Chandeliers for low ceilings: selection criteria and recommendations

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From this article you will learn:

What are the features of indoor and outdoor lighting in a wooden house?
What are the common mistakes made when installing street lighting?
What are the rules for installing lighting in a wooden country house?
What safety rules should be followed when installing and operating lighting in a wooden house?

Wooden houses embody the most common ideas about cozy and comfortable housing in a picturesque location. Walls made of timber or logs look warm and create a pleasant homely atmosphere. To emphasize this image, it is important to carefully consider the lighting in a wooden house. With the help of lamps and other lighting fixtures, you can harmoniously complement the comfort of the interior spaces. At the same time, an unprofessional approach to light can disrupt the interior design concept of a wooden house.

Low ceiling - which chandelier might be suitable

A large and bright classic chandelier will look chic almost anywhere, with the exception of rooms with low ceilings. Designing here is not so easy. You need to remember a number of rules and recommendations, failure to comply with which will lead to negative consequences: the room will become even more squat, gloomy and even depressing.

Try to choose compact electrical appliances, avoiding the purchase of oblong lamps. To maintain balance and spaciousness in the room, consider the following:

There is no need to take oblong lamps with decorations that emphasize the lowness of the ceiling and in some cases interfere with movement around the room.
If only a chandelier is used for lighting, then choose models with several bulbs to illuminate the entire room.
For lovers of the most compact lamps, we recommend paying attention to spotlights with a glossy ceiling coating, which allows you to visually expand the space and reflect light in different directions.
If the room has suspended polyvinyl chloride ceilings, then consider some safety issues. It is important to select light sources that will ensure minimal heating of the canvas, and also to calculate the required distance between them. In addition, all light bulbs should be directed from the ceiling down and to the sides.

Selection of palette and finishing option

The magic of white

Light neutral surfaces optically enlarge any room: bedroom, guest lounge, kitchen and bathroom. If you want to achieve a similar effect in interior design , use snow-white paint, wallpaper or special panels.

Gloss school

Reflective coatings remarkably refract the sun's rays and optically expand the living area. When choosing a material for painting the ceiling surface, pay close attention to the color scheme with a glossy finish.

In limbo

Tensile structures are another great way to create an illusion. For finishing, choose building materials with a shiny coating that will reflect the rays of the sun, as well as optically duplicate the decoration and double the height of the room.

Blue dreams

Don't be afraid to experiment with colors, they will help add brightness, creativity and personality to your apartment. For example, an azure shade will represent the clear surface of the sky. This technique is perfect even for a modest apartment.

The main principle when choosing the color of the ceiling, whatever tone you choose, the design of the walls should be darker. Otherwise, you can create a feeling of depression and heaviness in the room.

The optimal solution is a monochromatic color scheme for finishing wall and ceiling surfaces. As a result, you will erase the boundaries and create an optical illusion of space.

Try to avoid bulky items. For example, choose simple built-in light bulbs instead of a chic chandelier. Also, you should not focus on the ceiling surface with a fan and various architectural elements - elegant stucco molding and rosettes.

Use moldings and drywall boxes that frame the interior perimeter. They imitate the silhouette of a dome, which allows you to create a visual height.

What inexpensive chandeliers can be

The range of ceiling chandeliers is diverse and differs by several criteria. One of these is pricing policy. There is absolutely no need to spend exorbitant amounts of money, since the electrical appliance market has a large number of stylish and multifunctional ceiling lamps for little money. These include compact light sources, most suitable for low ceilings.

Here are a few examples of chandeliers for rooms with low ceiling heights:

Chandelier with shades directed in different directions. An excellent option for suspended ceilings, since the device is made on a metal base and is intended for installation under the ceiling.
A lamp with movable spots, made in a minimalist style. Very easy to use and install.
Compact devices mounted on a hook tied to a chain decorated with textile materials. The low price is due to the use of budget materials. However, chandeliers retain their aesthetics and durability.
LED chandeliers are characterized by an unusual design and increased durability of light sources. A good mid-budget device.
A lamp in the form of an inverted plate, mounted on a rod. Made from inexpensive materials, which results in low cost. This shape ensures dispersion throughout the room, saving usable space.

Of course, these are not all the possible budget options available on the market. Select lamps yourself, be sure to focus on the manufacturer - beware of cheap fakes and do not forget that for the price of a Chinese product it is impossible to buy an original Italian chandelier. Make sure you have a quality certificate. Otherwise, such a purchase promises nothing but trouble.

Peculiarities

When choosing a chandelier for low ceilings, you need to consider a number of features:

multi-colored bright lampshades transmit a small amount of light, so when choosing a lamp, be sure to take into account the appearance;
in rooms with low ceilings, balanced light is needed (high illumination is required, but too harsh light will certainly cause discomfort for people in the room);
the close location of the chandeliers to the ceiling determines the choice of light sources that should not get very hot (a heat shield is required that separates the light bulb and the tension fabric);
Devices with a flattened lampshade and a built-in reflector will look great (the only option for rooms with very low ceiling heights);
if after installing the chandelier there are still dark corners in the room, then supplement the lighting with built-in spotlights;
Pay attention to the original lamps that allow you to independently adjust the lighting angle.

Lighting the house inside

Interior lighting in houses made of laminated veneer lumber or rounded logs is not only purely functional, but also performs a very important decorative function. Lighting scenarios can be very different, however, when choosing lighting devices, it is necessary to take into account not only the size of the room, but also the general functional purpose of the room.

Proper selection and placement of lighting devices can make any interior as cozy and comfortable as possible.

Attic

As a rule, attic lighting largely depends on the design features of the roof. It is best not to overload narrow attics with sloping roofs with voluminous crystal chandeliers, since too active general lighting will visually narrow the already small space.

To visually expand the room and raise half-sloping ceilings, designers recommend using laconic wall soffits and sconces. With a small number of windows, you can also use active neon or LED lighting.

Veranda

Lighting for an open veranda should be selected especially carefully, since this room is usually located outside the house. For safety reasons, only specialized electrical appliances designed for outdoor use are allowed to be installed on open verandas.

As a rule, such lighting devices have an increased level of moisture resistance, which helps prevent the risk of short circuits even if moisture (for example, raindrops) gets inside the lamp.

Most often, practical and functional lighting devices made of natural wood or metal are chosen to illuminate open verandas.

Hallway

When choosing lamps for the hallway, first of all, you should focus on the functional purpose of the room. As a rule, the level of artificial light in a given room should be such that you can clearly see your reflection in the mirror without any blurry shadows. In this case, the lighting should not be too bright, otherwise the mirror will cause quite strong glare.

As a central lighting fixture, you can use a small, laconic chandelier with matte shades and a few arms. For ease of movement, you should not install lamps that hang too low in hallways with low ceilings.

In spacious hallways, designers recommend using zonal lighting, creating additional light accents on various mirror elements and the entrance area.

Kitchen

Lighting in the kitchen interior should be bright enough and functional. Small spotlights with diffused daylight are usually used to highlight the kitchen work area.

In the eating area, it is best to install a ceiling chandelier with the ability to regulate the overall light intensity. Thus, during a romantic family dinner, the lighting in the kitchen will be softer and subdued, and during cooking and routine cleaning, the overall intensity of the light flux will increase significantly.

You should also make sure that the kitchen interior does not have blinding surface glare and too dark, unlit corners.

It is better not to use cheap fluorescent lamps in the eating area, as they quite distort the color of any cooked food.

Bedroom

The main purpose of the bedroom is to sleep, so too bright and intense light would be inappropriate here. It is not recommended to install fluorescent lamps in such a room, since in most cases they create an atmosphere that is too bright and not conducive to relaxation.

The most optimal solution is to install traditional ceiling chandeliers, complemented by separately adjustable local lighting. Additional light sources can be wall-mounted floor lamps, sconces and laconic bedside lamps with calm and slightly diffused light.

As a rule, local lighting very softly illuminates only one part of the room, while the other part remains in a mysterious and cozy twilight. To create the effect of diffused light flux, local lamps should be directed at the walls or up to the ceiling.

Children's

The issue of organizing artificial lighting in a children's room must be approached especially carefully, since for a child it is often a sleeping place, a play area, and a study room.

To create the best quality lighting, it is highly advisable to follow these tips:

To protect your child’s vision, you should not use fluorescent lamps when arranging the lighting in a child’s room, as they create flicker that is harmful to the eyes.
Lamps with metal shades must be placed out of the reach of small children, since when they are turned on they become quite hot, and an inexperienced child can be seriously burned by them.
For children of school and preschool age, it is necessary to provide a work area. For local light, it is recommended to install a table lamp with an LED lamp with a power of approximately 6-8 W. Electric welded coupling 110 is for sale on the website ingplast.ru.

When arranging the lighting for a children's room, one should not forget about the basic safety requirements, according to which all switches and sockets must be located out of the reach of small children. All electrical wires must also be lifted up and covered with special protective covers.

Lighting for low ceilings

Properly lighting rooms with low ceilings is quite a challenge. When choosing lamps, it is necessary to take into account that some models in such rooms will be categorically inappropriate. For example, designers advise against using overly voluminous classic chandeliers with long crystal pendants.

It is best to opt for more laconic overhead lighting fixtures that are attached directly to the ceiling surface. If desired, you can also use classic three- or five-arm chandeliers with translucent shades pointing upward.

Types of chandeliers

There are four types of chandeliers that are suitable for rooms with low ceilings:

Lamps mounted on a rod. You need to choose devices that are flat and horizontal in shape in order to illuminate the room to the maximum. The height of compact lamps on a rod is about 300 mm. The rod is the main element responsible for the reliability of the structure.
Cascade lamps come in different heights, but for small-sized products its value can be 200 mm. They are characterized by a wide shape, and the presence of decorative elements does not make them bulky and heavy.
I would especially like to highlight crystal chandeliers - large-sized lighting fixtures. Many people believe that their installation is only possible in spacious rooms with high ceilings. In practice, you can find compact crystal lamps that are suitable for rooms with low ceilings. Crystal inserts provide original refraction of light, which allows you to create beautiful and unusual lighting in the room.
Horn chandeliers are classic ceiling lamps, consisting of several shades and installed without any suspensions. Chandeliers will save room space, especially since their height can be adjusted by changing the direction of the lampshades.

The right textiles

Not only with the help of doorways you can stretch out the space, but also with the help of windows. To do this, use curtains made of transparent tulle, flowing from the ceiling to the floor. If you want something thicker, choose curtains with even vertical folds. If there is a vertical pattern or stripe on the textiles, as well as on the walls, the effect will be much more pronounced.

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Types of lamps used in chandeliers

There are four main types of light sources, but not all of them can be used for ceiling chandeliers:

An incandescent lamp is a simple and common product with a low efficiency and low durability. The operation of such sources is not feasible from an economic point of view, since they consume large amounts of electricity. There is little positive about them - except that they are suitable for any room and, with the right choice of power, will provide soft and balanced lighting.
Halogen sources are a modified version of incandescent lamps. More practical products of compact size with long service life and high light output. The electrical circuit must have a power supply.
Energy saving devices (housekeepers) became popular at the beginning of the 21st century, when people started thinking about energy saving. Even more durable devices, the light output of which is significantly higher than conventional incandescent lamps.
LED lamps are expensive, but the best of all the listed light sources. Today, devices are produced with standard bases suitable for ceiling, wall and table lamps.

Shapes and sizes

The dimensions of the ceiling lamp directly depend on the area of the illuminated room. The presence of low ceilings does not always mean that the room is small. Often there are spacious rooms with low ceilings, for which chandeliers of wider shapes with decorative elements are suitable. For small rooms you need to choose the most compact lamp.

In addition to size, it is important to consider the shape of the lamp. A wide chandelier with elongated shades lowers the height of the room, while a narrow chandelier with elongated shades can give different visual effects, depending on the installation location. As a result, the best option would be to install a flattened lamp without any decor. Elongated lamps with reflectors are suitable.

Features of home lighting

As a rule, the lighting design of wooden houses has many subtleties and nuances. When designing a lighting scheme, it is necessary to take into account not only the size and architectural features of the room, but also certain properties of wood (for example, the high tendency of this material to absorb light).

If lighting fixtures are placed unevenly or incorrectly, instead of a beautiful and cozy interior, you can end up with a very depressing environment with a medieval atmosphere.

Requirements for lighting organization

Since any wood is a flammable material, when organizing a lighting system it is necessary to take into account a whole range of important nuances.

To avoid accidental ignition and fire, when electrifying wooden buildings, you must strictly adhere to the following rules:

When organizing wiring, use only high-quality copper wires and cables with a reliable sheath made of non-flammable materials.
For additional protection of wires, use special metal boxes and armored hoses made from fireproof materials.
To protect cables and electrical appliances from sudden surges in voltage, it is necessary to install a surge protection device.

We should also not forget that the junctions of protective pipes and boxes must be carefully sealed.

Electrical wiring of a wooden house

Depending on the installation method, wiring in wooden buildings can be internal or external. According to established standards, the second option is the most preferable, since open wiring is considered more fireproof and practical.

As a rule, the external or open installation method involves fixing electrical cables with special electrical mounting brackets directly to the surface of the walls or ceiling.

Another variation of open wiring is placing cables in flexible corrugated pipes or in specialized electrical boxes.

Provided that the insulation is correctly selected, this method of cable routing has many advantages. The most important of them is the ability to repair or completely replace a faulty wire in the shortest possible time and with minimal financial losses.

We advise you to look at the most detailed article on the RuNet about how to make electrical wiring.

Color solutions

Even the color of the shades on a ceiling chandelier gives different visual effects that change the space of the room. Bright shade colors absorb light and have low light transmission, so try to avoid using them in rooms with low ceilings. To visually increase the height, it is recommended to choose lampshades in light matte shades. Along with good light transmittance, the products do not leave shadows, providing illumination to all corners of the room.

Dark colors visually narrow the upper part of the room, drawing attention to themselves. Pastel colors will expand the space and literally dissolve in it. If the room is decorated in a minimalist or high-tech style, then you can use modern spotlights or LED panels, the installation of which is possible for suspended and suspended ceilings.

Design

When choosing the appearance of ceiling chandeliers for rooms with low ceilings, you need to focus on the interior of the rooms. Experts recommend buying lamps made in the Japanese style, consisting of many standard shades with strict lines. This option will smooth out any imperfections in the room, including low ceiling heights.

A good option for a room with low ceilings would be to install built-in spotlights (spots). Structurally, they consist of metal tubes, at the ends of which there are halogen light bulbs. Since the tubes are movable, you can always set the desired direction of the light flux. Tubes can be in the shape of an arc, a semicircle or straight; they can have decorative inserts or be produced without them.

In small rooms you can use chandeliers in the form of a “web”, consisting of numerous small parts. Flat shades allow you to direct the light upward, increasing the luminous flux.

Popular styles

Recently, people have been trying to avoid using classic chandeliers, which may not be suitable for rooms with low ceilings. Such lamps include devices with a hanging structure and a large number of decorative elements, so their height can exceed 500 mm.

If the products are installed, discomfort may occur when moving around the room, which will also visually shrink. If the room has a classic interior, then spider chandeliers or lamps with carob-type shades are suitable.

High-tech lighting fixtures are suitable for rooms with low ceilings due to their strict form, straight lines and versatility. Lamps in the Art Nouveau style are decorated with various artistic techniques, they combine beauty and grace. Use them if you want to create an original and unusual atmosphere in the room.

Some chandeliers are made in the style of floristry. They are suitable for lovers of nature and a creative approach. Soft lines imitating flowers or plants with the presence of appropriate tones.

A number of manufacturers make chandeliers that combine several different styles. This approach is called fusion. Lamps made in this style are characterized by non-standard, metaphorical or even aggressive shapes. This may be a device that resembles a sea urchin in appearance.

For rooms decorated in eco-style, hand-made ceiling lamps are suitable. These can be products made of wood, thread, paper, which draw attention to themselves, thereby smoothing out the disadvantage of the room associated with a small space.

How to choose

A different approach is required when choosing lighting for individual rooms. In the living room it should be bright, in the bedroom it should be muted, allowing you to relax and unwind. Unfortunately, low ceiling heights lead to certain difficulties and make it impossible to install luxurious and lush chandeliers. General recommendations for choosing were described above, and then you can read tips on buying ceiling lamps for different rooms.

A device consisting of several lampshades is suitable for the hall, but their number should be no more than five pieces. Lampshades of unusual shape will attract the attention of guests and increase the comfort of staying in the room. Living rooms with a classic interior can be illuminated with a spider chandelier or a carob-type product. To visually increase the ceiling, it is recommended to install devices above the table. Choose cool shades without massive decorative elements. Ideally, you need to complement the lighting with mirrored ceilings, which reflect the light from the chandelier and make the room much more spacious. Pay attention to the choice of light bulbs, which should provide the brightest possible lighting, making the room even more cozy.
All of the above would be inappropriate for a bedroom where people rest and relax. Avoid saturated, bright light flow, focusing on simpler shapes.

Despite certain difficulties that arise when choosing lighting fixtures for rooms with low ceilings, following these recommendations you can independently choose the most suitable chandelier. A properly selected lamp will create the desired visual effects associated with increasing ceiling heights, expanding space and illuminating dark areas of the room.

Play of light

If you choose the right lighting fixtures and arrange them correctly, the room will certainly seem larger. To do this, it is necessary to direct the light from the lighting devices directly to the plane of the ceiling and due to this, it will seem further away than it actually is. A good solution would be to add several upward-facing sconces or floor lamps to the interior.

Particular attention should be paid to the choice of ceiling lamps. No bulky models that will “steal” an already small space. The best choice would be flat modifications located as close as possible to the floor plane.