Independent lighting planning in an apartment: basic rules

Content:

• Placement of light sources

• Light absorption coefficient

• Technical characteristics of light bulbs

• • Color temperature of light

  • Lumens, Watts and Luxes

  • Color rendering index

  • Energy efficiency

• Illumination standards

• Illumination calculation

• • Visual assessment

  • Using an online calculator

The design of the entire design directly depends on correctly installed lighting in the apartment. The wrong choice of light sources can ruin the visual perception of even the most expensive renovation. Let’s consider the lighting layout in the apartment step by step

Placement of light sources

Initially, you need to draw the planned placement of furniture in the room. For each room you will need to delimit lighting zones:

• General – designed for uniform distribution of light flux in the room;

• Working – allows you to provide high-quality lighting to a specific area where various work is often carried out. These may include doing homework, cooking, reading books, and so on;

• Decorative – used for harmonious and stylish design of space. In this way, various interior details are highlighted. For example, steps, cornices and so on.

Don’t just install a chandelier in the center of the room. Let’s consider this solution using the example of a hall. This space allows you to spend time in different ways. Family members can watch TV, read books, clean, and play board games.

Reading lamp

All of the above actions require varying degrees of illumination. In this case, a light source exclusively in the center of the ceiling will be able to illuminate only the central zone. All corners will be in shadow. This is accompanied by eye strain.

The night light can be placed on the bedside table

You can install a small reading lamp near the chair

Small table lights can be turned on before bed for added relaxation

Having an approximate layout of furniture placement will allow you to immediately distribute additional lamps. Reading books is done in a chair. Accordingly, it will be necessary to provide a floor lamp next to it.

You can choose designer furniture for your room at One&Home. In the assortment of the online store you will find beds, sofas, armchairs and other decorative elements. Be sure to visit the One&Home showroom in Moscow to evaluate the quality of the furniture before purchasing.

It is more convenient to play board games at the coffee table. You will need to direct an accented light flux to it. In this case, it is necessary to take into account the lifestyle of a particular person. The power and design of the lamps are selected individually, taking into account the personal wishes of each family member.

You can place an additional light source near the sofa

Light absorption coefficient

When choosing light sources, it is necessary to take into account the interior of the room. Depending on the color scheme used, some of the light may be absorbed. Accordingly, you will need to provide additional lamps or use more powerful lamps.

Before choosing light sources, you need to study the characteristics of light bulbs

Let’s look at some interior items in a specific color that absorb light:

• blue walls;

• red sofa;

• gray floor covering.

Technical characteristics of light bulbs

Despite the abundant range of light bulbs (incandescent, LED, fluorescent), each of them has certain technical characteristics. They are indicated by the manufacturer on the product packaging. Let’s look at the main characteristics of light bulbs.

Light bulbs have different light temperatures

Color temperature of light

The type of illumination directly depends on the operating temperature of the light bulb. It is prescribed by the manufacturer in Kelvin. The most comfortable temperature for visual perception is in the range from 2600 to 3600 Kelvin. This is accompanied by the output of a warm white light flux. Such light sources are used to create general lighting.

The temperature range from 3600 to 5500 K is accompanied by the output of a neutral white light flux. Such light bulbs are best used to organize a work area. Lamps with a temperature of more than 6000 Kelvin diffuse a cold stream of light. They are usually used to illuminate office spaces.

Blue backlit lamp

Lumens, Watts and Luxes

Let’s take a closer look at these three indicators:

• Lumens (Lm) – determine the strength of the luminous flux that is created by the light bulb. Accordingly, the higher the value, the brighter the light;

• Lux (Lx) is a parameter that indicates the degree of surface illumination;

• Watts (W) is a physical quantity that shows how much power a light source consumes in one hour of continuous operation.

The most common mistake when choosing a light source is determining the luminous flux by the power of the light bulb. It is necessary to clearly remember that the brightness of a light bulb is characterized by Lumens.

Original chandelier with many lamps

Color rendering index

This characteristic is responsible for the preservation of the color shades of the illuminated object. On the packaging of the light bulb, the color rendering index is indicated by the symbol Ra or Cl. In this case, the parameter is expressed in a numerical equivalent. The higher the value, the more accurately the natural colors of the illuminated object are preserved.

It is recommended to use light bulbs with a color rendering index of at least 70; the best option is 90. Otherwise, even the most luxurious piece of furniture will look faded.

As an example of the influence of color rendering index on objects, remember what cars parked near your house look like at night. They do not look spectacular, regardless of the type of coating. This is due to the low color rendering index of street lamps.

With a low color rendering index, objects will appear faded

Energy efficiency

The presented parameter has a direct impact on electrical energy costs. In total, there are 7 energy efficiency classes – from A to G. In this case, the most efficient light sources are class A. Next in alphabetical order there is a decrease in the efficiency indicator.

Each modification of the light bulb corresponds to a specific energy efficiency class:

• LED, fluorescent energy saving – A, B;

• halogen – C, D;

• incandescent – ​​E, F, G.

The most affordable is the incandescent light bulb, but its service life is limited to 1000 hours. For an LED lamp you will need to pay three times more, but the product’s lifespan will be 50 times longer.

When choosing lamps, you need to take into account the energy efficiency indicator

Illumination standards

When independently designing lighting in an apartment, it is necessary to take into account the lighting standards in accordance with building regulations. You will need to study the section called “Natural and artificial lighting” (SNiP 23-05-95). This will be required for further mathematical calculations.

You need to install an additional light source on the desktop

Illumination indicators are expressed in Lux:

• 20 – landings;

• 50 – corridors in apartments, restroom;

• 60 – hallway, attic and basement space, utility room;

• 120 – bedroom;

• 150 – hall, kitchen space, living rooms;

• 200 – children’s room;

• 250 – bathroom, work rooms;

• 300 – pantry.

Spotlights have a decorative function

Additional light sources can be installed above the dining area

Illumination calculation

If you independently calculate the illumination index, you will be able to obtain an approximate value. This is due to the fact that this parameter is influenced by many factors. It is necessary to take into account the height of the ceiling, the general shape of the room, interior details, and so on.

In chandelier stores you can use the help of consultants who will check the correctness of your calculations. To do this, be sure to take with you a drawn plan of the room with interior details.

Let’s look at the main ways to independently calculate illumination.

Visual assessment

For standard-sized living spaces, there is a very simple way to determine the amount of light required. If the ceiling height is 2.7 meters, then you will need to use one 25-watt incandescent light bulb per square meter. As a result, it will be possible to achieve an even distribution of light flux that will not hit the eyes and will not force you to squint while reading.

Experts use a more complex method for calculating illumination. To illuminate 1 square meter, an indicator of 400-500 Lumens is taken. Accordingly, in the future it is necessary to measure the total area of ​​the room.

Bathroom lighting

Lighting in the kitchen

Spotlights can be installed above the kitchen table

For example, let’s take a value of 10 square meters. The indicated values ​​are multiplied, the result is 5000 lm. Then you need to decide on the type of light bulb to purchase. On its packaging you need to look at the value of the luminous flux, say 1000 Lm.

Now all that remains is to calculate the required number of lighting points in the room. For this you will need 5000/1000. As a result, you need to make 5 lighting points. To be on the safe side, it is better to provide an additional floor lamp or sconce.

Colored lamps

Using an online calculator

Using various remote services, you can more accurately calculate the illumination indicator of a living space. In this case, you will need to use the values ​​​​from the illumination standards according to SNiP.

To carry out the calculation, you will need to enter the following data into the fields of the online calculator:

• Length and width of the illuminated room;

• The exact ceiling height. This indicator is very important, since even a couple of centimeters will affect the final lack of lighting;

• Reflection coefficient – in this case, everything depends on the chosen color scheme when decorating the room. Let’s look at two examples. In the first case, the room has a white ceiling with light wall trim and slightly dull flooring. In this case, it is recommended to enter the values ​​80, 80 and 30. The second option is to design a living space in a dark color scheme. Here it is better to write down the values ​​30, 30 and 10;

• Safety factor – used to eliminate errors that are caused by incorrect data entry or the lack of large windows. If there are small windows, little natural light enters the room. If in doubt, enter the value 1.4 in this paragraph;

• Light levels – data taken from current standards for residential lighting;

• The modification of light sources is selected.

As a result of the calculation, the online calculator will give the result in the number of lamps that need to be installed to properly illuminate the room.

Decorative light source