Types of ceiling lighting and design ideas for different rooms. Ceiling lighting options and installation Types of LED ceiling lights

One of the most effective design techniques is the use of lighting effects. Often it is the light that gives zest to the interior. Backlit plasterboard ceiling is one of the most common options. It is good because, if desired, you can make it yourself, with your own hands.

The main design differences

Backlight plasterboard ceiling is hidden and open. Open - spotlights that are fully or partially visible. Hidden is called so because only its radiation is visible. Therefore, when installing a plasterboard ceiling with hidden lighting, the lower level boxes are made with a shelf on which the lighting fixtures are placed.

This shelf can be open or closed and, depending on this, and the position of the light sources changes the width and brightness of the strip of light on the ceiling.

How the light flux changes depending on the shape of the shelf and the location of the light source

Illumination box design

To make such a box for lighting the ceiling, two types of profiles are needed:

In the version shown in the photo above, the shelf does not rest on anything. The rigidity of the GKL itself is enough to keep a light backlight. In this case, the weight of the lighting elements must be taken into account. The heaviest are fluorescent lamps, but they are Lately they are practically not used, since there are other options that are more economical in energy consumption and easier to install (LED strips, duralight).

There is a second design. Here the shelf extension rests on elongated crossbars. If the previous design seems unreliable to you, you can do this. Only in this case it will take a little more bearing profile. In the photo - an example of the organization of a two-level flow of plasterboard with backlight.

Exactly the same scheme can be implemented in a single-level version. If your main ceiling is in good condition, you can only make a box around the perimeter. An example of an assembled frame for highlighting is below. It remains to make the inner side, and hem the frame from the bottom.

A backlit plasterboard ceiling does not always have straight lines. They are simply the easiest to implement. But the same schemes are made with curved lines. Very beautiful false ceilings turn out.

Only for long distances bearing walls it is necessary to additionally fix the supporting profile either to the ceiling or to the profiles of the previous level. It is more convenient to do this with suspensions.

Sources of light

When planning to highlight plasterboard ceilings, we must remember that this is not lighting at all, but only a way to decorate the room. The flow of light is scattered. Initially, it is welded onto the ceiling, and then into the room. And adds almost nothing to the overall illumination of the room. With its help, you can visually "raise" the ceiling, make it one of the components of the interior, but this element cannot be considered lighting. Lighting will have to be taken care of separately: install built-in lamps, wall or traditional chandeliers.

Backlighting can be done using different light sources, but recently three types have been used:

LED
- tapes;
- duralight.
Neon tubes.

LED strips and duralight

This is a series of LEDs mounted in series. Their peculiarity is that they are powered by 12 V or 24 V. This power can be provided using an adapter that converts the 220 V household voltage to a lower one. There are monochrome glow tapes (white, red, blue, green) which, when labeled, are designated SMD or universal RGB.

Monochrome always emit one color, the color of universal can change. RGB tapes work only with the controller and the control panel. On command from the control panel, they change the shade (the number of colors can be different - from tens to hundreds), in some models the intensity of the glow can also change.

According to the type of execution, LED strips are:

Ordinary. Dont Have protective coating may only be used in dry rooms.
Waterproof. Their surface is varnished. Can be used to illuminate wet areas - kitchens, bathrooms.
Moisture resistant. They are sealed in a polymer tube (called duralight) or cases. They are rarely used to illuminate rooms, more often - in aquariums, pools, etc.

The choice is clear here. Choose the type of tape depending on the conditions of the room. , and we'll talk about what good or bad LEDs in the backlight.

First about the benefits:

Small power consumption. They are very economical. Given that this is only decoration, spread large sums I don't want to keep it.
They don't get warm. Only the power supply can heat up, the LEDs themselves do not heat up. This is important if the ceiling is wooden.
Long service life. Counted in thousands of hours. With a normal power supply, they burn out very rarely (do not exceed the current for which they are intended).
Low price. Tape SMD 35 * 28 5 meters long and 120 pcs / m density costs about $ 2-3. About the same amount you have to pay for the adapter. True, these are the prices of Aliexpress. In stores, everything is much more expensive (2-3 times), although you won’t go broke either.
Easy installation. On the back of the tape is applied adhesive composition. Take off protective layer and stick in the right place. If the surface is rough, you can “shoot” with staples from construction stapler, but it is better not to punch the tape itself.

Now for the disadvantages. First, and most important: LEDs hard highlight all the flaws in the surface. Therefore, the requirements for the quality of the ceiling finish are very high. The second minus: the presence of adapters. They need to be built somewhere. That's probably all.

neon tubes

These are glass tubes filled with a mixture of inert and luminous gases. The brightness of the glow changes when the current strength changes, which is regulated by the convector. These devices are installed every 5 meters, their power consumption is about 100 W, they do not make noise during operation.

Also, a step-up transformer is needed for operation: normal voltage is not enough for neon to work. Transformers are installed every 6 meters. But they can hum during operation, and also get warm and electricity, of course, “pulls” pretty well. The whole system as a whole consumes a fairly large amount of electricity, which, combined with the fragility of the tubes and the rather high complexity of installation, makes it not very attractive compared to LEDs.

But neon cords have recently appeared. They come immediately with the controller and all you need is to press a button. They work on finger batteries. But the power of such lighting for the ceiling is definitely not enough. They can be used in tandem with LEDs to illuminate interior details.

Installation of ceiling lighting around the perimeter with step by step photos

The main ceiling in this version was puttied, so the first tier was not made. They attached only a box around the perimeter: the height is already small and 7-8 cm, which are necessary for the organization of the suspension, are critical.

A place for a cornice was left near the window, the width of the box is 60 cm, it is lowered by 12 cm relative to the main ceiling, the height of the side is about 5 cm, the protruding part is 6 cm, roundings are made in the corners.

The first method was chosen - a step under the backlight without support. Since the backlight is planned from a conventional LED strip, its carrying capacity is more than enough.

First make markings on the ceiling. All given dimensions are set aside, lines are drawn with a masking cord. Please note that the line on the ceiling is laid at a distance of 54 cm, and not 60 cm, as in the first diagram. It is obtained taking into account the fact that the step is advanced forward by 6 cm.

When drawing roundings, their center is made not in the place where the profile is attached, but taking into account the protruding step: this way the element turns out to be more expressive.

Profile guides (CD or PNP in the marking) are attached along the drawn lines. They fastened to the dowels in 50 cm increments. They drilled immediately, through the metal. Having installed the plug, they twisted the dowel-nail.

Where it is necessary to form a rounding, the walls (sidewalls) of the profile are cut, the back remains intact. After that, the profile can be laid out in a circle.

On the front side, to the guide profile on the ceiling, we fasten and fasten a strip of drywall 12 cm wide. This will be the back side of our box. We fasten it around the entire perimeter with self-tapping screws with a screw at a distance of about 10 cm.

WITH back side of the installed side, we fix vertical racks from the CD (ceiling) profile. Their length is small - 9.8 cm (12 cm box height, minus 1 cm for the installation of profiles, and another minus 1.2 cm thickness of the plasterboard, screwed from below).

In every segment Bottom part cut off. The side walls are removed so that another guide profile can be screwed on. As a result, its lower shelf should be flush with the profile screwed to the wall. The step of installing vertical racks is about 40-50 cm.

We fasten short vertical pieces around the perimeter

The next step: we fasten the PNP profile that goes along the bottom of the boot. It is also installed on self-tapping screws in increments of 10-12 cm.

They connect two guide profiles: one that is screwed to the wall and one that is attached to the main ledge. They are made from a carrier profile in increments of 40-50 cm.

Let's start making rounds. In order for the strip to bend along the required trajectory, we take a strip of drywall with a width of about 15 cm. We cut it in 5 cm increments and break the plaster. It turned out pieces of gypsum, which are held on cardboard.

Now we attach such pieces to the profile. For each fragment - one self-tapping screw, approximately in the middle of the width, so as not to burst.

With help laser level transfer the height markup to inside. If there is no laser level, use a water level and draw a line with a pencil.

Then we take a piece of the carrier profile 9.8 cm long, we just cut it both from above and below. Approximately in the middle of the arc, we start one edge behind the profile, fasten it with a self-tapping screw.

Then we take a piece of profile cut into fragments (as we did when forming a circle on the ceiling) and fasten it along the mark.

Finished rounding "from the inside"

Now the extra pieces of drywall can be removed. They are cut to a level with the lower edge of the profile, carefully cutting the paper and breaking off small fragments.

The next step in making a backlit drywall ceiling is putty. The ceiling and the main side are puttied. This is the most convenient moment for this. Later, the filing from below and the protruding cornice will interfere.

It is most convenient to cut out a square, then cut it off on one side. First we screw it in straight lines. Then, gradually, in an arc, drawing the desired shape of the edge.

First you can draw, then bite off in small pieces along this line. Smooth out irregularities with a wallpaper knife.

No news: for rounding, we cut the sidewalls, bend them with the desired diameter and put them in place, fixing them with self-tapping screws.

If you plan to make LED lighting for a plasterboard ceiling, it's time to attach the tape. Then it will be very uncomfortable. It is glued in the right place, if necessary, setting some kind of inclined plane.

Next, a strip of drywall 5 cm wide is attached to the profile. Of the features, the fastening is in the middle, and not from above and below: the height is too small. Bends are also made familiar. We cut the strip every 4-5 cm, break the plaster and fasten it.

In this embodiment, to facilitate the work and give the ceiling a finished look, fillets (ceiling plinth) are glued to the side. Similar ones are glued at the junction of the box and the wall.

Now it remains to putty everything and achieve a smooth surface. Almost everything. The plasterboard ceiling with lighting is ready, it remains to install the backlight itself. And it can be different.

Another option can be seen in video format, but with working backlight.

The installation of a two-level stream is demonstrated in the following video. The steps are shown schematically, but the assembly of the first level is clear. So that might be helpful.

How can I decorate a plasterboard ceiling with lighting (photo)

LED plasterboard ceiling lighting is just a spectacular design technique. Lighting must be taken care of separately

Bedroom ceiling lighting

Sometimes in the process of repairing an apartment, very interesting ideas how to decorate the ceiling. Some of them are related to lighting. Often, designers or even homeowners themselves decide that a ceiling illuminated around the perimeter would look very attractive. And to realize this idea, you need an LED strip.

Why do you need backlight

Ceiling lighting with LEDs is now one of the most commonly used design solutions. If you decide to transform the rooms in your house 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 residential premises in order to organize lighting, as they irritated the eyes.

Previously, only sconces were used as additional lighting or illumination in the rooms, later spotlights appeared. However, it is LEDs that have established themselves as the most successful option for installing hidden lighting - after all, you don’t always want the light sources to be in full view. In addition, LEDs allow you to implement extremely interesting lighting options, and not only additional, but also the main one.

What is good about LED ceiling lighting?

It allows you to implement the idea of hidden lighting - a light source, that is, an LED strip, is laid in such a way that it is not noticeable 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.
LED lighting in certain cases can act as the main light source.
This is an opportunity to realize the most daring fantasies and design solutions regarding the play of light and color.
The backlight can be not only white or yellow - LED strips are available in various color variations.
In addition to LEDs, fiber optics can also be used - an excellent "conductor" of light, which significantly expands the possibilities of organizing backlighting.
LEDs consume little electricity during operation, which means they are economical.
Due to the backlight, you can clearly distinguish between zones in the room, if necessary.
Finally, the backlight can perform the usual decorative role.

Prices for ceiling lights

ceiling lights

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

Not always the use of colored backlight is a plus. Sometimes such 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 little light bulb can last up to 100,000 hours. But this figure is not to be trusted. The fact is that over time, the LED strip begins to shine not so 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 lighting for no more than 6 hours a day, then 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 no earlier than after 4 years of this mode of operation of the LED strip.

Types of backlight

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

Table. Types of lighting for the ceiling.

View	Description
	Gives a gentle beautiful diffused light. The ceiling, as it were, is illuminated from below along the perimeter, the 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.
	The LEDs in this case will be installed on the slope, which is located between two ceiling levels, as if shining along the ceiling surface.
	This is a ceiling covering with the effect of "starry sky". LED light bulbs installed in finishing material. One of the most difficult types of organization of ceiling lighting, as it will require a lot of time.
	LEDs are installed in small shades that will be mounted in the finished ceiling. Light bulbs are installed in several pieces, one, for example, shines down, several others create "rays" on the surface of the ceiling.

Also, the backlight is divided into:

target;
general purpose;
design.

The first type is the installation of lighting in order to distinguish between certain areas in the room. Simply put, in this case, the backlight is used to zone the room. For example, in the kitchen more can be lit work zone- additional light here will not hurt.

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

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 draft ceiling and hidden under the tension material. As a result, when the light is turned on, we will get a completely luminous ceiling above our heads.

Attention! Installing 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 “stripe”.

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 lot of light, but it will make the room cozy and complete. Such lighting can just be attributed to the illumination around the perimeter of the room, and the creation of luminous patterns on the ceiling.

Patterns are created on the same principle as a luminous ceiling. Only the LED strip is placed in the form of the desired pattern, and not all over the draft ceiling. When the switch is pressed, the light will penetrate through the translucent stretch fabric and create the same figure on the ceiling surface that is made of LEDs.

By the way, ceiling lighting does not have to be white. It can be one-color decorative, and 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 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 have firmly decided to make ceiling lighting in one of the rooms at home. It does not matter which one - colored, white, or even decided on a luminous ceiling. But in any case, you need to visit the hardware store where you buy necessary materials.

The most important element is a luminous ribbon. It is LED and duralight. Duralight is a cord, inside of which there is a mass of small light bulbs, diode or incandescent. He 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.

LED Strip Light- This is a thin and flexible board, where LEDs are located at an equal distance from each other.

Its main advantages:

possibility of installation on any surface;
low level of electricity consumption;
high brightness;
ease of installation.

On a note! Sometimes other types of lamps, such as neon, are also used to mount 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 mounting such decorative lighting.

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

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 flowers on the human condition.

Color	Impact
Red	Irritating, but at the same time exciting color. It is not advised to use for people with increased irritability.
Blue	It alerts, adjusts to a working mood, makes a person collected.
yellow blue	Can cause hysteria.
Blue, marine, turquoise	Sets for reflection, pacifies.
Green, yellow green	Soothes.
Orange, yellow	Neutral, does not cause special feelings.

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

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

By the way, look carefully at how the tape flashes. Illumination of this kind can also have a psychedelic effect due to this parameter. Avoid tapes that flicker at 0.5 Hz, 2 Hz, and 7 Hz. They can cause epilepsy.

Attention! If you want to get a flickering backlight, then choose a controller to achieve this effect, which will make the diodes fade in and out smoothly.

So, to install 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 for placing lighting);
network cable;
controller;
connectors for connecting pieces of tape.

This is the main list of required materials. Depending on how you plan to mount the ceiling lights, you may need other items.

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

Installing perimeter lighting

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

Step 1. In the niche where the LED backlight will be located, fasten it around the perimeter to small 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 drywall. So do not neglect this stage of setting the backlight.

Step 2 Using a tape measure, measure the required lengths of the LED strip and cut it into pieces equal to the sides of 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 - it will be more reliable. Solder contacts according to the principle - plus with plus, minus with 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 in one design. If the tape turned out to be more, 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 power supply. Connect the system first to the controller, and connect it to the power supply. Check system performance.

Step 5 Remove the adhesive layer from the tape and attach it to the previously mounted PVC corner. The backlight is ready.

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

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

Video - Installation of LED backlight

starry sky

The starry sky ceiling 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 optics and using LEDs. Let's consider the second option. The main difference from the installation of the previous backlight is that this time you will need individual LEDs, and not a tape.

Step 1. This step is performed even before sheathing the ceiling frame with drywall. In the sheets of this material, make many small holes in a chaotic manner.

Step 2 Connect (solder) with wires all the diodes into one circuit. Check it for functionality.

Step 3 Install an LED in each of the drywall holes. It is best to choose light bulbs of different power - then you can create a more realistic starry sky.

On a note! Many stars cannot be created in this way - as a rule, fiber optics are needed for the appearance of real galaxies in the sky.

Step 4 Fasten the drywall to the ceiling frame as you normally would.

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

Such a system also has a drawback - the LEDs glow very brightly, so it will not be possible to obtain diffused starlight. Alternatively, you can try experimenting with light diffusers.

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

Ceiling lighting will create a special coziness and atmosphere in the room. Unique elements interior design is represented by many variations that not only add extra volume to the room, but also visually lighten plasterboard and stretch ceiling structures.

In the article we will look at popular types and give tips on how to make ceiling lighting with your own hands.

In addition to aesthetic functions, a similar technique:

Visually increases the height of the room.
Gives a soft diffused light that will not distract you from watching TV in the evening or while getting ready for bed.

Before you decide to include lighting in the interior, you need to understand that similar system can take the height of the room by about 10-15 cm. When developing the future design of the room, consider these points. Use the suggestions below. They will help you make the right choice.

The installation of the backlight should be provided at the stage of installing the ceiling frame in order to be able to hide in advance electric wires, platforms for lamps, etc.
Plasterboard, rack, stretch ceilings can be made in several tiers, and using complex geometry, give them originality. In this case, your imagination is not limited by anything. Which of the ways to design the ceiling surface to choose is up to you.

On multi-level drywall constructions, you can combine different kinds illumination. For example, a starry sky in the middle and halogen lighting at the edges.
For stretch ceilings, due to their originality, it is worth limiting yourself only to LED strip around the perimeter of the room. Please note that different textures give completely opposite effects.
The main disadvantage of stretch ceilings is that not all light bulbs are allowed to be mounted on it, but only a certain power.
To visually increase the space, you can hide the backlight in the recesses on the ceiling and niches.
Evening illumination of the ceiling will help to dilute the meager interior in colors.
If financial resources do not allow you to original ceiling, get a ceiling plinth and lay LEDs under it.

Ceiling lighting options

Manifold lighting fixtures offered by manufacturers will help illuminate the room and radically change its appearance. Common ceiling lighting options include:

LED strips installed along the edges of the room. For multi-level structures, this technique can emphasize individual tiers or highlight geometric shapes.
are represented by randomly or evenly spaced light bulbs mounted in a ceiling system.
neon tubes better than others change the appearance of space. Differ in long service life.

In addition, depending on the purpose, the backlight is divided into:

target. Used to visually divide the area into zones. For example, or dining table on the kitchen.
General. Represents the main lighting. In this case, spotlights are usually installed.
Designer. This option will not give much artificial light, but it will make the room cozy and comfortable. This includes luminous patterns or perimeter lighting.

To choose suitable option, decide on the location of the backlight, the brightness you want to get, and of course, consider the general style of the room.

Ceiling lighting with LED strip

Criterias of choice

When choosing an LED strip, be guided by the following criteria:

How dense are the diodes.
How much power does the product consume?
Is moisture protection provided?

LED strips are offered for sale in various color variations. By shades they are divided into:

Monochrome - one color.
Universal or RGB ribbons give several different variations - red, green, blue. RGBW strips additionally emit White color.

At the price of the products are almost the same, so it is better to choose RGBW. For such diodes, the set is equipped with a special controller, which makes it possible to adjust the shades and the degree of intensity of the glow.

LED backlights also differ in the density of the arrangement of diode bulbs: from 30 to 120 pieces per meter of tape. If you intend to illuminate a large-sized ceiling, purchase products with a frequent arrangement of diodes; for a directional light source, you should use lower indicators.

How brightly the diode bulbs will glow depends on the power consumption. The SMD 5050 and SMD 3528 models are recognized as popular. The first gives 4.8 W / m at a density of 60 pieces of diodes per meter of tape, the second at the same density - 14.4 W / m.

Often included in the design of bathroom ceilings. Then it is better to use strips with additional protection against moisture. The price for them depends on the degree of security.

LED Lighting Options

LED lighting can be mounted in different places of the suspension system. We give the most common examples:

In niches. This arrangement seems to raise the ceiling into the air, creating a floating effect. Usually niches are purposefully included in ceiling structures for LED lighting. The upward facing LEDs emit a soft diffused light. Side lighting with a tape will make the light directional, sliding along the “floating” ceiling surface.

Inside false ceiling . The tapes are mounted in the space between the draft ceiling and the translucent film web. This design makes the glow soft and diffused, and the ceiling seems to glow from the inside.

Behind the eaves. This method is the easiest and most affordable. In this case, it is not necessary to mount a tension or suspension system. The cornice is attached to the wall, and an LED strip is laid along the edge of the plinth.

Do-it-yourself ceiling lighting with LED strips has already been considered by us in articles, both for drywall and tension structures. Therefore, we will dwell in more detail on the nuances of installation associated with neon lighting and spotlights.

Peculiarities

The classic version of neon lighting is represented by glass tubes filled with an inert gas - neon. A special powder is applied to the inner surface of the "cones" - a phosphor, which emits a glow under voltage.

Due to the fact that neon ceiling lighting requires high voltage, a special current converter will have to be installed together with it. One device is placed at seven meters. The locations of the converting devices are determined at the stage of ceiling installation. Usually in concrete floor make niches where converters are placed.

Neon lighting has the following features:

Such variations are used only as a decorative design, since they give a small brightness with a significant consumption of electricity. A wide range of shades will become an organic addition to the overall style of the room.
A quality product will last from 10 to 15 years.
The standard sizes for this type of fixtures are 1.5 length and 1.5 cm diameter. The temperature of the heated bulbs does not exceed 40 degrees, and the design works almost silently.
The junctions of the elements do not form dark spots, so the glow is uniform and continuous.
Instead of standard products, you can decorate the ceiling with a neon cord. Its flexibility greatly simplifies installation, and the device emits the same glow as lamps. The only downside is the expensive price.

Usually neon lighting is most often used for rooms. hidden type, placing products in hidden niches. Moreover, the narrower the opening for the exit of artificial lighting, the brighter the luminous strip.

Can be highlighted with neon individual elements decor or interior items. This will complement overall design rooms, will make the room harmonious and beautiful.

How to make neon lights

Having decided on the option you like, you can proceed with the installation.

Before you can make neon ceiling lights, you will have to replace the wiring from the switch to the fixture. The first step is to cut the wall for laying a new cable. Subsequently, the cracks can be sealed with putty flush with the surface.

Therefore, it is necessary to determine the placement of lighting devices, as well as to bring the wires before installing the ceiling and repairing the room as a whole.

Neon lighting on the ceiling is laid in a special drywall box or for ceiling plinths. The first method is chosen by carrying out artistic decoration at the repair stage, before the final decoration of the walls and ceiling with finishing materials.

In the plinth, the backlight is laid at final finishing ceiling surface at the final stage of repair. For a clearer design of neon lighting, you need to attach a small ledge to the plane of the eaves. To get diffused light, the board on the cornice does not need to be installed.

It is better to choose a larger skirting board for such work, because it is very difficult to mount transformers in narrow elements. If you still want to minimize the finish, just "drown" the transformer in the wall niche.

Usually neon lamps come in a kit, which, in addition to the lighting element, includes cords, fasteners, circuits, so there should not be any particular difficulties when connecting.

How to arrange appliances

In addition to the requirements for, it is necessary to take into account their correct location on the ceiling surface:

Uniform used in simple structures consisting of one level. In this case, the fixtures are placed around the perimeter of the room on the entire plane of the ceiling.
group designed to illuminate individual areas. For example, when zoning space. Most often, such variations are combined with the main source of artificial light - a chandelier.

On a note! Group lighting is often used to highlight figures on stretch or plasterboard ceilings.

Before you buy appliances, carefully plan and consider possible variations in their location. Be guided by the following parameters:

Type of light source, its power and technical characteristics.
View of the ceiling surface.
Placement method.

Installation of spot lighting involves the following procedure:

Lay the wires and bring them to the installation sites of the devices at the stage of assembling the frame.

Important! Permissible distance between luminaires and metal base suspended structure should be at least 25-30 cm.

Lay the wires in special corrugations to protect them from moisture, and fasten them to metal profiles with plastic clamps.
In the finishing coating of the ceiling, do required amount holes corresponding to the dimensions of the fixtures.
Install drywall on the ceiling and install appliances.

For stretch ceilings, fixing of fixtures is carried out after fixing the canvas, but all preparatory work(supplying electricity, installing platforms, etc.) are carried out at the stage of assembling the frame.

When arranging lighting in your apartment, remember that for the most part it performs a decorative function. Before starting work, check out the possible design options for lighting on the ceiling on the Internet, since illiterately selected methods can make the design heavier. This is especially true for multi-level suspension systems.

LED ceiling lighting - ready-made kits (video)

Every year in the interior design of residential and special premises includes new elements. LED strip for lighting ceilings has become one of them.

This functional decorative detail can transform even the most boring interior. Often she can shine different colors, from which you can choose the appropriate one for the current mood or current situation.

What is LED strip?

The LED strip is a flexible strip that can have a width of 5 to 50 mm. On one side of the tape there are LEDs and resistors, combined by electrical conductors into a single circuit. On the other hand, a double-sided adhesive tape is usually glued on it, on which the strip is fixed in the place chosen for it.

On LED strips different models there are also a different number of LEDs, and they can also differ in size. If it is necessary to achieve greater illumination brightness, sometimes additional LEDs are soldered in the second or even third row.

Benefits of LED strip lighting for ceilings

There are a lot of advantages of this lighting decorative device, and these include the following indicators:

Affordable kit price and significant energy savings with a sufficiently high brightness of lighting.
Ease of installation of such lighting equipment, which is quite possible to produce independently, following the attached instructions.
Wide choose colors. LED strips can be composed of LEDs of the same color, for example, white - to enhance lighting or accentuate lines, or elements of different glow to create special moods in the room.

Long service life, as high-quality LEDs can last 10 years or more.

Criteria for choosing LED strip for ceilings

LEDs used in tapes

When purchasing an LED strip for lighting ceilings, you need to know what types of LEDs are used for this purpose.

The main types that are currently used for the production of luminous ceiling tapes are SMD 5050 and SMD 3028 LEDs.

SMD - these letters in the marking are an abbreviation, an abbreviation for the name "Surface Mounted Device", in translation it means like a "surface-mounted device", since the LED is securely soldered into the surface of the tape.

The numbers following the letters in the marking indicate the size of the LED in millimeters. For example, SMD 3028 is an element with dimensions of 3 × 2.8 mm, and, accordingly, SMD 5050 is 5 × 5 mm.

The LED with this marking has six "legs" coming out of the case, with which it is soldered into the tape. The element itself is equipped with three light-emitting crystals. Such an LED will emit light approximately three times more intense than a single-chip SMD 3028 connected to the tape with only one pair of contacts.

The term luminous flux, which is measured in lumens, is used to define the characteristics of the radiation intensity of an LED. So, the officially defined values of this parameter for SMD 5050 LEDs are 12 lumens, and for SMD 3028 - only 4 lumens. One LED from the SMD 5050 brand shines as intensely as three SMD 3028 placed side by side.

The color of the glow of the LED strip will depend on the LEDs that are installed in it. In the case when the tape contains SMD 5050 LEDs, then three crystals can be installed in each of their cases different color- red (Red), green (Green), and blue (Blue). It was these English names of colors that gave the so often used abbreviation RGB.

Using the electronic control circuit, you can turn on any of the colors at will. Moreover, it is possible to obtain countless different beautiful shades by changing the brightness of the glow of red, green and blue crystals. By mixing in this way, a new rich light background is obtained - it's hard to believe, but the "play" of just three colors when mixed together can result in up to sixteen million different shades.

The intensity and brightness of the LEDs are usually controlled through the remote control using a special device - the controller.

Very interesting shades can be obtained by adding white light to an existing background. It dilutes the brightness of red, blue and green, and as a result, gentle, pleasing to the eye shades are formed, for example, pale blue or soft pink.

These shades can also be obtained by turning on the white color at full brightness with the addition of other colors to it, turned on with less intensity. It should also be taken into account that under different lighting conditions, the look at the interior design almost completely changes, since it can appear in different colors every time.

Experts recommend using LED strips with white light or a combined version consisting of white and tri-color elements to illuminate the ceiling. These tapes will allow you to change color solutions in the room according to the mood. And the intensity of the white color can be so high that it can be compared to natural daylight on a fine day.

Getting white

Since LEDs with "pure" white light do not exist, it can be obtained in two ways.

One of them is that they use crystals with a blue glow, which are covered with a phosphor on top.

A phosphor is a light yellow substance deposited on the surface of an LED chip. This composition is able to convert the absorbed energy into white light radiation. By the presence of a light yellow substance on the LEDs, you can clearly determine that these are elements that will emit white light.

It should be noted that the phosphor gradually loses its converter qualities over time, and blue color begins to break through the white, and the radiation takes on a bluish tint.

If the LED strip is used continuously for a year, then its brightness may decrease by 25-30%. Therefore, when purchasing this "lighting device", you must familiarize yourself with its technical specifications and instructions for use, where the manufacturer must indicate the warranty period.

When the intensity of white light decreases or a blue tint appears in it, you can use the second method to obtain it.

The second method is based on the laws of optics, from which it is known that white can be obtained by mixing all available colors (in this case, green, red and blue) by turning them on at full power at the same time. Thus, it is possible to “create” white light, and the problem with the influence of a “sunk down” phosphor on it will not matter.

The best choice for installing lighting on the ceiling can be an RGB LED strip, as it is equipped with three-color LEDs that will help you get white light if necessary, as well as other shades.

This variety of LED strips will last a long time. They are quite convenient to use - they have the ability to turn on white light, if you only need intense lighting, or a color scheme that matches your mood. The color adjustment process is done from the remote control and will not take much time.

Varieties of LED strips

1 - strip with SMD 3028 LEDs with a density of 60 pcs/rm.

2 - the same, but with a placement density of 120 pcs / linear meter.

3 - double-row strip with SMD 3028 LEDs, with an installation density of 240 pcs/rm.

4 - a strip with a rare placement of SMD 5050 LEDs - a density of only 30 pcs/m.

5 - the same, but with a density of 60 pieces / linear meter.

6 - two-row LED strip with SMD 5050 elements and placement density of 120 pcs/rm.

If you plan to install decorative lighting for ceiling niches, furniture or a desktop in the kitchen, then it is better to use SMD 3028 tape, which has 60 LEDs per meter. It will be enough for her to cope with her task. An LED strip with too much light intensity will be overkill, as it can blind your eyes, especially since for greater brightness you will need a higher power supply and larger in size, so it is more difficult to find a secluded place for it.

The Importance of LED Strip Quality

Having decided to make additional lighting in the apartment or decorate the interior with an LED strip, it is not recommended to buy its cheapest options. Such products will not last a long time in their original state - as a rule, their color balance is quickly disturbed, or even diodes can completely burn out. In cheap lighting tapes, elements are usually installed not too High Quality, which determines the low price.

Design and self-assembly of LED strip

An LED strip lighting system is often sold as a kit. You can, of course, purchase all of its elements separately, but it will be more difficult to choose them correctly in terms of parameters.

The LED backlight kit includes several electronic devices:

power supply, which is needed to convert the network alternating current into the constant voltage required for the diodes;
a controller with a sensor that allows you to change the color of the lighting using the remote control;
remote control panel that regulates changes in the intensity and shades of the light flux;

LED strip of the desired length.

The scheme of installation of the system is approximately as follows.

This diagram shows a system with RGB -amplifier, which is necessary to maintain a stable control signal in cases where it is necessary to lengthen the tape or it initially has a large length. In this drawing, the connection points are clearly visible, so relying on it, it will be easy to figure out the sequence of work.

The first step is to connect a network cable with a plug to the power supply to connect it to the network, that is, the N and L contacts are connected.
Next, the two contacts of the controller are connected to the same power supply, provided that an RGB LED strip is used for the backlight.
After that, contact cables are attached to the controller, attaching a tape to it.

In high-quality kits, the color marking of the wires corresponds to "reality". Yellow wire - power plus.

If the controller is designed for a certain length of tape, but you need to use more LEDs, then to extend or wire the elements, you must use an amplifier that is connected to the power supply and the other end of the tape. Then another piece of LED strip is fixed to the amplifier on its other side.

The fact is that it is dangerous to connect more than 1500 mm of tape in series to one power line, since the current-conducting tracks may not withstand the load. But the control signals - they go exactly sequentially, from segment to segment, gradually fading. In these cases, for parallel connection to a power source of several segments, a control signal amplifier is used.

After everything is assembled, you can check by plugging the plug into the outlet.
When making connections, it is imperative to ensure that the polarity and voltage of the controller, power supply and tape match.
If it is necessary to build up the tape, if other devices allow it in terms of their power, this process is carried out using connectors specially designed for this.
If the tape needs to be shortened, then the cut is made exclusively in the place indicated by the manufacturer in a certain place -0, usually it is indicated on it with a dashed line. The incision is made with ordinary scissors.

A few words must be said about the correct installation of the tape in the place intended for it.

The tape is fixed on double-sided tape, which is released from protective film before gluing.
If the ceiling is illuminated, then usually the tape is fixed under its surface into a small niche made of drywall. This method of installation is effective in that the light is directed to the light plane of the ceiling, which, illuminated by LEDs, contributes to a more uniform illumination of the room.

Is it difficult to mount a suspended ceiling yourself?

Installation of such a design solves at once a lot of problems of repair and improvement of the premises. There are no problems with materials and components in our time, and doing it yourself is quite a feasible task. detailed instructions- in a special publication of our portal.

Another option to increase the efficiency of the backlight is to attach the tape to the cornice (for curtains or specially installed around the perimeter of the entire room just for lighting purposes).

The tape in this case is fixed in such a way that it directs the luminous flux to the wall and to a certain section of the ceiling, on which the light will scatter, increasing the illuminated area. A well-lit ceiling will not only make the room brighter, but also help.

In order for the tape to be fixed on the surface without problems, the place of its gluing should be cleaned of dust and preferably degreased, and then dried well.

financial question

A few words can be said about the financial side of the issue. It should be remembered that when inviting the wizard to install led lighting, he will have to pay an amount that will be from 50 to 150% of the cost of the devices themselves. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase ready-made kits of the system, to which the installation diagram of all components is always attached. Each of the compiled kits is designed for a certain number of LEDs and the length of the tape, so you can not be afraid that an extra number of them will be connected. , you can save quite a decent amount on this process.

Some systems are sold already assembled and connected, so they can be tested immediately upon purchase. All that remains is to bring the kit home and install it in a place determined for the backlight, and then plug the plug into the outlet.

Those who purchase this backlight option will not particularly need electrician skills. The most difficult moment in installation will be choosing a place for the power supply and controller, and then securely fixing them correctly and securely.

If funds are limited, and the backlight is already planned for installation, then you can choose a kit with a ribbon of the same color - SMD 3528 LEDs, the installation density of elements on which is 60 pieces per running meter. However, this option cannot be placed in the bathroom, since such tapes are not equipped with moisture protection.

When installing the backlight in damp rooms or in other places where there is a possibility that neighbors from above may flood, it is worth choosing a tape equipped with silicone external insulation.

At the end of the publication - a video that shows the process correct installation strip LED lighting.

Video: installing and connecting LED strip

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

However, if you overdo it, you can ruin everything. Therefore, before undertaking such work, you must first disassemble the various types of ceiling lighting and how to install it.

Types of ceilings with lighting

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

All illuminated ceilings are of two types:

multilevel;
single-level.

The last type of ceilings is great for small rooms. Thanks to this design, the height will not decrease significantly. Of course, creating something complicated 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 create 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 method lighting - using a conventional chandelier with several lamps. Which type of lighting to choose depends on the preferences of the owner of the apartment.

Material Comparison

Duralight is perfect solution in the case 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 the decorative elements of the interior, then with the help of duralight tubes, he will easily solve this problem.

LEDs

At the moment, this type of backlight 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. It is extremely flexible and colorful. She can perfectly highlight both the edges of the ceiling and various solutions in the interior. True, the tape needs additional protection.

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

The principle of operation of the LED backlight is shown in the following video:

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

Neon

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

How to create a backlit ceiling

The illuminated ceiling is created in several stages.

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

The backlit ceiling is made of plasterboard or other similar materials. Drywall has a number of advantages, so this material is used more often than all the others. It should be noted such features drywall sheet, 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 of the future structure. Only after that you can buy the necessary materials, otherwise there is a chance of purchasing too little of what is needed.

To install a drywall ceiling, you will need:

profiles;
suspensions;
fasteners (self-tapping screws).

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

After installing the crate on the ceiling, you can fix the drywall on the profiles. However, first you need to cut it. That's what the drawing was for. It is important to consider every little thing here. It is especially difficult to carry out work when installing spotlights, where each hole must be taken into account. By the way, such holes will have to be cut in drywall sheets.

During installation, it is necessary to leave small gaps between the wall and sheets of drywall.

Multilevel ceiling

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

Photo

Video

Demonstration of stretch ceiling lighting: