What kind of fixtures are better for a stretch ceiling?

Stretch ceilings - the most popular way of finishing the ceiling surface. Such a demand they received due to their budget, durability, strength and a huge range of different designs and designs. To supplement, diversify and emphasize the beauty of this design of the ceiling surface can only be properly selected lighting. To date, the range of lighting equipment is so diverse and large that it can "knock down" even the most experienced user. Therefore, in order not to get lost when choosing the best luminaires for a stretch ceiling, we offer you a number of tips and recommendations that will help you create, supplement and diversify the overall interior of the room. So which lights are better for a stretch ceiling? About everything in order.

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General recommendations for the choice of luminaires for tension ceilings

Depending on the design of the room, various types of lighting fixtures can be used:

• For local illumination of functional areas of the room, it is recommended to use built-in spotlights.
• As for the basic lighting, you can choose your traditional hanging chandelier.
• Also very popular, when lighting is used, the LED backlighting of niches. This technology is very original, as it creates unobtrusive background light.

When choosing luminaires, you should always remember that the design of stretch ceilings is a textile fabric or PVC film, which are fixed on an aluminum or plastic profile installed around the perimeter of the room. These canvases are able to change their structure due to the influence of high temperatures. From this it follows that the lamp should not heat the ceiling panel.

Important! Critical level of heating the stretch ceiling is 50-55 degrees.

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Optimal light solutions in the design of the stretch ceiling

There are several methods by which you can achieve minimum heat transfer:

• Use lamps that produce a low amount of heat energy. These include halogen, fluorescent and LED.

Important! Always pay attention to power. Halogen lamps should have a maximum power of 30-40 watts, and for fluorescent lamps - not more than 50 watts.

• Heating elements are removed to a distance that allows you not to heat the canvas, while completely dissipating the light.
• Thermal protection rings are installed.
• The quantity you need can be calculated based on the room parameters. Approximately, 1 square meter is installed on 2 square meters.
• Use combination lighting. For example, a chandelier will be located in the center, and a dot or LED illumination should be placed around the perimeter.
• To avoid burnout of PVC film, do not install near the luminaire.
• To improve the distribution of suspended ceiling lighting with a glossy surface, use fixtures with directional lamps up to the ceiling surface. This is necessary so that the gloss can reflect the light with a double force, while gently dissipating it throughout the room.
• For matte surfaces, it is best to choose lamps with downwardly directed lamps. This is due to the fact that the matte cloth absorbs light, and it will seem that it is not enough.

Important! For stretch ceilings, it is not recommended to use chandeliers having close to the structure, incandescent lamps. Also it is contraindicated to install heavy equipment and chandeliers with elements sticking up. This is due to the fact that they simply tear the panel.

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Types of luminaires for suspended ceilings:

Suspended chandeliers. They can be used without any restrictions. This is due to the fact that they are located at a safe distance from the canvas.

Classic chandelier models. Allow the use of various designs with LED lamps. When using other types of bulbs, you need to provide a safe distance of plafonds, at least 20 centimeters.

Ceiling models. They can be used, provided that they will be purchased fluorescent or LED lamps, which will not affect the tension web.

Spot lights. They can be installed in any shape and size. The only condition is the use of only halogen lamps with a power of 30 W or luminescent( without restrictions).

Spots. These are ceiling lighting fixtures, thanks to which it is possible to divide the room into functional areas. They are mounted exclusively under the ceiling cloth. When installing spot-construction, you can use different light bulbs in power and light.

LED strip. This is a flexible strip with the presence of a large number of small LED bulbs. It is placed both inside the structure and along its perimeter, due to which both basic and decorative glow is created.

Now you have a better idea of ​​what kind of fixtures are better for a stretch ceiling. Go ahead.

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Types of fixing the

fixtures The preparation of the place where the chandelier is to be attached depends directly on the design features of the chosen model before installing the stretch ceiling:

• Attachment of the lighting fixture to the hook. This is the oldest and most reliable method. The bottom line is that the luminaire is suspended on a metal hook or anchor that is built into the slab of the house.

Important! You need to pick up the hook of the correct length. It must be above the level of the film.

• Use the mounting plate. This kind of fastening often comes complete with a lighting device. If you do not have one, you can make the lath yourself. To do this, you need to make a wooden base. Its height should be equal to the level of the PVC film. This bar is fixed using dowels and screws to the main ceiling.
• Fastening with a cross plate. It is used for mounting bulky and large chandeliers. It is made from a piece of plywood and tin legs. The legs are fixed to the ceiling, and their flexibility allows you to adjust the height of the plate.

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Which light bulbs for stretch ceilings are better to choose?

Specialists recommend 4 types of light bulbs, which are most suitable for installation on a suspended ceiling. These include halogen, energy-saving, incandescent and LED.We shall understand in nuances, what bulbs for stretch ceilings it is better to choose.

Halogen

Or as they say in the people "halogen".They can be of different shapes and sizes. These bulbs emit a bright and even light, while consuming five times less energy than incandescent lamps. They are luminaires of a directional type, due to which they create a comfortable glow under the angle necessary for you and create various light compositions.

Important! Pay attention to the fact that when installing halogen bulbs, the distance between the draft ceiling and the canvas was not less than 7 centimeters.

Energy-saving light bulbs

The most ideal option if you want to choose the best light bulbs for stretch ceilings. This is due to the fact that they do not produce heat under the glow, in turn, the ceiling fabric does not heat up. In addition, energy-saving light bulbs consume very little power.

Important! The disadvantages of such models include:

• Their sensitivity to humidity;
• Slow power set;
• A light flux that differs from other lamps.

Incandescent lamps

Of all the lamps of this type, it is best to use a minion for stretch ceilings. Such an incandescent lamp spreads light to 2-3 square meters of room.

Important! Do not use more than one light bulb in the room, as this can heat and damage the PVC film.

In order to achieve a comfortable brightness of the glow of the incandescent lamp, you need to choose a model of the chandelier, given the type of ceiling cover:

• For the glossy texture of the fabric, it is best to place the bulbs so that the light stream goes up.
• Mirror surface texture will reflect light and gently dissipate throughout the room.
• The matte surface "eats" light, so it's best to choose a chandelier with shades facing down.

Important! Do not use minions for spot lighting.

LED lamps for stretch ceilings

These are light bulbs based on LEDs. They are very economical and do not have much heating. On sale, you can easily find LED lamps for any type of cartridges. This makes it easy to choose a lamp that fits most in the interior.

Advantages of LED lamps:

• The service life of such a bulb exceeds the lifetime of the usual several times.
• The light turns out smooth. The absence of a flicker effect is beneficial for the eyes.
• Some models allow you to change the color of the glow. Thanks to these light bulbs you can adjust the light to your mood.
• LED lighting allows you to save budget, due to a small consumption of electrical energy.
• LEDs use undervoltage, which significantly increases the safety of such devices.

Important! The disadvantages can be attributed a high price, in relation to other models. Another disadvantage of diode lamps is the need to purchase and install additional blocks to switch the colors of the glow.

In order to know which LED lamps for stretch ceilings are better, you should consider the parameters that the qualitative model will correspond to:

• The round and oval shape of the lamp will be most appropriate, since the installation will have less chance of damaging the ceiling coating.
• Square light fixtures will be difficult to fasten on the cover so as to line up in a straight line.
• The ceiling part of the LED bulbs should not touch the base overlap.
• For uniform lighting, distribute one unit for every 2 meters.
• To avoid a defective product, choose the products of well-known manufacturers.

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Choosing good quality fixtures

Based on the above information, you should have already decided which lamps are best for a stretch ceiling in your case. Now let's go directly to their choice.

We choose the LED strip

The LED strip refers to the ergonomic type of lighting. This is a strip with electrical conductors on one side, and on the other - an adhesive surface. It can be used for both main room lighting and additional background lighting.

The brightness of such lighting depends solely on the number and size of LEDs placed on the strip:

• For ceiling design, it is best to use 30-60 LEDs per meter.
• The glow should be warm white. With a brighter light, it's better not to experiment, as it will "cut" the eyes.

Important! It is best to use LED strip for ceiling lighting with a matte surface.

We choose spot lights for stretch ceilings

Built-in lamps are also called spotlights. They consist of a single lamp and are used for both additional lighting and self-lighting.

Important! To evenly illuminate the room, it is very important to calculate the correct number of points.

The spotlights are divided into 2 groups.

• Outdoor. These are fixtures in which the light source is below the level of the ceiling cloth. They are exclusively decorative elements. In this regard, designers give them the most extraordinary and exquisite forms. The most important advantage of such luminaires is the minimal loss of height when using them.

Important! The visible part of the outdoor lamp has small dimensions, due to this they can be used even for low ceilings.

• Internal. These are lighting fixtures that are installed flush with the canvas, hiding most of the hull in the ceiling area. When choosing such spotlights it is necessary to take into account that the inter-ceiling space will be increased, accordingly - the height of the room will be less. If the kit contains a threaded base, the distance between the roughing and the new ceiling must be at least 9-11 cm. As for the height of the interstitial space with bayonet bases, it should be at least 6-7 cm.

Important! The use of such models of luminaires is most appropriate for multi-level structures, since they have enough space for the installation of these devices.

Also, depending on mobility, rotary and static models are divided. Their difference is that in the last version you can not regulate the flow of light. With regard to rotary models, thanks to their moving parts, you can direct the light rays to the place you need.

Important! In order to determine which spotlights are best to be selected on a stretch ceiling, the requirements to which they must comply must be considered:

• The operating temperature should be no more than 50-60 degrees, as with a higher ceiling surface it can be damaged.
• Always consider the power of a light bulb, since it should not be more than 35 watts.
• Buy lamps with a mirror part to reflect the light flux.
• Avoid sharp-edged models that could damage the ceiling.

If you decide to select spotlights for a stretch ceiling, the order of installation will be as follows:

• Before installing the ceiling, wires are laid and installation of fasteners is made.

Important! When using lamps with a voltage of 12 watts, you should provide a place for the step-down transformer.

• In places where spotlights will be installed, special suspensions on metal plates are fixed to the main ceiling. Due to this, you can adjust the height of the instruments, since the lower plane should be at the level of the ceiling.
• After the preparatory work, the ceiling is mounted.
• In places where the fixtures will be installed, a plastic ring is glued.
• When the glue dries, a film is cut inside with a clerical knife.
• Through the hole, pre-installed wires are removed and their connection to the luminaire begins.
• And at the very end, there is installation of the lamp itself.

Choosing a chandelier

If you choose a chandelier for stretch ceilings, this is easy to do if you take into account all the necessary characteristics.

Key factors to consider:

• Mounting method;
• Shape of plafonds;
• Number of horns and their directionality;
• Type of light source that fits this unit.

You should also take into account the texture of the ceiling, the type and power of the light bulb, and most importantly - the features of the room:

• For matte surface texture, the classic shape of the fixtures is perfect, for the glossy - the unordinary and intricate.
• To create a lot of bright glare, choose chandeliers with open LED lights, which are installed directly under the canvas. They do not heat up and will not cause any damage to the coating.
• If you decide to use halogen lamps, then the chandelier should be located only at a distance of at least 30 centimeters from the ceiling.

Important! Try to stop your choice on a chandelier, the plafonds of which are directed down.

Important in choosing a chandelier is the ceiling height:

• In rooms with a standard ceiling height( up to about 3 meters), it is best to use horizontal. Their diameter can be about 1 meter. Such chandeliers represent a multi-pedestrian structure, which is located on "branches" or has a different structure. Their feature is that the lamps are evenly distributed throughout the chandelier, which gives high-quality lighting.
• For premises with high ceilings( over 3 meters), the best option would be to use vertical models with a diameter of 30-50 centimeters and a height of 1 meter. Thanks to this design, they maximally illuminate the space.

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What is better?

What type of lamp is better to choose - these are purely individual solutions. You should start from your own preferences and the design of the stretch ceiling:

• Chandeliers are best used as the main lighting for rooms with a large area. For example, a living room or bedroom.
• With regard to spotlights, they are most suitable for installation in small rooms or for highlighting different zones. For example, the ceiling in the bathroom or dressing room.
• For those who still could not decide, there is a third option - combining. You can use a chandelier for basic lighting, and spotlights - as additional lighting.

Thanks to modern designers, the range of lighting devices for stretch ceilings is just off scale. To the great regret, many such "wealth" of choice are frightening. But if you follow the rules and recommendations above, you can buy high-quality lighting that will suit you not only in all technical parameters, but also perfectly fit into the overall design of the room, highlighting its beneficial accents.