Which light bulbs are suitable for suspended ceilings? Spotlights for suspended ceilings: bright stars in a cloudless sky What kind of lighting to choose for suspended ceilings

September 29, 2016
Specialization: Capital construction work (laying a foundation, erecting walls, constructing a roof, etc.). Internal construction work (laying internal communications, rough and fine finishing). Hobbies: mobile communications, high technology, computer equipment, programming.

Today I want to tell you about spotlights for suspended ceilings. They are one of the most common light sources for such structures due to their versatility, original appearance and safety.

In this article you will learn how to choose products suitable for a suspended ceiling and how to install a spotlight in a canvas stretched over guide profiles.

Features of suspended ceiling lighting

When planning the lighting of any room, you must adhere to several rules that improve the ergonomics of using the room. It is especially important to pay attention to the following factors:

• light sources should evenly illuminate the entire area of ​​the living room;
• the lamps used should not be too bright so as not to irritate the eyes;
• lighting should not distort natural colors and interfere with the perception of the surrounding reality.

Most of these parameters are met by an ordinary incandescent lamp installed in a chandelier. But not in the case of suspended ceilings. In addition to all of the above, the devices used should not have a destructive effect on the fabric used, look beautiful against the background of the stretched surface and have convenient installation devices.

Spotlights meet all these requirements. They not only allow you to conveniently illuminate the necessary areas in the room, but also play a big role in the design of the room. Therefore, further we will talk about them.

Types of spotlights

There are various types of spotlights available for sale. They differ from each other in appearance and several technical characteristics. I divided all the models into several groups and depicted it all on a diagram:

And now about each variety in more detail.

By installation method

I'll start with the method of installing lighting devices. To install spot lighting on a suspended ceiling, it is necessary in any case to violate the integrity of the canvas. An incision is made in the right place, around which a plastic ring is installed that fits the size of the lamp. Thanks to this limiter, the decorative material does not spread further.

Afterwards a light source is installed in the hole. And according to how it is placed, products are divided into several groups.

The following location options exist:

1. Above the level of the tensioned fabric. Spot lamps installed above a suspended ceiling create the impression that light is emitted from the entire surface.

This miracle looks very impressive, but has several significant drawbacks:

• the efficiency of the light source will be very low, since most of the light flux is scattered above the level of the stretched PVC or fabric ceiling;
• due to the lack of air convection between the stretched surface and the floor slab, the lamp heats up, which can lead to melting of the decorative fabric. To avoid this, LED spotlights are usually used for suspended ceilings.

Typically, this arrangement is used when a “starry sky” type stretch ceiling is installed.

1. At the level of the stretched fabric. In this case, the lamp is installed in the bracket so that it is strictly in the same plane with the tension structure. The light flow is not scattered, that is, the efficiency of the lighting device will be much higher.

However, this installation method has its drawbacks. First of all, this is the power of the lamps. It should be limited to 35 Watts. But such products are not always designed for a voltage of 220 volts, which requires the installation of step-down transformers.

1. Below the level of the suspended ceiling. Spot lighting devices that are installed in a decorative coating in such a way that they protrude above the surface at a certain distance.

The advantage of this solution is that almost the entire light ceiling is used for its intended purpose, losses are minimal, and efficiency is maximum. However, this arrangement also requires a responsible approach to the selection of products in terms of lamp power and voltage used.

There are also fiberglass threads on sale, which are usually used to create the “starry sky” effect. But such light sources are classified as point sources only with great reserve, so I will not consider them in the article.

By lamps used

The main task when choosing lighting equipment specifically for tension structures is to choose the right lamps that are inserted into the lamps. There are three options here.

Incandescent lamps

We are talking about an ordinary lamp with a tungsten filament enclosed in a bulb. I recommend using products not with a transparent, but with a matte bulb, which disperse the light flux more evenly and do not heat up so much. Typically, the resource of this lamp is up to 1000 hours of glow. That is, under normal use it will work for about three years.

Incandescent lamps are installed in open and closed spotlights. I recommend using the latter in rooms where a significant increase in humidity levels is possible - kitchens, bathrooms, balconies.

A significant disadvantage of lamps with incandescent lamps is their large dimensions. The lamp base is screwed into a socket, the length of which can be up to 12 cm. Therefore, the distance between the decorative coating and the ceiling slab should be no less. Alternatively, you can make recesses in the slab for the lamps using a cutter, but I do not recommend resorting to such radical measures.

Halogen lamps

They are essentially similar to incandescent lamps, but here an inert buffer gas is pumped into the bulb. Thanks to it, the product receives several advantages:

• with the same brightness, the lamp bulb with an incandescent filament has smaller dimensions;
• Halogen lamps come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes.

Simply put, the products provide much more light and can be installed in compact lamps, including those protected from dust and moisture. Accordingly, it requires a smaller cartridge. The minimum distance between the decorative coating and the floor slab should be from 5 to 6 cm.

The service life of the halogen lamp reaches 4 thousand hours.

I would like to draw your attention to the installation features. The flask of the product should not be touched with hands, otherwise sebum may remain on the surface of the quartz glass and lead to its crystallization and destruction. Therefore, you need to install the product using special gloves, a clean cloth or paper napkin.

LED bulbs

Consists of a large number of LEDs collected in one beam. Unlike the products described above, the LED lamp in a spotlight usually operates on direct current, so it emits a constant rather than intermittent light flux. But you need to connect it through an AC transformer.

In terms of their performance properties, LED lamps are superior to both of the options mentioned above. They have a continuous glow resource of 5 years. In this case, the electric current consumption will be two times less than that of a halogen lamp, and five times less than that of an incandescent lamp.

Mounting LED lamps varies in length. Typically, installation requires a distance between the canvas and the plate of 5 cm. To operate, the lamps require a voltage of 12 or 220 volts.

Requirements for the light sources used

Now I will tell you which spotlights are suitable for suspended ceilings.

By shape

To avoid tearing of the stretched fabric, lamps for such ceilings are made in a round shape. We are not talking about the entire device, but about its landing platform, which is necessary for installation. Therefore, even if you have seen somewhere suspended ceilings with square light sources, rest assured that inside it has a round shape.

The round base - flange - is installed in the landing platform (embedded element), installed above the suspended ceiling. When purchasing, I advise you to pay attention to the difference between the outer diameter of the flange and the body of the lamp itself. It must be at least 1 cm so that the decorative part of the device covers the plastic ring that keeps the hole from further tearing.

I advise you to purchase products whose back part is impenetrable to light. This is necessary so that when turned on, part of the light flux does not fall behind the canvas. Otherwise, the stretch ceiling will be translucent, and a light areola will form around the spotlight, which negatively affects the visual perception of the decorative surface. Although some designers use this effect to create interesting visual effects.

By power

This is one of the most important parameters. The following nuances need to be taken into account:

• maximum lamp power;
• distance from the surface of the canvas to the light source.

The limitations are due to the fact that polyvinyl chloride film, when heated to more than + 60 degrees Celsius, can melt and deform.

To avoid this, in spotlights you can use incandescent lamps with a power of up to 60 W, and halogen lamps with a power of up to 35 W. In exceptional cases, it is possible to install more powerful ones, then measures must be taken to thermally insulate the installation site of the lamp.

If the body of the point light source is located at a considerable distance from the canvas, the power limit will be 70 W. However, I advise you to give preference to LED lamps, the surface of which does not heat up during operation.

By size and other parameters

When choosing lamps, you need to immediately think about how to position them relative to the stretched canvas. The distance between the floor slab and the ceiling depends on the selected lamps and is described in detail in the corresponding section above.

Do not allow the stretched fabric to come into contact with the spotlight to avoid deformation of the ceiling. There must be a gap between the canvas (sealing ring) and the side of the landing platform.

The operating rules for the ceiling do not allow cutting holes in them larger than 15 cm in diameter. Therefore, when choosing, you need to choose those light sources whose size is less than the specified value.

If you are going to equip a bathroom, swimming pool or kitchen with a suspended ceiling with spotlights (that is, a room with a high level of humidity), you must purchase devices that meet the IP67 protection standard.

They are both more economical and safer. But to operate them you need a transformer. Therefore, I leave the final decision up to you.

Calculation of the required quantity

A few words about how to calculate the number of light sources for a stretch ceiling. After all, in order to achieve an organic design in a room, it is better to buy lamps of the same type, color and appearance.

When calculating, one should assume that a lamp directed vertically downward illuminates a room area equal to 1.5 - 2 square meters. Therefore, to find out exactly how many lamps are needed, you need to divide the area of ​​the room by 2.

I want to warn you right away so that you don’t overdo it. There is no need to install too many lighting fixtures in the suspended ceiling. They “heavien” the design of the room, make the canvas unattractive and can lead to damage to the surface.

If you have an irresistible desire to focus attention on the upper part of the room, use other design devices to do this. For example, install so-called dancing lamps, with which you can direct the light flux in different directions.

Spotlight placement diagrams

Many people ask me a question about the layout of spotlights. There are no clear rules here; it all depends on your imagination, the area of ​​the room, its purpose and other factors.

As an example, I will give options for placing light sources in suspended ceilings installed in different rooms:

1. Bedroom. In this room, I recommend distributing the lamps evenly across the entire surface of the ceiling. Moreover, for this purpose, use products that are identical in shape, size and color, so as not to create disharmony. An excellent solution would be to use a dimmer - a device that regulates the brightness of the lamps. Another option is to use spotlights arranged around a central overhead or pendant chandelier.

1. Kitchen. Here the placement scheme depends on the layout of the room. With the help of spotlights, you can arrange several functional areas in the room - working, dining, and so on. The workspace needs to be illuminated most intensively.

1. Hallway. This is usually a narrow room, so using light sources you can try to visually expand it. To do this, you can use lamps installed along the walls and along the longitudinal axis. Moreover, the former should shine more intensely so that the central space of the corridor is illuminated less.

1. Plumbing room. For the bathroom and toilet, it is better to install a small number of lamps with bright lamps. And distribute them so that the whole room is well lit. At the same time, I would also make the distance between the lamps the same.

1. Living room. This room, like other rooms with a large area, can be decorated arbitrarily. Typically, point light sources are used to organize several functional areas. It is also advisable to use a dimmer and energy-saving lamps that consume little electricity.

In a multifunctional room (living room combined with bedroom, etc.), I recommend combining several light sources. For example, a chandelier and spotlights. The first illuminates the entire room, and the latter illuminate the necessary areas.

Installation of lamps in a suspended ceiling

In this section I will tell you how to install spotlights in a suspended ceiling. The entire installation technology can be divided into several stages, which I will describe in detail below.

Surface marking

First of all, it is necessary to mark the surface of the floor slab on which the mounting platforms of the lamps will be installed. Moreover, this must be done before you start stretching the fabric.

The markup itself is unlikely to cause you problems, so I'll just give a few tips:

1. If you plan to install a multi-level ceiling, draw a diagram for the placement and connection of lamps so that each level is connected to one circuit.
2. When using 12-volt lamps, it is necessary to provide space for mounting electrical transformers. If you are installing lamps in a bathroom or other similar room, I advise you to install transformers outside the room (for example, in the corridor or in a panel).

1. The exact placement depends on the layout you choose. The general rule is that the distance between adjacent light sources should be within 1 meter, and the distance from the walls should be about 60 cm.
2. Check that the installation location of the lamp does not coincide with the location of the baguettes. In addition, there must be a distance of at least 25 cm from the edge of the mounting platform of the lamp to the baguettes.
3. If you are going to install a chandelier, connect it to a separate electrical circuit. In addition, point light sources will need to be placed around the edges of the room or concentrated in the area of ​​future functional areas.
4. If you are going to install lamps according to some pattern, I advise you to draw everything on a sheet of paper in a box, then transfer the markings to the ceiling and mark the installation locations of the platforms using the boxes. Several examples of such schemes are shown in the photo.

Installation of racks

As you already understand, installation of lamps is carried out using special platforms (embedded elements). This is due to the fact that the stretched fabric itself is not capable of supporting the weight of the lighting fixture without bending.

In addition, the landing platform facilitates the operation of the lamps. For example, you will not have problems with how to remove the product in case of damage or to replace a lamp.

There are embedded elements of various designs. But I use a product consisting of two guides and a round ring that matches the mounting diameter of the lamp flange. The advantage of this design is that the guides with bolts make it possible to flexibly adjust the height of the structure above the level of the floor slab.

The design of the landing platform is shown in more detail in the photo.

As an alternative, I can recommend using seating rings with U-shaped brackets for galvanized drywall profiles. With their help, you can also adjust the height above the ceiling, but this option seems less elegant to me.

The exact installation diagram looks like this:

1. In the marked place, using a hammer drill, make a hole necessary to secure the adjustable stand (number 4 in the photo above). For this I use screws with plastic dowels with a diameter of 6 mm.
2. I secure the adjustable stand to the ceiling using the “quick installation” system or screw-in screws with dowels.

1. Using screws, I adjust the height of the platform for the lamp in relation to the floor slab so that the stretched fabric is located as close as possible to the embedded element, but does not touch it (otherwise the surface of the stretch ceiling will not be perfectly flat).
2. I cut holes in the landing platforms so that their diameter matches the mounting diameter of the lamp. This can be done using a sharp bench knife.

1. I carry out electrical connections connecting the electrical distribution box and the lamps. The advantage of the design is that there is free space between the decorative material and the floor slab, so there is no need to groove the slab. For safety, I advise you to lay cables in special corrugated channels. The result should be a design approximately similar to that shown in the photograph.

1. I am connecting platforms with cables. If necessary, I immediately install transformers.

After testing the system for functionality, you can begin stretching the ceiling and installing the lamps themselves.

Installation of lighting devices

The installation diagram of lamps in a suspended ceiling looks like this:

1. A hole is cut in the canvas in such a way as not to damage the glued retaining ring, which limits further damage to the surface.

1. After this, you can install the lamp. The result should be a design similar to that shown in the diagram below:

Installation of all other light sources is carried out in a similar way.

Summary

Now you know which products are best to use for the job and how to install spotlights in a suspended ceiling. All that remains is to purchase everything you need and begin implementing this project. If you have any questions or additions regarding the information presented in the article, you can leave them in the comments.

September 29, 2016

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Modern design solutions for decorating an apartment or office require the use of the latest technical means. Therefore, having equipped the room with a suspended ceiling, you should take care of the corresponding lamp. How to choose the right lighting devices for a stretch ceiling? Let's figure this out.

Which lamps are suitable for suspended ceilings

Stretch ceilings are a panel fixed to a profile (baguette). It can be made of fabric or PVC film. The material has relatively low heat resistance. Thus, during operation, lamps with powerful lamps (primarily incandescent lamps) strongly heat the surrounding surface. When exposed to high temperatures (over 50 degrees), the fabric may turn yellow, lose elasticity, and crack. This means that its service life will be significantly reduced. To avoid this, you should choose and install the lamp correctly - that’s all.

Most often, luminaires with halogen or LED lighting sources are chosen for suspended ceilings, less often - with energy-saving fluorescent ones.

As we have already noted, the material of the tension fabric imposes certain restrictions on the power of light sources. Thus, the power of halogen lamps should not exceed 35–40 W, fluorescent lamps - 50 W. You should also take into account the design features of lighting fixtures and the shape of the lampshades. The lamps must be located at least 15–20 cm from the surface of the canvas.

The installation of “dish” type lamps in the case of suspended ceilings is strictly prohibited. Due to the tight fit of light sources to the surface and poor air circulation, the canvas can be damaged by exposure to high temperatures!

If you still decide to opt for lamps with traditional incandescent lamps, then the distance from them to the ceiling surface should be at least 40 cm.

Types of lamps for suspended ceilings

There are quite a large number of classifications of lamps: by type of fastening, by design, by design, by lighting source... Let's talk about this in more detail.

According to the type of fastening for suspended ceilings, the most commonly used lamps are:

• Hanging (chandeliers)
  These lamps received this name based on the installation principle - they are suspended on a hook built into the base ceiling. At the same time, the lamp itself has a special fastener, usually in the form of a triangle. This is one of the simplest mounting options. In this case, it is important that the master, before stretching the canvas, makes a hole in it in the right place. Then all that remains is to strengthen it with a special ring and stretch the suspension through it.
  As for the price category, among the variety of pendant lamps there are both budget and luxury models - from thousands to hundreds of thousands of rubles.
• Invoices
  To install surface-mounted lamps, you need to prepare a mounting base with power supply in advance. After the suspended ceiling is installed, overhead rings are glued on and holes are made at the location of the lamps, that is, overhead lamps are installed directly on the canvas, literally superimposed on it. Due to the nature of such designs, the power of the lamps used should be taken into account. LED lamps would be an ideal option - with such lighting, the shelf canvas heats up slightly.
  Surface-mounted lamps, as a rule, are cheaper than pendant lamps.
• Built-in
  Such lamps are attached according to the same principle as overhead lamps. At the same time, they have a spring-type fastening, which is inserted into a hole in the suspended ceiling, where the spring straightens, which allows the lamp to be tightly pressed to the ceiling lining. On the outside, the canvas is decorated with a decorative overlay. Visually, it seems that the lamp merges with the ceiling. Such designs attract less attention; their main purpose is to illuminate the room. Therefore, they are often used in offices.
  As a rule, these are inexpensive lamps.

Based on the number of light sources, lamps are distinguished:

• Spot
  The peculiarity of spotlights is that they are small in size and designed for one lamp, so for complete lighting you need several of these lamps. They look good in the kitchen, bathroom, hallway. The lighting area of ​​such devices is usually no more than 30 degrees, so they should be installed in rows.
  Prices for spotlights are quite low, the average cost of one is 500–1500 rubles.

For general lighting fixtures, the radiation angle should be at least 60–90 degrees. For local lighting, lamps with an angle of at least 40 degrees are used.

• Cascade
  These are built-in structures, which are a platform on which several lighting elements are fixed - screw-in lampshades or pendant lamps. Cascading designs create an atmosphere of refined elegance in the room and help to delimit zones in the room. In recent years, there has been a trend in the design community to place cascading lamps above the dining table.
  Designers offer many original models. However, such products are not cheap.

In accordance with the ability to regulate the luminous flux, luminaires are distinguished:

• Static and rotary
  The first ones do not have moving elements and provide “stationary” lighting. The latter have a movable external part. This makes it possible to adjust the direction of the light beam, which would be appropriate, for example, when receiving guests - to illuminate the faces of those present at a large table.

Depending on the light source used, products can be classified into:

• LED lamps for suspended ceilings
  Such lighting devices operate using a semiconductor - LED. In it, unlike a conventional incandescent or fluorescent lamp, electric current is transformed directly into light radiation. LED lamps produce warm yellowish or cool white light, hardly heat up, they are durable, have a long service life, and are also energy saving. They have, perhaps, only two drawbacks - the high price and the impossibility of replacing lamps (usually they are built into the lamp): if they burn out, the entire lighting device will have to be changed.
• Halogen lamps
  Lamps with halogen lamps have very high-quality color rendering, high brightness and clear directionality of radiation. Compared to LED lamps, they do not have high energy saving rates. But if we compare them with incandescent lamps, then halogen lamps have a higher luminous efficiency and last twice as long.
  Usually small lamps are inserted into a halogen ceiling lamp, sometimes they are not even visible.
• Energy-saving fluorescent lamps
  Any lamp, including one located on a suspended ceiling, becomes energy-saving when energy-saving fluorescent lamps are inserted into it. Their peculiarity is that they have a very high luminous efficiency - the ratio between luminous flux and power consumption. This allows you to save energy. However, such lamps are large in size and cannot be placed in every lamp.

If you don’t want the light to hurt your eyes when looking at the lamp, choose models with the dark light reflector function. The outgoing light beam in them is soft.

Prices for lamps for suspended ceilings

The price of lighting fixtures for suspended ceilings depends on many factors. These are: the country of origin, the materials from which the lamp is made, its design.

Thus, prices for pendant lamps for suspended ceilings range on average from 2,000 to 20,000 rubles. For example, the Bokal pendant lamp from the manufacturer Citilux (Denmark) - one glass shade, with a maximum power of 100 W, costs 2,290 rubles. The elongated vertical shape allows it not to come into contact with the stretch ceiling. This model is perfect for lighting the kitchen.

Overhead lamps cost an average of 800-5000 rubles. Available offer: LED lamp from the manufacturer Horoz (Turkey) “Overlay circle” with an aluminum body and a power of 18 W for 1047 rubles.

Spotlights can be selected in the range of 100-1500 rubles. For example, the Novotech Window 369110 spotlight from Novotech (Hungary) made of aluminum and frosted glass with a power of 50 W costs 350 rubles.

A special feature of cascading lamps is the intricacy of their design. On average they cost 20,000 and above. Thus, the cascade chandelier Cascade T522-PT40x100-G (Maytoni), made in Germany, which is a luxurious inflorescence made of crystal beads, costs 62,330 rubles. This lamp is designed for 12 lamps and has a lighting area of ​​48 square meters. m.

Thus, prices for ceiling lamps for suspended ceilings vary significantly, but the range of these products is very wide, so you can choose a lighting fixture for every taste and budget without any problems.

How to choose lamps for suspended ceilings

When choosing a lamp, you should first take into account the interior of the room for which you are purchasing it. Discreet modern, designer chic or classic luxury - it all depends on how you see your entire room.

Do not forget about the maximum power of the lamps, but we talked about this earlier.

For fabric fabric, the choice of lamps is wider, since it tolerates high temperatures well. Halogen, energy-saving, and LED lighting fixtures are also suitable. For PVC, LED lamps would be an ideal option.

You can install either one lamp or a number of spotlights on a suspended ceiling, or you can use both types. Note that modern room design involves several light sources, so the lighting system should be carefully considered. Be sure to take into account the geometry and design of the lamps: round or square, plain or patterned, etc.

As we have seen, installing the lighting you need will not be a problem. The main thing is to take into account all the nuances of the room, the technical characteristics of the lamp and the features of the stretch ceiling. If you approach all this thoughtfully, the result will exceed all expectations.

Stretch ceilings can be installed in any room: living room, nursery, hallway, bathroom, kitchen. There are practically no restrictions on its installation. Unless there are no sharp objects flying around the room that could damage it. And, if a strong air conditioner will operate in the immediate vicinity of the ceiling, you need to pay special attention to the quality of the tension so that waves do not travel along the surface of the ceiling.

But with the help of a stretch ceiling you can:

• hide defects in the ceiling structure,
• visually double the room if you choose a reflective type of coating,
• do not worry about the beauty and cleanliness of the ceiling for the next few years until a new renovation.

That is, when the choice fell on this type of covering, we select lamps for the stretch ceiling that meet certain standards and learn how to install them correctly.

Stretch ceiling dictates the rules

Since a stretch ceiling is a sheet of thin, elastic material, firstly, it cannot withstand high temperatures and secondly, it is impossible to attach a built-in lamp and, especially, a chandelier to it, since the sheet will not support their weight.

There are two types of stretch ceilings:

• from vinyl PVC film (in rolls, width: 1.5; 2.0, 2.7; 3.2 m), welded from several panels to the width of the room;
• made of polyester fabric with special impregnation based on polyurethane - seamless, in rolls 5 m wide.

Vinyl ceilings are matte (velvety), glossy (mirror-reflecting light) and “satin” (with a pearlescent tint), fabric ceilings are only matte.

Accordingly, when we choose lamps for a suspended ceiling, we should rely on the type of ceiling and the overall design of the room.

Since canvas, especially PVC, is a thin material, it must be protected from contact with sharp objects. This applies, among other things, to decorative lampshades of built-in lamps that have corners. They can damage the coating during installation, so it is better to use lampshades with smooth surfaces or choose designs of sharp-angled lamps in which their dangerous parts will be located at a distance from the ceiling.

From the entire range of lighting lamps, you need to choose those whose power is not higher than 50 W - for fabric stretch ceilings and 30 W - for PVC ceilings.

It is possible to install high-power lamps while simultaneously installing voltage-reducing transformers at the base. But this is not the best option, since if the transformer breaks down, it will be impossible to put it back into operation without dismantling the coating.

There is one more parameter - the transparency of the lamp body and the presence of “internal ceiling reflection” when the lamp is operating. Lighting fixtures with a transparent body or gaps in it are not suitable for suspended ceilings. In this case, the light will fall behind the ceiling and then, through the canvas, you will be able to see under the “internal reflection” both all the wires laid under the finishing coating, as well as all the cracks and unevenness of the rough ceiling. Based on this, you need to select lamps only with a solid, opaque body. It is also advisable to buy lamps with a reflector so that all the light from the lamp enters the room.

Types of lamps compatible with suspended ceilings

Lamps that can be installed in suspended ceilings are as follows:

Stationary chandeliers can also be mounted, for which there are several requirements:

1. The “dish” type design will have to be excluded, because, being in close proximity to the ceiling, it will heat it up greatly.
2. Chandelier shades should be hung at a distance of at least 10-12 cm from the ceiling.
3. It is advisable that the lampshades are closed or, at least, not looking at the ceiling, otherwise yellowing may occur on it.

These conditions apply to conventional incandescent lamps. If you follow the wishes regarding the power of different types of lamps, then these troubles can be avoided. Therefore, you need to choose chandeliers designed for the use of energy-saving lamps.

There is also a requirement that concerns wet rooms. For the latter, lighting devices with a humidity protection class are suitable to avoid short circuits.

Mounting methods for lamps

The luminaires are attached to the main ceiling before the suspended ceiling sheet is secured in the mounting profile. Their installation is completed after the fabric has been secured. This means that you need to stock up on lamps and come up with a lighting project for a specific room before you begin installing the ceiling. Otherwise, in the process of fixing the ceiling, you will have to run around for lighting components, wires, fasteners, and so on.

The installation method is influenced by the distance between the main and suspended ceilings.

If the room is low and this distance is minimal: 4-5 cm, then everything is simple.

The size of the lamp with the holder coincides with the distance required to mount the mount under the canvas, so the mounting bracket of the lamp is fixed to the ceiling, and its socket is just flush with the ceiling panel.

After this, a special reinforcing ring is attached to the canvas. The material is cut inside it, it protects the canvas from further tearing. Fasteners and wires are passed through it. After installation, the ring is closed by the lamp itself or its decorative cover.

The installation of a spotlight and a heavy central chandelier are fundamentally different. The chandelier can be mounted in different ways:

• By installing an anchor hook, whose length should be slightly shorter than the distance to the coating.
• Using a standard mounting strip: a wooden base made of ordinary timber is mounted on fasteners, to which the chandelier is attached. The height of hanging the base should be calculated so as to almost touch the canvas, but not be noticeable.
• Using a cross mounting strip, usually used for large chandeliers. A wooden platform is also required for installation. Such a mount can be of a different shape, similar to the letter “H”.

Most people choose stretch fabrics for ceiling decoration. They are distinguished by an impressive number of positive characteristics that add to their demand. Among the main ones are wide possibilities for design, ease of installation, availability of self-assembly, long service life and compliance with environmental requirements.

Attention! The optimal lighting option is spotlights. They guarantee the right amount of light, an interesting appearance and durability.

What types of lamps are there for ceiling lights?

Every person at least once wondered how to choose lighting fixtures for suspended ceilings. Expert advice often comes down to selecting point built-in options. Such lamps are in demand, allowing you to place them comfortably, visually enlarge the space and achieve an aesthetic design.

The following types of lamps for luminaires are produced:

1. Halogen.
2. Luminescent or energy-saving.
3. LED.
4. Incandescent lamps.

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Halogen lamps are versatile and practical. They are compact in size, offering more design options. However, they heat up noticeably, so it is not always possible to install them in a suspended ceiling.

If you are wondering which lamps to choose, opt for energy-saving or LED options. They guarantee maximum service life, independence from on/off cycles. The result will be high power, a sufficient level of brightness, and a variety of designs.

It is not enough to choose the right type of lamp; it is important to take into account their other characteristics. The first thing people pay attention to is the power of the devices. For every 2-3 square meters you will need one lamp with a power of 40-60 W. More powerful devices can negatively affect the quality, durability and appearance of the stretch ceiling.

If you prefer incandescent lamps, the advantages include a simple connection diagram, quick replacement and low price. Among the disadvantages are limited resources and a reduction in the height of the room by lowering the ceiling, so choosing this option is not common.

Fluorescent lamps are built into suspended ceilings more often. They do not heat up, meet safety standards, and guarantee a long service life. An interesting feature is the ability to choose a lamp of your preferred color temperature - warm yellow or cool white. The disadvantages are limited finishing and a pause before turning on.

Halogen light bulbs are a popular type for spotlights. They are called energy-saving for their ability to save electricity. With their help, it is possible to achieve bright lighting. Halogen lamps are suitable for organizing oblique lighting on a stretch ceiling. It is in demand for zoning space. Such light bulbs turn on instantly, and a wide range allows you to choose the desired appearance.

LED models are an excellent choice for creating interior lighting. They help to focus attention on any design detail or add brightness to the lighting. LED light bulbs are available in various shades and sizes, which makes it possible to choose the appropriate option to implement your own design idea.

How to choose outdoor lamps?

If you have chosen a suitable indoor lamp, you just need to decide on the outdoor type. The quality of lighting also depends on it. The main feature of such lamps is the ability to choose the preferred location of the bulb. It is mounted directly in the suspended ceiling or extends beyond it. At the same time, the distance by which the lamp extends beyond the ceiling varies.

Attention! Remember that there are types of outdoor lamps in which the light bulbs are mounted under the suspended ceiling itself. In this case, they are separated from the canvas exclusively by a protective screen. It functions as an interesting decorative element and protects the canvas from excessive heat.

Another popular option for outdoor lighting is light that smoothly descends from the ceiling. This type of lamp will take care of localizing the lighting zone and allow you to zone the space. A distinctive feature will be the unique ability to achieve the required brightness. This type is chosen by those who prefer extraordinary solutions in the interior.

Advantages of outdoor lamps:

1. Possibility to install next to the base ceiling, eliminating the reduction in room height.
2. insulation from ceiling covering.
3. The ceiling surface remains untouched, since no unnecessary intervention is required during the installation process.
4. Expert advice states that caring for lamps is easy.

The main advantage of outdoor lamps is their effective combination with spotlights. The result will pleasantly surprise you, and there are many design possibilities. Bring to life even the most daring ideas, and they will definitely look interesting!

Choosing LED lamps

When choosing light bulbs, apartment owners rely on the advice of experts who claim that the best choice for lighting is LED bulbs. They operate under DC voltage, which is their main difference from other options. In this case, the converter is installed in two ways. In the first case, it is mounted individually for each lamp, and in the second - into a single lighting system.

LEDs also have a number of advantages:

1. Durability of service.
2. Independence of the duration of the operating cycle from switching on or off.
3. Minimum heat release, which allows you to maintain the quality of the ceiling covering.
4. Easy installation.
5. Convenience and accessibility of subsequent repairs, if the need arises.
6. High quality of the product and its compliance with norms and standards.
7. Optimal dimensions of the plinth.

This design does have one drawback. They become highly expensive. But during the service you will see that it is completely justified.

The advantages of LED lamps are obvious compared to other options. Feel free to give preference to LEDs, combine them with other light bulbs, creating unique designs. LED lighting is one of the most popular decor options. Such lamps are placed on the ceiling, walls or pieces of furniture. They create accents on decorative items.

Choosing spots: interesting solutions for the interior

Another type of lighting devices is spots, which also use LEDs. They are movable lamps, they are also called directional lamps. With their help, the interior focuses attention on a specific object, illuminating it with a bright spot.

Spots are placed on the ceiling or wall, directing the light flux in the desired direction. They will easily fit into any interior style, replacing traditional chandeliers. The adjustment is simple; you can independently direct the device in the desired direction.

The main advantage of spots is the ability to use them in rooms with low ceilings. They do not take up extra space and do not take away the height of the ceiling. Wall-mounted units are characterized by a small diameter of the movable base. Often in the interior they replace sconces. They are used for reading books or in the kitchen work area.

Now you know more about lamps and their correct choice for a stretch ceiling. To decide on the desired option, be sure to take into account the advice of experts. If desired, spotlights can be effectively combined with chandeliers. This will add zest to the interior and guarantee excellent lighting. If you still have questions about choosing lamps, pay attention to the video.

When T. Edison invented the incandescent lamp, having a miracle of technology and an outlandish novelty in the house was considered a great luxury. Only about one and a half hundred years have passed since then, but humanity has become much more demanding. Just one light bulb or chandelier in the center of the ceiling is often not enough. Lighting began to play not only a functional, but also a decorative role, emphasizing the features of the interior, dividing the space into zones. This is a whole science! When it comes to a regular ceiling, you can use any lamps, but with tension structures everything is somewhat more complicated. Here it is necessary to take into account their features and try to maximize the beauty of the surface. It's time to figure out which lamps for a stretch ceiling to choose, how to arrange them and which light bulbs to use.

No. 1. What features of a stretch ceiling should be taken into account?

If you take into account some nuances, then with a suspended ceiling you can use lighting fixtures of any shape and type. Fabric of tension structures. The fabric is more resistant to temperature influences, but When constantly heated above 60 0 C, the film may turn yellow, crack and lose elasticity.

To ensure that the suspended ceiling lasts as long as possible, when selecting lamps, consider the following nuances:

• lamps should emit a small amount of heat;
• it is better to use ones that generate minimal heat during operation;
• if incandescent lamps are indispensable, their maximum power should be 60 W. Maximum power of halogen lamps – 30 W;
• for incandescent lamps and halogen lamps there is also a limitation on the distance from the ceiling surface - this is 30 cm, or better yet 40 cm.

Installation diagram All lamps must be thought out in advance. In this case, it will be possible to effectively carry out preparatory work and install all the necessary fasteners. The lamps will be attached not to the canvas of the tension structure, but to the main ceiling, and the necessary holes are simply made in the canvas itself, which are then carefully designed. Thermal insulating rings provide additional protection for the fabric from overheating.

No. 2. What types of lamps for suspended ceilings are there?

All lamps that are used together with suspended ceilings can be divided into the following types:

• spot lighting;
• raster lamps;
• "starry sky" ceiling.

Chandelier in the center of the ceiling- This is a classic of the genre. It can be made in the shape of a plate, be on a long suspension, or consist of several hanging ones located in a row. If you plan to use incandescent or halogen lamps, be aware of safe wattage and distance. In addition, it is desirable that the design features of the chandelier be such that the shades together with the lamps are directed to the side or down, but not towards the ceiling. Use dish chandeliers With suspended ceilings it is possible, but you will have to buy fluorescent or LED light bulbs. In principle, when using lamps that do not heat up, it can be absolutely anything - fortunately, the choice in stores is so huge that you can get lost and confused.

A problem may arise if you want to install a luxurious one on a suspension. The candle lamps of such a chandelier will almost touch the ceiling. Of course, you can install relatively cold energy-saving lamps, but crystal looks best only under the light of ordinary incandescent lamps. The only way out is to increase the length of the suspension in order to achieve a safe distance between the lamps and the ceiling of 30-40 cm, but this is only possible when the ceilings in the apartment are high enough.

When, if you have a glossy ceiling installed, in which, like in a mirror, everything is reflected well, then when choosing a chandelier you should pay attention to how it looks from all sides, since in the reflection the part that is usually not visible to us will be clearly visible.

Spotlights and stretch ceilings have already become an inseparable pair, since their combination looks really very attractive. Such lamps can be used as if there are a lot of them in the room, but usually they are installed to illuminate some area in the room. Spotlights come to the rescue when the ceiling height is critically low. They have a low light dispersion angle (about 30 degrees), so for normal lighting of a room or part of it, it is necessary to install 1 device for every 1.5-2 m2 of area. These lamps can be anything in shape and size - the choice is extremely large.

Spotlights can be installed:

Used primarily for decorative purposes. It consumes a minimum of energy, gives a soft, cozy glow and is usually mounted along the contour of the ceiling, between the ceiling, or used to focus attention on individual elements.

Another option for decorative lighting is the so-called "starry sky" The technology allows you to perfectly simulate the glow and twinkling of stars, so an incredible atmosphere is created in the room. Such lighting is realized thanks to fiber-optic threads-LEDs, which are connected to a light generator located above the tension structure. LEDs may not be projected through the ceiling and project light onto the inner surface of the ceiling: during the day the ceiling remains completely smooth, but at night magic occurs. Another option is to bring out the ends of the threads with LEDs. The most expensive option is to embed diodes into Swarovski stones, thanks to which the light begins to refract especially beautifully, perfectly simulating radiant stars.

Let's highlight separately raster lamps, which are easily recognized by their characteristic honeycomb metal structure. Typically, such lamps are used in suspended ceilings, but sometimes they are also found in tension structures, although they still remain a rarity. This is a more office-style and formal option that will only look appropriate in large rooms.

It is not necessary to stop at only one lighting option: a chandelier can be combined with spotlights or LED strip, and spotlights can be installed together with a “starry sky”.

No. 3. Lamp mounting type

Installation of lamps is done with your own hands or with the help of specialists - it all depends on your skills and complexity of the work.

Chandeliers are mounted in one of the following ways:

Spotlights According to the installation method there are:

No. 4. Types of lamps, or Which light source is better

Lamps in suspended ceilings can be supplied any light sources, but this does not negate the need to weigh the pros and cons of all options and choose the optimal one:

• incandescent lamps- the most uneconomical among all the others. They have low efficiency, so most of the energy is converted into heat, which imposes restrictions on their use in conjunction with film stretch ceilings. Such lamps are usually installed in pendant chandeliers, but you need to remember about the power limitation: it is 60 W, but some recommend using lamps no more powerful than 45 W. Such lamps are usually not installed in spotlights, but if you have a fabric suspended ceiling, then you can find a compromise and take a light bulb with a mirror coating;
  
• halogen lamps somewhat more economical than incandescent lamps, they provide bright and intense light, but are limited in the color range of radiation. Such lamps emit less heat and last twice as long as conventional incandescent lamps, but they are still better used in suspended structures. Usually, along with halogen lamps, the installation of an additional transformer is required, but such lamps, when installed with a heat reflector forward, allow you to create interesting visual effects;
  
• energy saving fluorescent lamps Their name alone suggests that they use electricity sparingly. In addition, they are durable and do not overheat, so they can be mounted in pendant, surface-mounted and recessed lamps. Such lamps are relatively large in size, so they may not be installed in every lamp. If the lamp is positioned so that it constantly falls into the field of view, then it is better to choose a dark light reflector type lamp with a soft light beam;
  
• LED bulbs– one of the most modern solutions today. In them, electricity is immediately transformed into light radiation, due to which high efficiency and durability are achieved. LED lamps are several times more economical than incandescent lamps, and several times more economical than fluorescent lamps. Some manufacturers provide a guarantee for their products for up to 10 years. In addition, such lamps practically do not heat up, are available in different colors and have a soft light without flickering effect. As a rule, an LED light source is already built into the lamp - these are reliable, more durable and economical products, but then the entire lamp will have to be replaced, not just the light bulb. You can find lamps in which the LED element can be replaced: you can always replace the lamp with a more powerful one, although the durability of such products is lower;
  
• fiber optic threads are used only to create the “starry sky” effect. They are characterized by low heat transfer, but do not provide much light - this is decorative lighting. Fiber optics are not cheap, they are durable, and thanks to various attachments they can simulate flickering or flames on the ceiling.
  

It is best to combine different types of lamps and lamps: this will make it easier to create the necessary lighting in each area of ​​the room, quickly change the decor and highlight individual parts of the space. To have complete control over the light, you can equip the lamps with a rheostat and adjust the light intensity.