Content:
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Natural light: what is it
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How to equip natural light in a living room
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Pros and cons of natural light
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Artificial lighting: main types
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Combined lighting: what is it
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Decorative light and its use in the interior
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Lighting standards
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Calculation of natural light
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How artificial lighting is calculated
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A combination of natural and artificial lighting in a modern house
Natural light: what is it
The sun’s rays penetrating through the windows into the living room are natural light (EO). A similar light is considered more acceptable for human perception than light flows from electric lamps. Unfortunately, the sun does not always shine, but when designing a building, designers always take this nuance and try to let in natural light into the house as much as possible.
Conditionally, the EO system is divided into three types:
The attic floor is an ideal place for organizing the upper natural light
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upper one, in which the rays of the sun penetrate the housing through the opening in the roof, but such options are acceptable for one -story private possessions or upper floors of apartment buildings
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lateral – the most common type in which the sun shines into window openings
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Combined, implies the penetration of sunlight from above and from the sides of the building, it is possible to equip in individual construction or in modern high -rise buildings.
We advise you to read: independent layout of lighting in the apartment: Basic rules
The intensity of natural light changes during the day, therefore the most optimal option is the lateral type of lighting with the location of windows on the opposite sides of the room.
In the summer, the level of lighting in such a building is the highest
Mixed natural light in the room
Tip: When arranging panoramic windows or expanded lateral lighting, you need to take into account the view from the window, tall houses and trees will obscure natural light, and the dull landscape will make you uncomfortable
How to equip natural light in a living room
The quality and intensity of lighting affect the psyche of the inhabitants of the housing, and the number and direction of rays, color rendering and other factors are important. Experts follow certain rules that apply in the development of architectural projects:
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It is not recommended to place windows on a width of more than 1.5 m
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Residential premises are designed taking into account the maximum penetration of sunlight at least 2.5 hours per day
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Comfortable dimensions of windows are up to 1/5 of the area of the room
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With high ceilings, the windows are designed at the appropriate height from the floor.
Natural lateral lighting enhances snow -white decoration and the absence of curtains
In multi -room apartments and houses, at least 60% of residential premises should receive a sufficient amount of natural light, taking into account the intensity of the use of premises. The more often people are in the room, the more light should enter there.
Pros and cons of natural light
The undoubted advantages of natural light include:
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The sun’s rays do not flicker, and do not have a load on vision
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A competent layout of natural light sources can save up to 60% of electricity costs
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Natural light does not distort color rendering.
See also: Lamps in the interior: Interesting design solutions
The disadvantages of sunlight include their frequency, which requires mandatory arrangement of artificial light sources.
In the evening, sunlight is replaced with additional light sources, creating a cozy atmosphere in the bedroom
Artificial lighting: basic types
About one and a half years ago, artificial lights were given to the dwelling, but with the advent of the electric lamp, the lighting scenario in apartments and houses became much richer. And if natural light is designed at the stage of building a building, then artificial sources can be planned at the interior design stage. Experts distinguish between three types of artificial lighting:
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General: devices are placed on the ceiling in the center or around the perimeter, they evenly distribute light throughout the room
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Local is used for working areas (in the kitchen, in the office) or in areas where additional lighting is required, at the reading chair, in the bedside zone, etc.
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Decorative light is used to focus attention on a specific interior object.
An example of using three types of artificial lighting in the kitchen
Combined lighting: what is it
In almost all residential premises, natural and artificial lighting is combined, which makes it possible to concentrate light flows throughout the territory. A similar scenario is called combined lighting, which cannot be dispensed with in long high -rise buildings and one -story buildings, the windows of which overlook the north side.
Combined lighting in the living room
Decorative light and its use in the interior
Decorative light is used as an addition to the main sources, including for creating accents on specific interior elements, to decorate one of the walls, which allows you to visually change its dimensions or achieve another optical effect.
Among the most popular lighting devices for decorative lighting:
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The LED tape allows you to outline the contours of structures and objects using light, the device is adjustable according to the brightness of the luminous flux and the luminous shade
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LED backlight is attached directly to the subject, for example, a mirror or picture, radiates soft light, highlighting the decor or accessories in the interior
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Neon light gives special tubes filled with gas – neon, looks great against the background of a dark surface
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The garland emits plain or multicolor light. This design of many bulbs is appropriate not only for creating a festive illumination, but also as an interior decor
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Retro-lamps are designer lighting devices “under the old days”, which are hung on walls or ceiling, both in a single quantity and in the form of a suspended “bouquet”.
Decorative wall backlight with lamps-rays
Color lighting creates an individual mood, but does not replace full lighting
Stylized retro lamp as an additional light source
Lighting standards
Electricity and competent compilation of the lighting scheme are impossible without special knowledge and skills, because this part of construction or repair is trusted to professionals. But the ordinary layman will not be superfluous to get acquainted with key factors: the influence of the climate, the height of the ceilings, the dimensions of the premises and other data when calculating and planning natural and artificial lighting.
Calculation of natural light
Basic legislative document in the calculation-SNiP 23-05-95. In calculations, various profile terms are used. For example, KEO is a natural light coefficient meaning light flows that concentrate in a given plane at a certain point inside the room in relation to the horizontal plane of illumination with the most open firmament.
Formula for calculating the natural light coefficient
This is interesting: Lighting design trends: Modern lighting schemes in the interior
Experts take into account the size of the window opening, such as glazing, light transmission of sunlight, as well as climatic conditions. It is better to entrust the calculations to professionals, since even knowledge of the formula will not allow it to apply it in practice without knowledge of specialization. The exact result allows you to get a special device – a luxury.
How artificial lighting is calculated
In order to accurately calculate the lighting parameters for a particular room, you need to know its area: the amount of m. KV is multiplied by the lighting rate. For different rooms, there are their own lighting norms in suxes (LC):
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kitchen, living room – 150 lcs
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Children’s – 200 lcs
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Office, library – 300 lcs
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The hallway, bathroom – 50 lcs
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dressing room – 75 lcs
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The staircase is 20 lux.
It is noteworthy that the pool and sauna requires intensive lighting of 100 lux, as well as in the gym – 150 lux.
The luminous flux is measured in lumenes and when calculating its intensity is taken into account the norms of illumination, the area of the room and the coefficient of the ceiling height.
Important: when developing an artificial lighting plan, it is necessary to take into account the power of the lamps.
Lamp power – an important aspect in lighting calculations
The organization of lighting in the living room is not a simple task, and requires a professional approach. Incorrect lighting in the house deprives its comfort and creates a complicated atmosphere for mental perception.