Staircase lighting: installation instructions

Why use staircase lighting?

The staircase in the house can become almost the main decorative element. There are several types of their design, and each of them assumes its own type of lighting. But the most pleasant is the "smart house", when the staircase lighting with a motion sensor is built in, or there is equipment with a gradual on / off system of steps. It works when someone uses them, and steps from below or from above are gradually turned on and off. The staircase can be illuminated in different places:

• on rails;
• under the steps;
• under the ceiling;
• on the walls is dotted;
• in a combined way.

In addition to the aesthetic component, it is important and cost-effective lighting. Of course, you can set the time switch to turn on the light in the evening time, when the house has the greatest movement, for example, from 18.00 to 22.30.During this period the whole family moves the most in the house. At other times, the lighting of the staircase can be adjusted in manual mode - a conventional switch. You can also use spotlights at the level of the railing, which are switched on from contact, or LED staircase lighting with a special tape attached to the ceiling or along the steps.

No less important is the safety element in the arrangement of stairs, especially when its steps are made of smooth materials. They seem slippery, especially after washing the floors. Confident movement on the stairs is important for:

• of elderly with limited activity,
• weakened by illness of people;
• children who like to run the stairs.

Operational safety is enhanced by providing stairway lighting with an LED ribbon or a fixture built into its steps. Do not forget about the backup light source, for example, if you suddenly turn off the general supply of electricity. A small light bulb in the center of the ladder can be powered from a normal car battery.

Whatever the choice, it is important that the lighting of the staircase:

• looked organic in the overall design of the house;
• was economical;
• provided safe movement at any time of day.

Tip: Remember that with any type of lighting design on the stairs, the first place will be not design techniques, but the prevention of traumatic situations when using steps. A good staircase - when it has a convenient interval between the steps, is equipped with handrails and a cover that neutralizes slippery surfaces.

Types of stairs

1. Stairs originally made only of wood( internal) and stone( external), and today these materials are used in finishing the stairs to create comfort. In some styles of interiors, wood is indispensable, for example, country, eco-style, chalet, ethnica, etc. For the wooden structure of the stairs, solid wood is used, which will ensure reliable operation for many years.

However, do not forget that any wood is a fire hazardous material, so it is important to think over the lighting to protect the house from a possible spark when the network is closed. Wood ladders should be treated with a special composition, counteracting combustion. It is necessary to process not only the fixing points of electrical equipment, but also all the wooden parts - railings, balusters, decorative carving, etc.

2. Stairs from glass look unusual, and weightless steps seem to float in the air, but for people inclined to dizziness, they do not fit. Such designs adorn interiors in techno-stylistics or hi-tech, they are often complemented by elegant metal structures. Modern interior design involves light materials:

• metal;
• glass;
• plastic;
• other synthetic materials.

The most convenient way - to hide the wires from the backlight in decorative elements, for example, under the handrails - on the background of glass or plastic, they will not be visible. But remember that many types of plastic are not only susceptible to burning, but they can also release harmful substances in case of fire. All fire safety measures should be taken into account when installing these incredible glass products.

3. A classical ladder can be integral if it is a ready ladder RCI spans, and also it is possible to purchase demountable wooden constructions. Finished spans are easiest to mount and light, and this type of staircase is the safest in terms of fire safety. It can be decorated with any finishing materials, and the wires from the backlight and sensors can easily be masked with a wild stone or other decorative tiles.

The steps of a solid ladder can be made from solid slabs of natural stone: granite, marble, quartzite, shell rock, etc. The method of illumination should advantageously emphasize the nobility of the texture of natural materials. Hide the equipment in this design will not be difficult, for example, you can mount underneath each step a thin neon lamp. They can be switched on from motion sensors, and this way of led staircase lighting is the most spectacular and economical.

According to the type of construction, the stairs are divided into several groups:

1. Marching is a traditional construction, they have enough space for comfortable positioning of the foot and enough space between the flights. They are comfortable, thanks to the gentle descent, so they occupy enough space, and from one wide march there can be branches in opposite directions. These designs are chosen for classics in the interior.

2. The stairs on the Bolts are the lightest and weightless in appearance, regardless of the material, it is they who are chosen for hi-tech and other modern stylistics. They give maximum light, thanks to the type of construction, but are able to withstand a sufficiently large load, although each step is attached separately. It is this type that many architects and designers love, for the opportunity to manifest a flight of fantasy.

3. Spiral staircases are used where there is little space to get to the upper floors. All the steps are located around the same axis, and here too there is enough space for the embodiment of original ideas. They are considered not the most convenient device, in spite of their originality, therefore they are used where the ladder is not used so often, for example, for climbing the attic in the summer. Steps are attached directly to the central pillar, and use a handrail or a capsule in them is mandatory, especially if the structure is not near the wall.

4. In a private house on 2-4 floors, an elevator is often mounted, and a ladder is located around the elevator capsule. Installation of hydraulic lift and think over the general design of the stairs, providing illumination on the sensors, it is better to entrust specialists involved in this type of construction work. Excellent choice - automatic lighting of stairs and lift.

Tip: Any type of staircase can be equipped with an original backlight. Free space under the steps in the house is often used with advantage, except for transparent spans. In the back room under a wooden, metal, reinforced concrete or stone staircase it is possible to equip a pantry or a bathroom, a safe or a library.

Automatic staircase lighting

It is not difficult to make automatic lighting of the stairs with your own hands in a private house or cottage, if there is even the slightest idea of ​​closed circuit operation and sensors. Do not expect a traumatic event to decide and make competent lighting steps. Today, the search engines will help find all the wiring diagrams, and online stores will offer accessories, including relays, boards, staircase lighting controllers or motion sensors.

Based on the simplest Arduino microcontroller, you can do everything. It is necessary to have patience and the necessary number of wires, and for installation you will need tools, some experience and several evenings after work. But you can stop on a ready solution and purchase all the equipment, but it will cost more, especially if you invite an installation specialist.

Backlighting of stairs with diode tape

Using a diode tape as a backlight for stairs is one of the simplest and most aesthetic methods. LED equipment can be purchased in any supermarket of building materials. The tape is sold in the form of rolls, and you can choose any color and method of placement of equipment.

Designers offer a lot of original ideas, so that the lighting of the staircase was not only functional, but also beautiful.

In terms of physics, the LED strip is a laminated flexible board with a chain of small LEDs. It in many respects resembles a Christmas tree illumination, but the diodes are much larger and they are smaller than in a garland. The length of the roll tape is limited by standards, but it is important to make accurate measurements, add a little allowance for inaccuracies and buy several packages of LEDs of the same color.

Modern LEDs have several varieties, differ in the degree of brightness and the interval of point diodes. The consultant of the building store should offer several options for the tape, as well as show simple equipment, without which installation is impossible. It is also important to take into account that the controller, wires and the switch must be hidden or correctly zadekorirovat, for example, under the sconce.

This is the most convenient way to install a ladder illumination, since the diode band has a self-adhesive base. It bends well, so it can freely bend the steps from below and the features of the ladder design from above. A good option - to lay the tape under the stairs zigzag, that is, under one from right to left, then raise it to the next step and lay it from left to right. This type of lighting is so versatile that you can even lay out a colored luminous panel on the wall above the ladder rail.

LEDs of small and medium brightness can be alternated, using at different levels of the stairs - at the ceiling, on the handrails and under the steps. LED equipment has a lot of advantages:

• efficiency;
• simplicity of installation;
• originality of flexible laying;
• high degree of fire safety;
• is quite long;
• the ability to use a ribbon of any color.

The ability to visually separate each step separately - is very important for people with impaired vision. The economy of LED equipment makes it possible to use such equipment around the clock. To this extent parents have to resort to children who are afraid of the dark, but are forced to periodically use the toilet at night. In addition, the ladder illuminated with LED equipment does not give a shadow on the steps. Excellent complement may be luminous acrylic handrails, equipped with LED strip. On the installation of LED lighting there is a good video.

Traditional lighting for stairs

Traditional lighting fixtures for staircase steps are used most often, so it is important to choose the kind that is most appropriate on the stairs. But no matter what the fixtures are, it is important to choose and establish a way of switching them on, for example, using paired switches, so as not to return at the end of the stairs.

The choice depends on the wishes of the owners of the house, but it is important to remember:

• sconces or other fixtures should be compact;
• are located above the level of the head;
• is located at an equal distance along the ladder;
• are equipped with economical light bulbs.

According to health standards, on the staircase the lighting standards are much lower than with working rooms or recreation areas. As lighting devices, you can use:

• flat wall sconces;
• low-power spotlights;
• point-to-point ceiling diodes;
• directed down or up spots;
• recessed downlights;
• neon lights;
• table-lamp under-ceiling chandeliers at the beginning and at the end of the stairs.

Tip: Pay attention to the style of the luminaire when choosing, the classic staircase in the interior does not accept fanciful shapes of plafonds. Modern stylists, on the contrary, rely on the original, but minimalistic form of lamps - based on chrome-plated designs.