all others. It should be noted such features of gypsum plasterboard as ease of sawing, the ability to change shape, ease of installation, as well as additional noise and heat insulation. Drywall is simply irreplaceable in many cases.

To make a backlit ceiling, you must first carefully measure the surface and make a drawing future design... Only after that you can buy the necessary materials, otherwise there is a possibility of purchasing too little of the necessary.

To install a plasterboard ceiling you will need:

profiles;
suspensions;
fasteners (screws).

It is also best to carry out all work using a level.

After installing the lathing on the ceiling, you can attach the drywall to the profiles. However, you must first cut it out. It was for this that the drawing was drawn up. It is important to consider every little thing here. It is especially difficult to carry out work during installation spotlights where each hole must be taken into account. Incidentally, such holes will have to be cut in the drywall sheets.

During installation, small gaps should be left between the wall and the drywall sheets.

Tiered ceiling

A multi-level gypsum plasterboard ceiling can be created both using drywall alone, and in combination with plastic, stretch ceilings and other materials. Drywall with a stretch ceiling just looks fantastic. Only this will require a special tool, namely a heat gun.

Photo

Video

Demonstration of stretch ceiling lighting:

Sometimes, in the process of repairing an apartment, very interesting ideas on how to decorate the ceiling. Some of them are related to lighting. Often, designers or even the owners of residential premises themselves decide that the ceiling, illuminated around the perimeter, would look very attractive. And to implement this idea, you need LED Strip Light.

Why do you need a backlight

Ceiling lighting with LEDs is now one of the most frequently used design solutions. If you decide to transform the rooms in your home thoroughly, then she will help you do it with the greatest effect.

On a note! The first experiments with LED lighting began in the not so distant 70s of the twentieth century - it was then that the LEDs themselves appeared on the market. But at that time they were not yet of such a quality that would allow them to be used in living quarters for the purpose of organizing lighting, as they irritated the eyes.

Previously, only sconces were used as additional lighting or lighting in the rooms, later spotlights appeared. However, it is the LEDs that have established themselves as the most good option mounting hidden backlight- you don't always want the light sources to be in plain sight. In addition, LEDs enable extremely interesting options lighting, and not only additional, but also the main one.

Why is LED ceiling lighting so good?

It allows you to realize the idea of hidden backlighting - a light source, that is, an LED strip, is laid so that it is invisible to a person, but at the same time it gives a lot of light and creates a luminous aura in the room.
It is easy to mount such a backlight yourself.
In certain cases, LED backlighting can act as the main light source.
This is an opportunity to realize the wildest fantasies and design solutions regarding the play of light and color.
Backlighting can be not only white or yellow - LED strips are available in various color variations.
In addition to LEDs, you can also use fiber optic - an excellent "conductor" of light, which significantly expands the possibilities of organizing the backlight.
LEDs consume little power during operation, which means they are economical.
Due to the illumination, you can clearly delineate the zones in the room, if necessary.
Finally, the backlight can fulfill its usual decorative role.

Ceiling light prices

ceiling lamps

LED ceiling lighting has its drawbacks. There are not many of them, but they are worth knowing about if you plan to install it in your apartment.

The use of colored backlighting is not always a plus. Sometimes this kind of lighting can irritate the eyes. Therefore, it will be great if during installation you provide for the possibility of changing the colors of the backlight.
LEDs are not cheap, but they are cheaper to maintain due to low power consumption.

The service life of the LED is quite long. Some manufacturers claim that this small light bulb can last for about 100,000 hours. But you shouldn't trust this figure too much. The fact is that over time, the LED strip begins to shine less brightly. The service life of this lighting element is the period from the beginning of its commissioning until the moment when its luminous flux decreases by 30%.

LED strip prices

LED Strip Light

On a note! If you use LED lightening no more than 6 hours a day, the tape will work properly for about 10,000 hours. That is, the human eye will notice a decrease in the brightness of the glow not earlier than after 4 years of such a mode of operation of the LED strip.

Backlight types

There are several types of lighting that can be equipped indoors.

Table. Types of lighting for the ceiling.

View	Description
	Gives a delicate, beautiful diffused light. The ceiling is, as it were, highlighted from below along the perimeter, contour. In this case, the LED strip is located on a special shelf (at the lower level in the prepared recess), and the light from it falls on the ceiling surface. A continuous luminous strip is formed.
	In this case, the LEDs will be installed on the slope, which is located between the two ceiling levels, as if shining along the ceiling surface.
	This is a ceiling covering with a "starry sky" effect. LED light bulbs are installed in finishing material... One of the hardest types of organization ceiling lighting, since it will take a lot of time.
	The LEDs are installed in small shades that will be installed in the finished ceiling. Bulbs are installed in several pieces, one, for example, shines downward, several others create "rays" on the surface of the ceiling.

Also, the backlight is subdivided into:

target;
general purpose;
design.

The first type is the installation of lighting in order to delimit certain zones in the room. Simply put, in this case, the backlight is used to zone the room. For example, the kitchen can be more illuminated. work zone – extra light it will not hurt here.

General purpose lighting is general lighting. True, most often it is realized not with LEDs, but with the help of spotlights. Although there is an option when the LED strip can also turn into a full-fledged lamp - this is.

The luminous ceiling can be installed in any room. For manufacturing, an LED strip, a stretch translucent fabric is required. The tape is attached to the rough ceiling and hidden under tension material... As a result, when you turn on the light, we get a completely luminous ceiling above our head.

Attention! The installation of this ceiling is not as easy as it seems. In order for the light to flow evenly, it is very important to correctly calculate the distance from the tape to the canvas. If you make a mistake with this parameter, then the ceiling will "strip".

Usually a luminous stretch ceiling is combined with plasterboard edging. A small cornice is made of this material around the perimeter of the room, and a backlight with a canvas is placed between its sides.

And finally design option ceiling lighting. Such lighting will not give a large number light, but will make the room cozy and complete. Such lighting can be attributed to the illumination around the perimeter of the room, and the creation of glowing patterns on the ceiling.

The patterns are created in the same way as the luminous ceiling. Only the LED strip is placed in the shape of the desired pattern, and not across the entire draft ceiling. When the switch is pressed, the light will penetrate through the translucent tension cloth and will create on the ceiling surface the same shape that is made of LEDs.

By the way, the ceiling lighting does not have to be white. It can be either one-color decorative or multi-colored RGB, that is, shimmer with red, green, blue and other shades. Colored lighting, if it matches the color of the bulbs to the style of the interior and general view the room will look very good around the perimeter of the room both with the main light on and in the dark.

Choosing materials

So, you firmly decided to make ceiling lighting in one of the rooms at home. It doesn't matter which one - colored, white, or even decided on a luminous ceiling. But in any case, you need to visit hardware store where you will buy the supplies you need.

Most main element Is a luminous tape. It can be LED and duralight. Duralight is a cord, inside which there is a mass of small bulbs, diode or incandescent. It is not afraid of water, very durable and flexible. Duralight can be installed on any surface. Its main drawback is a weak glow.

On a note! Duralight is a very durable light element. The fact is that the cavities inside the cord between the bulbs are filled with polyvinyl chloride, which gives it additional density.

An LED strip is a thin and flexible board where the LEDs are spaced equidistant from each other.

Its main advantages:

the ability to install on any surface;
low level of electricity consumption;
high brightness;
ease of installation.

On a note! Sometimes other types of lamps, for example, neon ones, are used to mount the ceiling lighting. But they are too large in size and will not allow you to create beautiful decorative designs.

Prices for LED lamps

LED lamp

It is the LED strip, due to its advantages, that is usually used for the installation of such decorative lighting.

And it is important to know how to choose the right part of the future illumination.

First, decide what color your backlight will be. This is an important aspect, not only because the shade of light should match the interior, but also because certain colors, whatever one may say, affect the human psyche.

Table. The effect of colors on the human condition.

Colour	Impact
Red	An annoying, but at the same time exciting color. Not advised to use for people with increased irritability.
Blue	It alarms, tunes in to a working mood, makes a person collected.
Yellow-blue	Capable of causing tantrums.
Blue, sea, turquoise	Adjusts to reflection, pacifies.
Green, yellow-green	Soothes.
Orange, yellow	Neutral, does not evoke any special feelings.

It is best to choose a ribbon that has multiple color variations and a controller. Thus, you can choose exactly the shade that you like at the moment to suit your mood. And in your normal state, you can turn on the white light.

Look at the density of the light bulbs. It can be 30, 60, 120 pieces per meter. Experts advise to take a tape with 60 or 120 diodes for contour lighting, but for directional lighting, a tape of 30 is best.
Decide on the power of the tape - according to this indicator, they are also different. For directional illumination, buy a 5 W / m model, and for contour illumination, it is better to take more - 8 W / m. To save on controllers (buy cheaper ones), 5 and 7 W tapes are placed on the slopes, and 7 and 14 W tapes on the shelf. Determining the power of the tape will help its marking, which has an alphabetic and numeric code, for example, SMD 3028. The first two digits are just the power value.
It is important to evaluate and total power tape, which is calculated along the entire length. Having calculated how many meters of tape you need, multiply this number by the power of 1 meter. Based on the obtained parameter, choose the power of the controller for the tape.

By the way, take a close look at how the tape is flashing. This type of backlight can also have a psychedelic effect due to this parameter. Do not use tapes that flicker at 0.5 Hz, 2 Hz, and 7 Hz. They can cause epilepsy to develop.

Attention! If you want flickering backlighting, choose a controller to achieve this effect, which will cause the diodes to flicker and fade smoothly.

So, to mount the ceiling lighting you will need:

LED strip in the required quantity;
PVC corner (you will glue the tape on it);
power unit;
cornice, drywall (if your ceiling does not yet have slopes and shelves to accommodate lighting);
network cable;
controller;
connectors for connecting tape segments.

This is the main list necessary materials... Depending on how you plan to mount the ceiling lighting, you may need other items as well.

On a note! During installation, LED strip usually does not need additional adhesive material - as a rule, it is already equipped with a sticky layer. But cheap tapes usually don't stick well on it. It is better to choose a more expensive but high quality material.

Perimeter lighting installation

Step-by-step instructions for creating a simple LED ceiling light.

Step 1. In the niche where the LED backlight will be located, fasten it around the perimeter to small self-tapping screws plastic corner... The fact is that the sticky layer of the tape is in good contact with PVC, but it can peel off from the drywall. So do not neglect this stage of setting the backlight.

Step 2. Use a tape measure to measure the required lengths of the LED strip and cut it into pieces, equal to the sides the perimeter rectangle that you will highlight. Cut the tape only at the cut points marked on it, otherwise it will not burn.

Step 3. You can connect the segments using connectors, but it is better to solder - this will be more reliable. Solder contacts according to the principle - plus with a plus, minus with a minus. By the way, remember that it is impossible to combine too many tapes into one whole - they are usually produced in reels of 3-5 meters. So - more than three bobbins are not assembled into one structure. If the tape turned out to be larger, then its segments are connected to the power supply in parallel.

Chandelier prices

Attention! The LED strip can be bent, but only if the angle is less than 90 degrees.

Step 4. Remove the wires from the system that will be needed to connect the controller and the power supply. Connect the system first to the controller, and it to the power supply. Check the system is working.

Step 5. Peel off the sticky layer from the tape and attach it to the previously mounted PVC corner. The backlight is ready.

Another option is to install the LED strip in the ceiling cornice

A few words about soldering: LED strip doesn't like high temperatures, therefore, the soldering time should not be more than 10 seconds, and the melting temperature should not be more than 160 degrees.

Video - LED backlight installation

Starry sky

Ceiling "starry sky" is a real hit, which is becoming more popular and is increasingly being used for the design of the ceiling surface. It can be made from fiber and LEDs. Let's consider the second option. The main difference from installing the previous backlight is that this time you will need individual LEDs, not a tape.

Step 1. This step is performed even before plastering the ceiling frame with plasterboard. Make a lot of small holes in the sheets of this material in a chaotic manner.

Step 2. Connect (solder) all diodes into one circuit using wires. Check it for performance.

Step 3. Install in each of the holes in the drywall over the LED. It is best to choose light bulbs of different power - then it will turn out to create a more realistic starry sky.

On a note! It is impossible to create many stars in this way - as a rule, for the appearance of real galaxies in the sky, fiber is needed.

Step 4. Attach the plasterboard to the ceiling frame as usual.

Step 5. Connect the system to the controller and power supply. The illumination in the form of a starry sky is ready.

Such a system also has a drawback - the LEDs glow very brightly, so scattered starlight cannot be obtained. Alternatively, you can try experimenting with light diffusers.

Ceiling lighting is undoubtedly one of the best options for decorating a room. And almost anyone can handle the installation of an LED strip. The main thing is a little desire and patience, and you will succeed.

When implementing interesting ceiling lighting ideas, it is worth taking into account some basic recommendations regarding location, design and construction features. individual types lamps. Correct lighting can really transform a room.

Consider the following points:

the distribution of light should occur evenly over the surface;
luminaires must have a certain power and provide the required illumination intensity;
it is best to use the most economical, while having long term services, lamps (optimally - LED);
the wires must be hidden;
using a hidden type of lighting, hide the luminaire bodies in a special cornice;
to create a soft, flooding light, you need to direct the plafond up;
the design of the luminaires should be in harmony with the furniture and general style premises.

Main light sources

The classic option is to use chandeliers to illuminate the room. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention first of all to the weight of the product. Some ceilings (eg plasterboard) may not be able to handle heavy loads.

Chandelier lighting provides a fairly intense and diffused stream. In this case, one chandelier may be enough to illuminate the room. Its advantage is that, if desired, you can illuminate both two-level and sloped ceiling(using a pendant product on a chain).

Spot lighting on the ceiling - modern version... There are outdoor and built-in lamps. The former distribute the light better over the entire surface.

Such lamps have a huge number of advantages, the simplicity of their installation and external attractiveness incline to the choice of just this type of lighting. The downside is that some of these products are capable of damaging the ceiling when heated, such problems can occur most often with stretch ceilings.

Lamps of directional light are convenient for highlighting specific areas, they have a focused luminous flux.

With their help, it is possible to visually change and expand the space. In addition, a directional light is good for use in the kitchen in the work area.

Installation of the so-called hidden lighting requires the use of LED or neon strips. They can be used in any room except the bathroom - they do not tolerate high humidity conditions.

Ceiling lighting options

Various designs modern ceilings give you the opportunity to choose from a variety of lighting options. Stretch, wooden, suspended ceilings began to be used more and more often.

Lighting a plasterboard suspended ceiling most often involves the use of spotlights. They are mounted along the contour of the ceiling, in a row or in a spiral, depending on the preferences and style of the room.

The wiring is carried out even when the ceiling frame is created. Chandeliers can also be suitable for a suspended ceiling, the main point is their correct fixation and the choice of a product that is not too heavy in weight.

It's already more difficult with stretch ceiling lighting - PVC tape possesses low level strength and heat resistance, therefore, under the weight of the lamp, it will instantly break.

The use of spotlights will come in handy here. They are mounted in pre-prepared holes, and the LEDs barely heat up. If you already have a hook for the chandelier, during the renovation phase, you need to take care of the hole for the wires, then you can easily install it.

Another option - armed with an LED strip, you can make a hidden illumination of such a ceiling. It can be successfully combined with spotlights - good ideas for lighting such a ceiling are shown in the photo.

Concrete or wooden ceilings are not too demanding - any stylish chandeliers are perfect, massive and heavy for greater reliability, it is better to attach to the anchor.

It is impractical to use point light here - installation in wooden ceiling will be too difficult.

LED strip can be used provided that a special cornice is made in advance and its location is thought out. Wall lights will also help create a pleasant atmosphere in a wooden country house.

The corridor

Most often this is a room with an inconvenient layout - narrow and long, or so small that there is nowhere to put a closet.

You can visually change this with the help of light: installing spotlights along the corridor, the beams of light from which are directed downward, will visually make the room shorter. In case it is necessary to expand the space, the light should go up.

Kitchen

To illuminate the ceiling in the kitchen, it is better to use an LED strip - it will look very creative in the kitchen space and will help to increase the area of the room visually. It is also a good idea to use groups of spotlights.

Bedroom

In the bedroom, you have room for improvisation - in addition to spot lighting, all kinds of sconces and floor lamps are suitable. For lighting low ceilings direct the light upward, creating illumination from all directions. This will help to visually increase the width and height of the bedroom.

Decrease too spacious premises with high ceiling is achieved by directing light downward along the walls - in darkening, the ceiling will appear lower.

Living room

Here, original lighting can be created using spot lamps arranged in rows, as well as LED strips. The "starry sky" type of lighting is suitable for a high-tech living room. Interesting large models of chandeliers, lamps with an upward flow of light - all this will be very appropriate here.

Bathroom

The bathroom needs much more intense light than the rest of the room. This can be achieved by using waterproof LED luminaires.

Ceiling lighting photo

Today, a variety of lighting fixtures allows you to create the most unique and non-standard options lighting in the house. One of the most popular lighting options for plasterboard and stretch ceilings, is dotted.

Diversity building materials, as well as the ability to embody all your fantasies in suspended ceiling structures allows you to uniquely shape lighting for each room in the house. How to make a spotlight of the ceiling with your own hands, and what are the features of these lighting devices, this article will tell.

Design features

Suspended ceiling

False ceilings are very popular today. It is in them that any type of backlighting is most easily organized. In this case, the structure of the ceiling itself can be made of several materials:

drywall;
stretch fabric made of PVC film;
plastic.

The popularity of such designs is based on the following advantages:

the ability to hide the unevenness of the starting surface;
ease of installation according to a given scheme, due to which everything assembly work you can do it yourself;
the ability to choose a variety of ways to illuminate the room.

Note! For suspended ceiling structures, it is necessary to choose low-weight lighting fixtures. In this situation a great solution spot lighting will become, since here small lamps will be placed over the entire ceiling surface, without creating strong pressure in a specific area. This is especially true for tension and plasterboard ceiling.

Features of lamps

Zoning

The popularity of spot lighting is gaining momentum every year. This is due to some of the features of such lamps. The main features of spotlights when organizing lighting in a room are:

the ability to provide visual zoning of the premises into separate zones. It is the easiest, fastest and cheap way functionally divide the room into certain zones;

such lighting is able to create high-quality and effective lighting in any room of the house;
the possibility of creating a lighting system in which the lamps will illuminate a certain local area of the room;
creating the necessary atmosphere in the house (from festive to romantic);
creation of decorative lighting of individual ceiling elements.

As you can see, using of this type Backlight gives you plenty of room to create full lighting.

Characteristics of lamps

Spotlights, unlike other lighting fixtures, have a number of design features.
A spot light is in the form of a small luminaire that must be installed in a suspended ceiling structure. This allows fixtures to be placed on the same level as ceiling surface by making them protrude as little as possible beyond the overlap.

Spotlight

A slightly protruding part of the luminaire in the form of a plafond is allowed. This is true in a situation where the plafond has a beautiful appearance and can act as a decorative element.
Note! Full illumination when using spotlights will only be achieved when several lighting elements are placed at the same time. In this case, it is very important to correctly position them on the ceiling canvas.
It should be remembered that the choice of lighting elements depends on the type of ceiling structure. For example, for a plasterboard ceiling, the lamp is taken from spring mounts, and for tension - with other types of fasteners. This must be taken into account if the ceiling and lighting will be done by hand.
The principle of installing lamps for plasterboard ceilings is to insert the device into a previously prepared hole and straighten the fastening spring elements in it, with the help of which the light source will be firmly fixed in suspended structure... To mask the gap between the lighting fixture and drywall sheets should use a special decorative strip... This patch can be of a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors, which allows it ideal way fulfill its purpose - to hide the gap.
As you can see, in a situation with drywall, spot lighting can be quite easily installed with your own hands. The situation with tension overlap is much more complicated. Here you cannot do without the help of professionals.

Variety of choices

Assortment of choice

There is just a huge variety of fixtures on the lighting market. At the same time, the lion's share of this variety is precisely spot illumination.

Spot plan illumination for different types ceilings (stretch, plastic or plasterboard) can be made of different materials:

thermoplastic;
metal;
glass.

In addition, external elements of lighting devices can have the following colors:

polished matt brass;
bronze;
black and matt chrome;
transparent or colored glass.

Also, an important aspect in choosing a luminaire for spot illumination is the light source itself. Its role can be played by:

At the same time, today the most popular are energy-saving light sources: LED, fluorescent and halogen bulbs. Moreover LED models they are significantly ahead of their competitors, since they are devoid of many of their shortcomings. For example, luminescent sources lights can start to flicker during operation, create a little noise and are somewhat harmful to human health. At the same time, LED bulbs do not have such disadvantages and provide energy savings of up to 80%.
Note! When choosing a light source for spot illumination, it is imperative to take into account accepted norms illumination for each specific room in the house. You should also pay attention to the power of the bulbs.
Luminaires for spot lighting can be of several variations:

swivel. Possess more complex design, as a result of which their do-it-yourself installation process will be difficult. But then you get the opportunity to direct the lighting to the area of the room we need;
non-reversible. Have simple scheme and are installed in only one position. Such a backlight can be easily installed with your own hands and will give directional light.

Which lighting option to choose depends on your financial capacity, the lighting needs of the room, and the light source.

Instrument arrangement

Even distribution

In addition to the requirements directly to the luminaires (power and type of light source, fasteners, etc.), they also have requirements in terms of placement on the ceiling.
A do-it-yourself spotlight on the ceiling can have the following placement:

uniform arrangement. It is typical for simple one-level structures of a stretch, plastic or plasterboard ceiling. Here the whole room is illuminated by lamps;
the creation of groups of luminaires that can only illuminate at a sufficient level specific site premises. In this situation, visual zoning of the room with the help of light is assumed. Often this type of lighting is combined with a central light source - a chandelier.

Note! With a zonal arrangement, the luminaires can additionally play the role of decorative illumination. Often, such groups of lighting fixtures have additional control by the intensity of illumination of a particular area.

A subtype of group lighting is a self-made backlight for curly elements of the ceiling structure. This is especially true for stretch and plasterboard ceilings.

Lighting creation

Before buying lamps and starting their installation, you need to clearly plan and think over everything. Choose the most suitable option for your room, you can, guided by such simple selection parameters:

what will be the light source, what are its advantages and power;
ceiling type;
luminaire option (rotary or non-rotary);
method of placement in a suspended structure.

After you have decided on the lighting fixtures and the light source for it, we proceed to the installation of the lamp. Do-it-yourself installation of the backlight involves the following manipulations:

at the build stage frame structure it is necessary to lay all the wires and all the necessary lighting elements. This will allow you to better and quickly install lighting fixtures on the ceiling in the place you need;

Note! All luminaires must be kept away from metal profile at a distance of 25-30 cm.

Frame with wiring

As you can see, the installation of a point-type backlight has certain nuances, but if desired and the corresponding baggage of knowledge, it can be easily installed with your own hands on various ceiling structures. The main thing is to carry out all work with wires with the electricity turned off in the room.

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Ceiling lighting: 12 frequently asked questions about ceiling lighting

In this article I want to talk about how ceiling lighting can be organized. The choice of lighting equipment, its installation and arrangement of a niche for hidden lighting will be affected. Let's get started!

Why

Why do you need a backlight?

In addition to purely aesthetic functions, it:

Increases the apparent height of the ceiling. Lighting is one of the main designer's tools: by brightly illuminating one surface against the background of darker adjacent ones, we will make it appear more distant from the viewer;

Provides diffused soft lighting rooms. It is useful, for example, in the living room when watching a movie or in the bedroom before going to bed.

Where

Where to place the light source?

Most often, hidden lighting is mounted in a niche of a plasterboard suspended ceiling. A niche can surround a room around the perimeter; decorative lighting is often located on separate fragments of multi-level ceilings.

A simpler and cheaper option to implement is ceiling plinth backlit. A baguette or wide molding is glued to the wall indented from the ceiling surface by a few centimeters; the light source is located on its horizontal shelf.

How

Ribbon or lamps

Which is cheaper and more practical - LED ceiling lights or fluorescent lamps?

In all respects, the LED strip is in the lead. Judge for yourself:

Neon illumination is a few dozen tubular lamps, each of which is supplied with its own EPU. The resulting massive structure can only be installed in a sufficiently strong niche: not a single skirting board for hidden ceiling lighting can withstand the weight of the lamps;

The price of a meter of LED strip starts at 100 rubles. The cost of one lamp on a tubular lamp with EPU is at least 350 - 400 rubles;
The diode tape will be solid, without gaps. Luminaires connected in one chain will be separated by intervals of several centimeters.

High voltage or low voltage

Which tape is better to buy - with a power supply from 220 volts or from 12 volts?

Unconditionally low voltage. There are two reasons:

The LEDs on the tape are assembled into clusters, including several series-connected light sources with a strapping of a couple of resistors. The cluster size of a tape with a supply voltage of 12 volts - 3 LEDs. In a high-voltage tape - 60 (which corresponds to a tape length of 1 meter).
Failure any an element of one cluster means that it goes out completely;

You will not even notice the loss of three LEDs, but the extinguished meter section of the tape will mean that it will have to be changed entirely.

Thanks to the same feature, low-voltage tape can be cut in three-LED increments, and high-voltage tape in one-meter increments, which greatly complicates its installation.

For a 12 volt tape, a power supply is needed. It is placed in any niche and is connected to the contacts at the end of the tape with a two-core wire with a cross section of 0.75 mm.

Water resistant

How to illuminate the ceiling in the bathroom? Is it safe to use the LED strip where splashes can get ?

The tapes differ among themselves, among other things, in the degree of protection. IP20 means no splash protection, but IP67 design allows lighting fixture contact with water without any damage to yourself. The tape in this design is easy to recognize by the silicone sheath.

Colour

What colors are appropriate for lighting?

The limiting factor is only your taste. Do not use acidic green color for a baroque bedroom or red for a cozy living room. The rest is complete freedom.

If you want to experiment with colors, take a look at ready-made sets for lighting ceilings with RGB tape and a remote control. The backlight color can change on command from the remote control or at a certain frequency.

RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue (red, green, blue).

What is color temperature?

This parameter describes the correspondence of the light spectrum to the emission spectrum of an object heated to a certain temperature. 3000 Kelvin correspond to the spectrum of an incandescent lamp, 4000K - to daylight sunlight, 6000K - to the cold light of a gas-discharge mercury lamp.

Power

What is the specific power per linear meter should have a contour lighting of the ceiling? ?

5 - 7 watts per meter is sufficient. A specific power of more than 12 watts will emphasize the slightest surface defects, moreover, it is advisable to mount a tape of such power on a heat sink aluminum profile(which, by the way, is much more expensive than the tape itself).

Number of LEDs

Does the number of LEDs per meter affect the lighting performance?

Only for uniformity of illumination: 120 LEDs per meter will look like one continuous light source, and 30 - as a row of spotlights. Since we are going to place the lighting in a false ceiling or molding, this parameter can be neglected.

LED type

Is the type of LEDs the strip is assembled from important?

It affects the ratio of luminosity in lumens and electricity consumption. Each new generation of LEDs is more economical than the previous ones. The best light sources at the moment have a light output of 150 or more lumens per watt, for most of the ones on the market - 50 - 80.

Which LEDs are preferred?

Power of 5 watts per meter does not leave large selection: in this sector of the market there are mainly prehistoric 3528 and, less often, 5050. If you find a tape at 5630 or 5730 - feel free to buy: they are brighter and more economical.

How

How to make LED backlight ceiling with your own hands, if you have already purchased an LED strip and a power supply for it ?

How to do suspended ceiling with drywall niches is a topic for a separate article, so I will describe the most simple scenario using a ceiling molding.

Most important parameter baguette - its vertical width. It will only hold on to it, therefore, the wider the plane adjacent to the wall, the better.

It is most convenient to glue the baguette on acrylic putty... It is viscous and will not let the baseboard slide down. The putty is applied to the baguette shelf in a continuous strip using a spatula; it is also used for grouting cracks on the unevenness of the wall.

Use a miter box and a sharp knife to cut the plinth in the corners.

The connection of the plinth in the corners and along the length has one subtlety: glued only to the wall, it strives to move, making the joint noticeable. The problem is solved by subtle wooden dowel from a match or a toothpick stuck into the ends of both plinths.

The PSU output is connected to the contacts at the end of the tape with a two-core wire. Do not mix up the polarity: plus to plus, minus to minus.

The power supply is installed in a ventilated niche: it heats up during operation and requires cooling.

The tape is glued to the wall above the baguette or to its top shelf. The adhesive layer has already been applied to it by the manufacturer, you just need to remove the backing.

I will allow myself to give the dear reader a few more tips based on my own experience:

If there are children and pets at home, a niche with a power supply located at an accessible height should be protected from their curiosity by ventilation grilles. Contacts with high voltage at the entrance of the power supply units are located openly, and it is better that no one touches them;

If ventilation grates will be with nets, at the same time you will solve the problem of insects getting into the power unit. According to my personal statistics of the times of work in service center for computer repair, they cause a good half of faults in high-voltage circuits;

It is better to install a general switch to the power supply... In this case, the power supply unit will not consume electricity, and will warm up with the backlight off.

Conclusion

I hope that my recommendations will help you transform your home, making its design truly unusual. To learn more about how ceiling lighting is implemented, the video in this article will help you. As always, I would appreciate your additions to it. Good luck, comrades!

November 14, 2016

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