The lighting design in an apartment with suspended ceilings changes the effect of all rooms. With the right stretch ceiling lighting concept, you will not only provide the perfect lighting, but also create an ambience no matter the situation. There are a wide variety of lighting systems for suspended ceilings. Before choosing lighting for a suspended ceiling, you should first think about what you want to achieve with the lighting in the room.
Do you want to light a certain area or different areas differently, do you want to light the room harmoniously or do you want no light sources on the ceiling and they are hidden?
Once you answer these questions, it's best to look through our list of different suspended ceiling lights. When choosing the design of luminaires on a suspended ceiling, several lighting systems are available. You have a choice between regular lights and chandeliers, spotlights, surface-mounted lights, LED panels and LED downlights.
What is a stretch ceiling with lighting?
Many people are familiar with film coatings, but in combination with different types of suspended ceiling lighting there will be more opportunities for creating exclusive interior design.
There are several types of suspended ceilings with different types of lighting:
- internal;
- external;
- along the perimeter;
- combined samples.
What to choose for the first renovation – a suspended ceiling with lighting in the kitchen, a “floating” structure or a “starry sky” for the bedroom? It all depends on the preferences of the apartment owners.
In any case, an inimitable design with lighting will speed up repairs if the apartment is flooded by neighbors from above. A waterproof membrane coating will hide all stains on the ceiling; wires and communications will be located in the gap between the membrane and the base.
Lamps
Lighting devices are classified according to different characteristics.
According to the mounting method, lamps are:
- hanging;
- invoices;
- built-in
Depending on the number of light sources, devices are divided into:
- point;
- cascading.
If it is possible to regulate the luminous flux, there are models:
- static;
- rotary.
According to the light source, there are:
- luminescent equipment;
- appliances with halogen bulbs;
- LED design of the tension system.
Varieties of suspended ceilings with unusual lighting
Those who have decided to modernize their home should not rush to order from the photo illustration of two-level suspended ceilings with lighting that they liked. There are always several options for the best color and design, with a printed pattern and the way the elastic membrane is illuminated.
The main options for lighting a stretch ceiling:
- multi-level structures with a diode strip along the contour, which is hidden behind a layer of plasterboard;
- “floating ceilings” with diffused light around the perimeter;
- with the “starry sky” effect (space);
- with a non-new cord, complemented by a color switching relay - something between neon advertising signs and a New Year's garland;
- membrane with a pattern and spot lighting;
- The simplest option for do-it-yourself installation is a diode strip along the upper perimeter of the room, hidden behind the ceiling cornice;
- combined models using photo printing and illuminated suspended ceiling lamps;
- PVC film with turned diodes.
A universal solution for residential and commercial premises - a tension membrane with thoughtful lighting. Such ceilings have many excellent properties, including quick repairs without the necessary preparation of the base.
Preparing the room for installation of a tension system
Whatever installation method you choose—either independently or with the assistance of specialists—preparing the room is your job.
The first thing you should do is to free the space of the room from furniture as much as possible. The installation of a stretch ceiling is carried out before gluing or painting the walls, so they also need to be prepared so that construction dust does not have to be removed from the new surface.
Advice! All electrics (under lamps or a chandelier) must be routed to the places where they will be connected. After installation, it will no longer be possible to hide the electrics.
Where can I order illuminated tension structures?
In every city there are construction companies offering many color options for PVC film with different light reflectance - matte, satin, glossy and almost mirror-like.
Each type of membrane panel has its own type of lighting, which is why preliminary consultation with a measuring specialist visiting the site is so important. It is recommended to contact a specialist who will tell you which stretch ceiling lighting option will be most suitable for your type of room.
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When choosing the appropriate option, it is important to consider how it will look and whether the new finish will fit organically into the specific housing conditions. If the walls of the house are made of fragile material, it is important to think about how to secure the profile for a stretch ceiling with lighting.
Any type of membrane coating can transform any room beyond recognition, especially with a thoughtful combination of design, lamps and LED colors.
Requirements
Since suspended ceilings are a fragile material, several rules must be followed when handling them. The main thing that the canvas is afraid of is temperature: at 55 degrees Celsius it begins to deform. Therefore, the lamp, if it is a spotlight, must have a side to prevent overheating. And there are requirements for the lamps themselves :
- halogen - up to 35 W;
- incandescent - up to 60 W.
Fluorescent and LED bulbs have no limitations, since they practically do not heat up. Therefore, it is advisable to use only them; in addition to safety, it is also more economical.
When using incandescent or halogen lamps, it is not advisable to choose lamps whose horns point upward. This will prevent the canvas from possible deformation due to heating and fading of brightness.
There is another difficulty with these light bulbs: you should choose the lamp itself more carefully, because the metal parts can also heat up and damage the canvas.
The conclusion is this: it’s better to use modern lamp options - and you won’t have to worry about anything.
Starry sky - suspended ceiling with spot lighting
Behind the film base of black or dark blue color there is a hidden illumination of the stretch ceiling - “starry sky”. Point diodes of different sizes leave an unforgettable impression on guests. The labor-intensive installation process is more than compensated by the extravagance of the interior.
The spectacular decor of a stretch ceiling with internal lighting is used in different rooms:
- children's room decorated with a space theme;
- bedroom in black and white;
- teenager's room;
- home cinema;
- billiard room;
- attic;
- wine cellar;
- large insulated loggia;
- ceiling of a studio apartment or one-room apartment.
Spectacular LED lighting of a stretch ceiling similar to the “starry sky” is used in different versions. Budget repair - PVC canvas with a printout of a picture of a starry night or a real photo of one of the galaxies (without point diodes), with external illumination by a diode strip around the perimeter. Another method is point diodes falling from the ceiling on the inside of the tension fabric.
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More expensive technology is fiber optic, with diffusing Swarovski crystals. The most plausible is the combined method of depicting cosmic depths on the ceiling. “Starry sky” can be complemented with a flat ceiling lamp on the same theme - comet, planet, Saturn or Moon.
During the day, without the diodes turned on, the “cosmic depth” will look like an ordinary plane with a dark-colored film - a photo of a backlit stretch ceiling.
What material options are there?
White matte stretch fabric can be made of either polyvinyl chloride film or heat-shrinkable fabric.
PVC ceilings are more popular due to their affordable price, ease of installation, subsequent maintenance, ideal surface smoothness and lack of reflection. In addition, in the case of flooding, such material is designed to withstand pressure of a whole hundredweight per 1 m2.
Fabric ceilings, despite their high price, are preferred when it comes to decorating large areas.
Because such canvases are produced up to 5 m wide. Their advantages also include the ability to withstand low temperatures, which is why they are recommended for installation in unheated rooms, dachas, and country houses.
Advantages and disadvantages of floating ceilings
One of the most interesting ways to decorate the upper plane is a floating ceiling with LED strip lighting around the perimeter. This technology requires special profiles, thanks to which the outlines around the perimeter appear blurred.
It seems that the tension film is not secured by anything and is floating in the air. Hence the name of this type of suspended ceilings with lighting in the bedroom or living room.
The main advantages of floating ceilings:
- soft, dim lighting - ideal for rooms where bright lighting is not required;
- it is easy to remove structural defects and uneven joints of floor slabs;
- relatively quick installation that does not require lengthy preparation of the ceiling; repairs will be completed in 1-2 days;
- fit organically into any modern design;
- looks extravagant, easy to impress guests;
- single-color membrane coatings (without a printed pattern) are safe for allergy sufferers and asthmatics; they do not grow mold or mildew;
- all wiring is hidden under the membrane;
- there is the possibility of integration into multi-level structures with illuminated suspended ceilings;
- do not require additions in the form of a chandelier or ceiling luminous module, although combination with a chandelier of an extravagant design is quite possible (it is advisable to connect the wires to a double switch).
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An attractive “floating” ceiling is suitable for a bedroom or children’s room, a teenager’s room, as well as a combined living room with a bar counter and a guest area. However, their design is not compatible with traditional style solutions - classic, historical and ethnic styles
If we talk about the cons, their list is insignificant. You will need to contact specialists for installation and repair, especially if the backlight is damaged - this is a costly repair.
Advantages
Any types of construction and finishing materials have their advantages and disadvantages. This design is no exception.
White matte stretch ceilings have many advantages, namely:
- resistant to moisture, which makes it possible to install even in the bathroom;
- elastic and resistant to large amounts of water. If you are flooded by your upstairs neighbors, the canvas will simply fill with water, thereby protecting your furniture and flooring from damage;
- easy to install, since the entire structure is installed within 4–6 hours;
- fireproof, because the material is protected from ignition;
- environmentally friendly, since no harmful or hazardous materials are used in the production of the canvas. This canvas can be used for any room, including a children's room;
- are presented in a wide range of shades, which allows you to turn any designer’s fantasies into reality.
Care and operation
A high-quality suspended ceiling with perimeter lighting or spot diodes is a guarantee of many years of flawless operation.
Each type has its own advantages and specifics of operation. It is best to order spectacular film ceilings from a specialized company in order to be entitled to post-warranty service.
It is worth recalling the recommendations of care specialists:
- you cannot mechanically impact or rub ceilings with a mirror coating with a rag - it’s easy to ruin the amalgam; mount it where there is minimal likelihood of staining them with something;
- When caring for a suspended ceiling with LED lighting, you should not use a vacuum cleaner, hard brush, abrasive cleaners or chemicals;
- if dust is noticeable, carefully sweep it away with a dry sponge;
- in the room where food is prepared, a powerful exhaust hood is needed - fumes quickly accumulate on suspended ceilings with lighting in the hall combined with a dining room or kitchen block;
- the membrane can be damaged mechanically, especially with low ceilings and high cabinet furniture - even cats can damage them, deprive pets of access to the elastic surface;
- if you want to renew the surface of an extravagant ceiling, disguise patches or defects, use aerosol cans;
- if the membrane is slightly sagging, it can be returned to its place using a heat gun, the backlight will not be affected.
Variable design – great opportunities for interior modernization. Spot and contour lighting of a stretch ceiling will look great in a retail space, in a minibar or cafe, recreation for visitors to an office center and a small hotel.
Lighting accents
Lighting fixtures allow you to focus attention on different interior items. For example, an LED strip will help highlight the geometry and contours of the living room. It is attached to special cornices or to vinyl sheeting using double-sided tape. The diodes glow brightly and are also economical.
When creating lighting for suspended ceilings, the lamps are either placed on top or recessed into the canvas. The glow of built-in ceiling fixtures is diffused and soft, which is important for bedrooms and individual areas in rooms.
Subdued light is used to create original compositions on the ceiling surface, to organize night light, and is used for niches and arches. If you direct the lamp at certain parts, the beam will be concentrated and bright.
Spots and pendant lamps can be adjusted and thereby correct the direction of the light flow. They are used to highlight indoor work areas or interior items.
Types of luminous elements
When planning lighting design, methods of mounting lighting fixtures and their aesthetic properties are of particular importance. The colors, modifications, prices and quality available on the market allow you to choose the optimal solutions for each room.
Spotlights
These are lighting elements common for tensile structures, which are distinguished by their small diameter and directional beam of light.
Due to their compactness, such lamps can be used in almost any, even limited space: in a closet, pantry, under the stairs.
Invoices
Fixed lighting fixtures that protrude along the ceiling line but do not hang down are classified as overhead lighting fixtures. Their distinctive properties: ease of installation, variety of modifications and colors, low price.
Recessed lighting
Many manufacturers of suspended ceilings offer light boxes integrated into the design. They are frames with LED strip built into the canvas. This type of lighting is used in modern interiors.
Hanging chandeliers
Familiar ceiling chandeliers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and harmoniously complement both classic and new-fangled renovations.
A place is allocated for the chandelier in advance, because after installing the ceiling, it will no longer be possible to change its location.
When installing, take into account that the distance from the lamp to the tension structure is at least 30–60 cm.
LED types of lamps
Lighting fixtures with LEDs, due to their low heat transfer, are optimally suited for fabric and film materials. Lamps can be built-in or overhead, rotary or fixed. The only difference between them is the “filling”, consisting of several connected LEDs.
Popular lamp manufacturers
There are dozens of items on the packages of light bulbs. Products of certain brands differ in the technologies used in production and in cost.
According to the rating compiled at the beginning of 2022, the top 5 best brands included Philips, Osram, Gauss, Feron, Camelion. Lamps from these manufacturers are reliable, have a long warranty period, and a high price. There are many models.
The top 10 is completed by ASD, Navigator, Jazzway, Era and Kosmos. Their light bulbs are distinguished by low prices, long service life, and availability. However, marriage is more common among them than among the leaders of the rating.
