Choosing the right lighting for your stretch ceiling is just as important as stretching the canvas itself. Not only the durability of the PVC film itself depends on this, but also how the room will "play", whether the lamps will make it more beautiful or will only spoil it. In cases where the chandelier cannot be installed or its light is not enough, spotlights come to the rescue.
Features of the
Lighting in any room should be planned, especially when installing a stretch ceiling. This is largely due to the fact that not all spotlights will cope with their role equally well. Some of them will heat up and melt the canvas, another part can overheat and catch fire, the third will just be too heavy or have too long fastening parts.
The first and main difference between spotlights for stretch ceilings is the choice in favor of low-power luminaires. Only such models will not cause problems and do not require the dismantling of the entire tensioning web.
In second place is the need to install a plinth in a fairly small space without ventilation. It just so happened that few of the owners of the premises agree to "give away" 12-15 cm of the height of the room for the sake of several lamps, and for the already low apartments in the houses of Khrushchev's construction it is scary to imagine.
The honorable third place is given to the dimensions of the future spot illumination. Due to the design features, it is impossible to make holes larger than 15 cm in diameter in the stretch film. Accordingly, the luminaires or their fasteners must be less than the indicated number.
Thus, for the successful installation of spot lighting, it is necessary to take into account the features of the stretch ceiling itself, as well as the requirements for luminaires. If you ignore at least one of these aspects, there is a great risk of quickly losing the original appearance of the room after renovation, and the prospect of almost immediately redoing a fresh renovation will not please anyone.
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Various types of fixtures can be used for a stretch ceiling. Built-in lamps are available in different variations: LED, halogen and, in some cases, even incandescent lamps. Each of the listed types has its own characteristics, which will be further analyzed depending on the category. It is worth making a reservation in advance that LED lamps are the best choice today.
An interesting solution is luminaires installed in pairs … They are great for illuminating rooms if it is not possible to install lamps at the required distance from each other: the luminaires in a bundle are equipped with additional insulation, which prevents them from overheating and mutual interaction.
There are hanging spotlightsreminiscent of the cylindrical parts of some comic ship. They are located below the level of the stretch fabric and stand out noticeably against its background. Such models are used to focus attention on any part of the room.
There are overhead models … They come in a variety of configurations and sizes. The choice of materials is also quite large. Similar structures, as well as hinged ones, "give" maximum light, however, they perform more decorative role and carry an aesthetic load.
Embedded models are the most commonly used. The choice of shapes and materials for them is limited to only a small list of possible combinations, and installation takes a lot of time and effort even for experienced contractors. Their invisibility against the general background is considered a huge plus, due to which chandeliers are often supplemented with built-in spot lighting.
Dimensions (edit)
As mentioned above, the size of spotlights is limited to 15 centimeters in diameter, the stretch ceiling canvas is simply not designed for large lamps. It should be noted that large lamps are rarely used. Firstly, they are not suitable for the style of all premises. Secondly, their functionality is often limited due to the meager range of design ideas.
Traditionally, models are chosen whose diameter rarely exceeds 80 mm. This is due to the fact that such models have a high luminous efficiency, are relatively easy to install, imply the installation of low-power lamps and open up a wide scope for experimenting with design.
The spotlight width depends on the selected bulb. So, ordinary incandescent lamps require at least 120 mm of clearance between the main ceiling and the canvas for installation. For a mignon lamp - 90-100 mm. Of course, for rooms with low ceilings, a couple of the above lighting options are not considered: 12 cm is a serious distance even for high rooms.
For halogen lamps, the numbers are much smaller - about 60 mm. Despite the relatively small figure, few people are ready to "lower" the ceiling by 6 cm.
The most advantageous option is LED luminaires, the adjustment for the installation of which starts from 35 mm. Sometimes this is a smaller distance than is required to install the profiles on which the ceiling sheet is attached. Due to this feature, many consumers order the installation of LED lamps, despite their high cost.
Forms
The shape of the lamp depends not so much on the preferences of the owners of the house as on the features of its fixing. Most models are produced in a standard round configuration, but there may be square, multifaceted, curly options.
Built-in luminaires can only be round. Such restrictions are imposed for security reasons: the PVC-film of the ceiling will easily "disperse" in the corner section of the lamp. Nevertheless, the market offers a huge selection of cases of various designs and even decorated with decorations (for example, a "rain" of crystal drops).
Overhead lamps open up more room for maneuver. They can be of various shapes, since in this case there is no direct relationship between the configuration of the luminaire itself and its fastening element. It should be noted that the fasteners are still presented in the form of a ring, but the large size of the luminaire body easily covers the entire "filling" that is not in harmony with it.
Some spotlights are equipped with a mini shade that covers the surface of the light bulb. The plafond itself resembles a hemisphere with various coatings, both smooth and faceted. There are also square mini-shades that repeat the shape of the body, but on a smaller scale.
The variety of shapes of lamps allows you to choose a model for every taste for a variety of interiors, not only modern, but also classic. If you add an ornament to the figured lamp body, you will be able to create a semblance of a small work of art. Covering with an embossed pattern, with the illusion of cracking or simply with many faces will refract light, creating an unusual lighting in the room, thereby changing the entire atmosphere of the decor.
Materials (edit)
The materials for the manufacture of the case and decorative elements differ.
Most often, the body is made made of heat-resistant plastic … It is quite lightweight and allows you to easily install low-power luminaires. A wide range of colors and textures add popularity to the material.
A more expensive alternative is metal … It is also interesting, however, the metal conducts current well, which means that you need to make sure several times that the wiring is completely insulated so that in case of something you do not get an electric shock.
Fixtures only from glass used as overhead models. They transmit light well, allowing maximum illumination of the area. These options are expensive because they use tempered glass. Some manufacturers offer shock-resistant options so that when dropped, the lamp can survive and the user does not have to buy a new one.
Ceramic and gypsum products are extremely rare, but such options also exist. They have not received wide acceptance due to their high fragility and low performance properties. Moreover, such options are quite difficult to fit into the interior due to the specifics of the material.
As elements for decoration, various decorative details are used: crystal pendants, crystals, stained glass, wooden inserts - in short, everything that will help the lamps to look as harmoniously as possible in the interior.
Colors
The choice of colors is large enough. Metallic coatings, solid colors and textured patterns are used.
The most popular are transparent lamps … They transmit light well, and when turned off, they look like crystals on the ceiling. Many buyers are impressed by this effect, which is why such models have won universal love.
White color It is mainly used for built-in backlighting, as it allows you to make the lamp as invisible as possible against the background of a stretch ceiling, which is traditionally also white. When such lamps are turned on, it seems that a stream of light is pouring directly from the ceiling itself.
Black models look appropriate if it is necessary to focus on the ceiling surface, for example, when intricate plasterboard structures are used. Black lamps are difficult to match with a white ceiling, as they can stand out inappropriate contrast against its background.
As an alternative, you can suggest using metal coatings: gilding, bronze, silver, copper. Such models will look no less interesting, but much more harmonious.
Drawings on lamps - a relatively new trend in fashion. The drawing can be any, from stylization to marble and ending with excerpts from world masterpieces of art (of course, only partial). The latter are made to order using special devices, less often they are painted by hand. It is popular to use Greek ornaments, as well as imitation of cracked stones with shiny gold or silver veins.
Power
Depending on the type of the selected lamp, the wattage allowed for use on the surface of the stretch ceiling also varies. Remarkably, the largest lamps also have the maximum power rating.
For frosted glass incandescent lamps, the maximum power rating is 60 watts. Incandescent lamps are practically not used for stretch ceilings, since the electricity consumption for their power supply is too high. The average lifespan of a tungsten model of the indicated power is about 1000 hours, which is not at all impressive against the background of other alternatives.
The power of energy-saving lamps should not exceed 45 W. Twisted energy-saving elements are used along with LED ones. They absorb little electricity, but these samples take some time to ignite at full strength.
Halogen bulbs should not be more powerful than 30W. They heat up easily and can melt the web. Please note that the installation of such models cannot be carried out with bare hands, it is imperative to use gloves, but as an excuse it is worth noting that halogen samples will not have to be changed often. Their service life is about 3000 hours. An additional feature is the inability to regulate the heat of lighting, halogen lamps have a fixed spiral temperature of 3000 K.
LED samples are recognized as the best. The required power is at 40 watts. The advantages are that the LED options practically do not heat up, last longer than all the listed alternatives (on average, up to 30,000 hours), and also have different light temperatures: from cold white at 8000 K to warm yellowish 2700 K.
Location
A plan for the location of the luminaires must be drawn up even before the installation of the ceiling covering, since it will first be necessary to place the wiring and their housings. A good solution is to mark in advance the places for the lamps on a regular sheet in a box, and then transfer the markings directly to the ceiling using scaling.
Both chaotically located spot lamps and symmetrical ones, lined up in a semicircle or in two parallel lines, look beautiful. Many designers build a relative layout of the main ceiling lamp - a chandelier. This approach is quite justified, but not required, spotlights may well exist on their own.
Possible placement options also vary depending on the number of luminaires. The arrangement of lamps of different powers depending on the illuminated zone is a classic of the genre. You can use two schemes, as if superimposed on one another: for brighter and less bright lamps.
It is a good idea to place the LEDs around the entire perimeter of the room. The distance between them should not exceed 1 m, and to the nearest wall - at least 60 cm.
Group placement will help to emphasize a specific area, and even distribution throughout the room will create diffused light. Calculate the correct number of fixtures required. Experts note that it is necessary to proceed from the need to use 1 lamp per 1.5 sq. meters of area. For example, for a room of 12 sq. m you will need 8 lamps.
For various premises
Depending on the particular room, the spot lighting should be placed in different ways. It will help to adjust the proportions and make the room more harmonious.
In the bedroom it is best to use a layout design that is as simple as possible, emphasizing unusual details, such as placing the fixtures along the wall above the headboard. In this case, they also serve as reading lamps.
For the hallway, corridor and any rectangular room has the same task: to visually expand the room. In this case, it is best to transfer the accent to the side parts of the room, placing intense backlighting along the walls, and leaving the central part darkened. It will also add depth to the ceilings.
To the bathroom increased requirements are imposed on the luminaires themselves, their IP index should be equal to 67, which means that they are completely waterproof. For a room with high humidity and the risk of water getting on the lighting fixture, this point is extremely important.
In the living room spot lighting must be installed not only depending on the required degree of illumination, but also in order to highlight a particular functional area. The hall welcomes guests, so it is necessary to highlight the area with sofas, as well as pay attention to the most elegant decor elements: paintings, figurines, photographs.
In a nursery, especially in a small one, it is important to highlight every corner. The use of multi-colored spotlights is encouraged, which can paint a child's room in all the colors of the rainbow.
Which is better?
When choosing a luminaire for stretch ceilings, pay attention to its brand. Sometimes you don't want to overpay for the brand, but remember that if you buy a low-quality light bulb, you may have to replace the entire ceiling.
LED lamps are recognized as the best choice today. They do not require leaving a lot of space for the base between the ceiling and the stretch film, do not heat up during operation, are distinguished by remarkable durability and have a wide range of different light temperatures and colors. The only significant drawback is the high cost of such options, however, in the future, saving on frequent replacement and electrical energy, their price does not seem so outstanding.
The choice of luminaire design depends on the goals you are pursuing. Perhaps it is only necessary to add illumination to a dark room, decorate the ceiling or divide the room into functional zones - as you can see, there are a lot of options.
In the first case, built-in models are perfect for the role of a lighting element. Such lighting will not attract undue attention to itself, and the room will become noticeably livelier.
If you need to highlight a separate object or area, you can use spotlights. They can be both built-in and overhead. Their difference from standard lamps is the ability to turn in different directions, directing the luminous flux in a fixed direction.
How to choose?
The choice of luminaires depends on many factors, including the ceiling covering and the number of levels. A single-level ceiling will be an excellent background for spotlights of any configuration, but only built-in models are suitable for multi-level structures.
A simple lamp will look too boring on a matte ceiling, but glossy PVC will sparkle with new colors. Matte, however, should be emphasized with the help of unusual overhead crystal models or built-in ones with interesting decor. The planting depth of each of the possible models must also be taken into account, since it varies greatly depending on the type of bulbs. Recall that for ordinary incandescent lamps, the optimal parameter is from 120 mm, for minions - 100 mm, for energy-saving and halogen lamps - 60-70 mm, for LED lamps - no more than 50 mm.
If you choose an overhead model with a pattern, you should pay attention to the harmonious combination of the general furnishings and ornament on the lamp. For example, if the room is decorated in African style, it would be logical to choose lamps "under the zebra" or in the same colors in which the room is decorated, for example, brown. When choosing, start from your own feelings: if you like the option, you should seriously think about buying.
Pay special attention to the material from which the lamp is made and to the quality of its work. If the model has sharp irregularities and rough edges, it is best to refuse such a purchase, since the lamp can scratch or even tear the ceiling fabric during installation. Never skimp on quality, because you choose models for more than a month.
How to insert correctly?
Mounting a chiseled lamp to a stretch ceiling is a rather laborious undertaking and requires a certain amount of experience and knowledge. Not every professional in his field will agree to hang spotlights, let alone amateur masters. Connecting the wiring does not present any particular difficulties, the whole subtlety lies in working directly with the canvas.
Before hanging the ceiling, it is imperative to mark the position of the lamps, lead wires to them and fix the frames. Next, you need to mount the tensioning web itself. Having determined the places where the stands for the lamps are installed, you need to isolate these places on the ceiling with the protector rings and very carefully cut the holes without damaging the protector rings themselves. Next, you need to fix the lamp itself and insert a light bulb.
In words it seems simple enough, but in practice everything turns out to be completely different. One single mistake will cost a lot: you will have to buy a new canvas for the stretch ceiling and redo the work first.
We strongly recommend that you do not engage in amateur performances and go to a specialized salon, where you will quickly and efficiently hang both spotlights and the ceiling. This should be done for economic reasons: in which case it is the firm who will be responsible for the damaged ceiling covering, and not you; accordingly, all replacement costs will be borne by her.
How to change?
To change the ceiling spotlights, you must do the following:
- First, de-energize the lights. It is not necessary to completely turn off the electricity, it is enough to turn off the lamps themselves with a switch.
- Unscrew the bulb carefully from the socket. Usually 2-3 turns are enough for the structure to fall out freely.
- Screw in a new bulbwithout twisting it too tightly and trying not to rest your palms on the surface of the stretch ceiling. Otherwise, it is fraught with breaks in the coating. If you twist the lamp too tightly, you will need to apply no less force to unscrew it. The result can be the same damage to the stretch fabric.
- Turn on the light and check if the light bulb is working.
By analogy with conventional static bulbs, the spots are also replaced, but in this case, the place where the bulb is fixed should be held with your hand.
If you want to completely change the lamp, we advise you to contact a professional. The best choice would be to buy exactly the same model, but in a different color. In this case, no complicated work is required to dismantle the product, you only need to replace the lamp housing.
If you decide to use a different type of bulbs, carefully read the instructions for your model. Sometimes it happens that the luminaire works with only one type, for example, only with LED bulbs. Experiments in this case will not lead to anything good, but only to damage the model at best and to a short circuit in the most likely.
Interior options
For a bathroom, an excellent choice would be to place fixtures around the perimeter of the entire room. This scheme allows you to completely abandon the installation of a chandelier, since a sufficient level of lighting is created. The symmetrical arrangement looks quite harmonious, since it fully corresponds to the style concept of the bathroom.
Spotlights above the mirror allow you to create the necessary additional lighting in this area, when it is needed. The use of different switches for the main light and spot lighting is very convenient, it allows you to adjust the degree of illumination of the space to your liking.
This example clearly demonstrates how you can make spot illumination without being tied to the location of the main chandelier, as well as how to use different schemes for lamps of different glow intensities. Brighter lamps are located in a circle and illuminate the living room area, and less bright ones around the entire perimeter.
The use of various luminaires to create functional areas is a favorite technique of many designers. Spotlights along the wall illuminate the art shelves and TV, while helping to grab the viewer's attention and highlight the dignity of interesting gizmos.
It is not always necessary to use a lot of light to create a comfortable atmosphere. Sometimes the lamps hidden in the niches cope with the task just as well. Small open point diodes are needed only to separate space, to separate one functional area from others.
For information on which luminaires are better for a stretch ceiling, see the next video.