Warm and cold light - white in the bedroom, bright, soft, most pleasing to the eye, which is better

The illumination of residential premises is regulated by the norms of SNiP, SanPiN and GOST RF. For a comfortable stay in a house or apartment, you need to choose the right light sources of a suitable color temperature: with warm, neutral or cold light.

Before starting a lighting design, find out if cold spectrum lighting is allowed in residential premises for a certain purpose, and what requirements for light exist. Deviation from the recommended standards is fraught with negative consequences: too bright light irritates and causes stress, too dim - negatively affects vision, depresses the psyche.

What is color temperature

This is a value indicating the wavelength emitted by a light source. It reflects the impression of the visual perception of light. Human vision is able to distinguish the color temperature of the glow in the range of 3000-6500 Kelvin. Recommended shades for residential lighting are determined by SanPiN 2.4.2.2821-10.

All sources of light have a specific color temperature ranging from 800 K to 20,000 K that matches their hues. The lower the shade of the glow, the warmer the light. Designers recommend using lamps of different temperatures in rooms for a specific purpose: living rooms, kitchens, offices, etc. They can be combined within the same space to change the color perception of objects. interior. But a professional should choose such a combination of lamps.

Which light is better

Lighting affects the psychological state of a person in different ways. White cold light promotes energy activation, concentration of attention, adjusts to the working mood; warm - soothes and relaxes.

Information about the light temperature of the lamps is indicated on the package. It is measured in kelvins (K). The most comfortable for the eyes are lamps with a color temperature of 2700-3200 K. This is how normal incandescent bulbs work. They are most often used in apartments and private houses. The most versatile in terms of the use of lamps of neutral colors - 4000-4500 K.

All light sources according to European standards are divided into three groups:

It is difficult to say unequivocally which light is better. The choice depends on the type of premises (residential, non-residential), the purpose, the processes taking place in it. In general, warm-colored lighting is more suitable for residential buildings.

Which light - 4000K or 2700K - to choose, for example, for an office? In this case, neutral at 4000 K is best. Warm light of 2700 K is optimal for a kitchen or bedroom. The universal light temperature is 3000 K. It is suitable for all types of living spaces, including children's rooms.

Rules for the use and organization of lighting

Illumination is measured in lux. 1 lux corresponds to the illumination of one square meter of area with a light flux of 1 lumen. There are lighting standards that are determined by SNIP 23-05-95 "Natural and artificial lighting". They determine the average indicators for each type of room, for example, 150 Lx for the living room, 50 Lx for the hallway, etc.

In accordance with SP 52.133330.2011, there are lighting standards:

• general and local: 2400-6800 K;
• objects of "warm" colors: less than 3500 K;
• objects of "cold" colors, green spaces: 4000 K and above.

It is also important to choose the right lighting color. You need to know about the features of the influence of color on the well-being and mood of a person. For example, blue light in the bedroom is not recommended. It suppresses the production of melatonin and provokes insomnia.

As a rule, at the design stage of room lighting, the number of future fixtures is calculated. To calculate the optimal illumination of a certain type of room, use the formula:

N=E*S*H/F,

where N is the number of fixtures required for one room; E - the norm of illumination; S is the area; H - ceiling height coefficient (height 270 cm is taken as a unit); F is the brightness of one lamp (in lumens).

To make the lighting comfortable, it is recommended, in addition to the central lamp, to provide several spotlights. The radiation power of each of them will be lower, and the illumination effect will be more uniform.

When organizing lighting, you need to consider:

• lamp brightness;
• dispersion angle, which determines how light propagates from the luminaire to the illuminated surfaces. The larger the angle, the lower the radiation density, and the larger the surface coverage area. According to GOST 17677-82, luminaires are marked with letter codes or digital designation of light distribution in degrees:
  • K / 30°;
  • H / 60°
  • C / 90°;
  • D / 120°;
  • L / 140°;
  • W / 160°;
  • M / 180°.
• wall and floor color:
  • light - better reflects light and improves illumination;
  • dark - absorbs light;
• number of windows;
• side of the building (north, south);
• ceiling height;
• the degree of insolation of the house (lighting by direct sunlight);
• the age of the people living in the house (the older the person, the more intense the lighting of the space he needs).

Lighting design combines general and local lighting, accentuated and diffused, taking into account natural light. In practice, for local illumination of functional areas, additional lamps are often installed: LED strips, sconces, floor lamps. This is acceptable within 15-20% deviation from the norm. A significant excess leads to the fact that the brightest light damages the sensitive cells of the retina and impairs vision.

Recommendations for different rooms

Requirements for the illumination of residential buildings and apartments are regulated by SP 52.13330.2011. Each room has its own purpose, while people spend a different amount of time in them. But in general, in any of them there are three types of lighting: general, working, accent.

At the stage of development of a lighting project, the required number of lamps is calculated, electrical outlets and the location of switches are considered. When buying lamps, pay attention not to their power, but to the actual amount of light emitted (indicated in lumens).

Kitchen

The minimum recommended kitchen illumination is 150 lx. It is advisable to choose warm light in the kitchen or neutral white in the range of 2700-3300 K. stick following recommendations organizing kitchen lighting.

1. As a ceiling light, use recessed or busbar spotlights, overhead or pendant lamps, LED backlighting.
2. Additional lighting is needed in work areas. This is solved by spotlights above the countertops, stove, sink. A good solution is additional lighting along the top line of cabinets.
3. If desired, you can organize the internal illumination of those cabinets in which you often need to look for something.
4. Hanging lamps above the table, island or bar are suitable for the kitchen. They serve as a source of directional lighting and a design element.

Consider the possibility of turning on the kitchen lighting not all at once, but in parts. This is convenient and saves energy.

Bathroom

The minimum recommended bathroom illumination is 50 lx. Choose lamps close to daylight - up to 5500 K. With dark tiles, it is better to increase the brightness, in the presence of mirror surfaces - you can slightly reduce it.

If the dimensions of the bathroom are small, one ceiling lamp or several built-in spotlights are enough. If the bath is spacious, they need to be combined with additional ones.

Keep these three rules in mind:

1. Orienting general light, uniformly flooding everything bathroom space, necessary for daily use of the room; it should account for 80-90% of the total flow.
2. Be sure to provide a functional mirror lighting - for applying makeup, shaving.
3. Decorative light sources will help create an atmosphere of relaxation.

Hallway

The minimum recommended hallway illumination is 50 lx. Even during the day, there is minimal natural light here, so the hall is illuminated by several types of lighting equipment in warm and neutral shades.

1. As a source of general lighting, a chandelier, a spot with several light bulbs, a spot light over the entire surface of the ceiling are used.
2. Local illumination in the form of wall lamps, ceiling lamps with diffused light or spotlights is needed to increase the functionality of the space: make it more comfortable to use shelves, cabinets, mirror.
3. Decorative light is complemented by voluminous boxes, stained-glass windows, embossed or openwork decorative elements.

The more spacious the hall, the more voluminous lamps you can choose. In a long corridor, point light with an even step looks best. If the hallway is small, spots of different directions are well suited.

Bedroom

The minimum recommended bedroom illumination is 150 Lx. This room does not require too bright lighting and open light sources. Suitable light temperature - up to 3000 K. Most designers believe that white light in the bedroom is not conducive to relaxation, so warm colors are better suited for general lighting.

1. In the bedroom, you can use chandeliers with upward light or ceiling lights.
2. To illuminate the bedside space, wall sconces or pendant lamps are mounted, table lamps are installed on bedside tables.
3. You can install decorative lighting on the walls or the podium of the bed.
4. If there is a workplace (table), it must be equipped with an additional lamp. The recommended surface illumination is 300-500 Lx. For these purposes, you can choose a lamp with white light.

Living room

The minimum recommended illumination of the living room is 150 Lx. The allowable color temperature range is 3000-6500K. The choice of yellow or white light in the hall depends on the taste of the owners and the design of the room. The living room is designed for relaxation and active pastime, so it is worthwhile to provide different sources of lighting in terms of brightness, temperature, level of placement, directionality.

1. For central lighting, a large ceiling lamp on the control panel is perfect. With it, you can adjust the brightness, light temperature, select lighting modes. A neutral white light setting is suitable for receiving guests.
2. To relax in the evenings, you will need additional lighting in the form of sconces and floor lamps with warm light.
3. Arrange the lighting of the TV area so that the sources are not directed at the screen, do not glare.

Children's room

The minimum recommended illumination for a nursery is 200 Lx. Suitable color temperatures are in the range of 2700-3300K. In this room, children play, study and relax. Each direction has its own lighting mode. LED lamps with even light, the safest for children's eyesight, are preferred.

1. The ceiling is provided with a lamp with neutral white radiation for general lighting during games and other activities.
2. An additional light source for study is organized in the desktop area.
3. Near the bed - at the head, on the bedside table or on the wall - you need a lamp with warm white light for reading and relaxing before bed.
4. A night light is used in the bedrooms of babies when it is necessary to relieve fear of the dark.

Cabinet

The minimum recommended illumination for a home office is 300 lx. In terms of functionality, this room is close to the office. It is designed for work, so the best light is close to natural, which does not tire the eyes.

1. The general overhead lighting of a uniform direction is created by modular, linear ceiling lamps.
2. The work surface should be flooded with diffused light from a table or linear lamp that does not create reflections or sharp shadows.
3. To highlight certain objects (shelves, cards, awards) and solve design problems, cabinets are equipped with low-power track lights.

Universal solution for the office - high power linear lighting equipment with diffused light and low glare in combination with individual light accents above the working zones.

Conclusion

To illuminate a residential building or apartment, it is better to choose lamps with warm and neutral light. They create a feeling of comfort, improve well-being. For work areas, luminaires with directional neutral light are suitable.

It is convenient to adjust the brightness of the lighting using a dimmer - a special switch with a rheostat that increases or decreases the current supply. It can be installed both at the repair stage and during the operation of lighting equipment. The lamps on the control panels are also practical, allowing you to change the light temperature and operating modes.