Everyone has noticed how often their mood depends on the weather. On a clear sunny day the mood is always upbeat, while on a cloudy day the emotional state leaves much to be desired. This is also true of artificial light sources. Lighting plays a large part in creating a comfortable room atmosphere. This is why it is so important to choose the right light source with the utmost care.
It is quite logical to consider the placement of lighting fixtures on the ceiling. Modern manufacturers of lighting devices offer a huge range of products for every taste and purse. Often it is very difficult to decide on the choice, and many give preference to a particular light, based only on its external attractiveness. This, of course, is a weighty argument, but far from being the most important. In order to avoid disappointment after the purchase when choosing an artificial source of light, you must take into account a lot of other factors.
Types of Lights
Produced in the present ceiling fixtures differ not only in size and external design, but also in design features. Among the main criteria influencing the choice, it is worth noting:
- the principle of installation;
- the type of light source used;
- purpose;
- the material of the body and the plafond;
- the parameters of the created light flux;
- the ability to regulate illumination;
- degree of resistance to contamination and moisture resistance.
Types of Pendant Lights
It is possible to divide the whole variety of pendant lighting devices into separate groups according to several criteria
Single (spot) with plafond
Serve for local illumination, illuminate a small area underneath and a little space around. Scope of use:
- apartments and private homes – above the dining table, near the mirror, above the work area in the kitchen;
- hotels, restaurants, bars – over the tables, bar counters, reception.
Linear and shaped profiles
Have a wide range of applications, most often used as basic lighting in premium commercial properties:
- shopping centers (in the halls and throughout the area where people walk);
- food courts;
- restaurants and cafes;
- business centers and offices;
- cinemas;
- conference halls, and many others.
A large space is illuminated by a combination of different models grouped into several pieces (five or more).
In residential areas, models are installed with profiles of small size, suitable for the limited space of apartments and cottages. Purpose – the main lighting.
There are some RGB fixtures that give less brightness, but allow you to control the color of the glow. They are almost always made to order: varying in size, body color, glow color, brightness.
Both linear and shaped pendant lights – it is not a mass production, and piece products made to order for the customer’s task. Each customer selects their own shape, size, color glow, and housing for their individual project.
LED panels
Optics of the lamp consists of a reflective film, internal diffuser, light-conducting lens.
This is a popular and modern lighting equipment for general lighting of offices and sales areas. Mainly at medium commercial facilities. Sometimes used in the lighting system of apartments.
Office lighting fixtures
Types of diffuser: Opal, Broken Ice, Prism, Microprism.
Budget and reliable luminaires for illumination of office and warehouse premises, as well as administrative buildings.
Track systems
Luminaires with a light-forming lens on a busbar.
Are a fashionable modern trend in residential lighting systems – apartments and private homes. The function – additional and accent lighting. If you want and the right approach, you can create high-quality basic lighting. Pendant tracks are usually combined with a chandelier or other types of lights.
Actively used in accent lighting in boutiques, stores, and premium retail spaces.
Purpose of Pendant Lights
- Basic lighting;
- local illumination;
- decorative lighting.
- light source;
- LED lamps;
- LED lines;
- led matrixes.
Design Style
- Classic;
- scandinavian;
- country;
- high-tech;
- modern;
- loft;
- retro and many others.
Various stylistic variations of lamps allow you to harmonize the design design of an apartment or any other room.
Materials
Housing fixtures:
- metal – steel, aluminum, brass, bronze;
- wood – bamboo, rattan;
- artificial materials – acrylic, plastic;
- ceramics
Plafond
- crystal;
- transparent, colored and frosted glass;
- acrylic;
- plastic;
- fabric;
- straw;
- twisted wire.
Types of Suspension
- reinforced wire;
- single rope;
- cable system;
- chain;
- rod.
Type of Ceiling Mounting
- point – on a hook, special bracket;
- linear – on a mounting bar (sometimes two), busbar (track);
- multipoint – on brackets;
- circular – on the mounting bar in the form of a circle.
For Apartments And Cottages
Pendant lights “eat up” the space and are ill-suited for living quarters with low ceilings. It is reasonable to install them when the ceiling height of 270 cm. You should not use such light fixtures in cramped rooms: hallways, bathrooms, toilets.
A small room can be qualitatively illuminated by one point pendant lamp on a short suspension. For a room with a large area often choose a combination of spot lights with a track suspension system or linear fixtures. Sometimes pendant LED panels are installed.
It is important to keep in mind that different variants of plafonds (screens) have different light transmission. Therefore, for general lighting, it is better to choose plafonds that transmit at least 80-85% of the luminous flux. Or use more powerful light sources. Local lighting can be created on the basis of any lamps, adjusting their height for maximum comfort.
The variety of models allows you to choose the best options for any design and style. Original lighting design on the basis of suspended lighting devices transforms the most ordinary rooms into an exclusive living space.
For a Bar, a Food Court, a Shopping Center
Here, various models of profile linear and shaped lights are popular. Above the bar perfectly looks spotlights, which effectively emphasize its design. Shape, color and style are chosen according to the design of the room. The material of manufacture is important. Metal and glass are optimally combined with the style of high-tech. And wood, straw and ceramics – with a rustic style. Lovers of the classics choose crystal and bronze.
For the Office
In the illumination of office space more often use pendant ice panels, as well as linear, shaped, and office fixtures. Of paramount importance is the functionality of lighting equipment, not its design.
How to Properly Position Pendant Lights?
Height of suspension
Suspending a lighting fixture, you should observe the optimal distance between it and the floor. This will allow free movement around the room and avoid visual “overload” of space. Experts recommend a distance of at least 200-220 cm for a standard ceiling height of 240/250 cm. If the height of the room is more than 270 cm, then we have to rely not on practical considerations, but rather on aesthetic ones.
Types of Lamps for Ceiling Lights
The color spectrum of the luminaire mainly depends not on the color of the plafonds, but on the type of lamps used. Also on the organization of the entire lighting system and the choice of lighting fixtures directly affects the category of light sources used.
Incandescent lamps
These lamps have a color rendering that is close to natural sunlight, so the light from them does not tire the eyes. Along with their low cost, they are characterized by a short life span, high power consumption and decent heat dissipation. Because of their shortcomings and limited scope of application, they are gradually losing popularity among consumers.
Halogen lamps
Halogen light sources are just as good as ordinary incandescent bulbs in terms of color rendering, while providing more luminous flux with the same power. For these reasons “halogen” is increasingly replacing the classic bulbs. The disadvantages of halogen light sources are not very high efficiency and high heat dissipation. Only low-power halogen lamps are used for false ceilings.
Fluorescent lamps
These represent a gas discharge light source. Fluorescent light fixtures provide neutral or cold light. In the cold light spectrum, the contrast of objects increases, and the eyes tire quickly. But fluorescent lamps are several times more economical than incandescent bulbs and dozens of times more durable. Cross all the advantages of two major drawbacks – the content in the bulb harmful to humans with mercury vapor and high sensitivity to voltage.
LED lights
A distinction is made between LED lamps as replaceable elements of the lighting fixtures and LED lights as stand-alone devices. Can emit light of any color temperature. Are an attractive alternative to incandescent bulbs. They practically do not heat up when working, have low power consumption and long service life. To date, the most modern and most popular light sources, despite the still high cost of products. LED devices are considered the most cost-effective option when choosing lighting fixtures for premises where artificial lighting is required every day for a long time.
Common Mistakes When Choosing
Despite the seeming simplicity of the decision to choose lighting fixtures, many consumers make the same common mistakes. In particular, they include:
- Using a single light source or the same type of fixtures in a room.
- Choosing for a space with a low ceiling light fixtures with a small angle of light dispersion.
- Discrepancy in the size of the luminaire with the geometric parameters of the room.
- The suspension of the fixtures is too long or too short.
- Purchase of a luminaire with an exotic type or size of the base, for which it will be difficult to find replacement lamps.
- Choosing a luminaire with lamps incompatible with the dimmer.
- Mismatch of the luminaire construction material with the external environment.
- The style of the luminaire and the interior design do not match.