Organizing LED lighting in an apartment with your own hands

When dreams of a new design begin to come true, you need to decide how justified the use of LED lighting in the apartment is, whether the savings in the process really cover the increased initial costs. You can learn about the benefits of various application options, operational reliability and other interesting nuances from this article.

Features of LED lighting

The variety of layouts of semiconductor devices (LED lamps) depends on the dimensions, purpose of the rooms, interior, ceiling height, and taste of the owners.

Where are they used?

LEDs are a universal designer tool that transforms familiar home environments into a reality fairy tale.

Main purposes of use in the apartment:

• general lighting;
• night lamps;
• room zoning;
• lighting of interior elements.

For general lighting of the room, spot lamps with an even light of a neutral tonality are suitable.

Illumination of baseboards and steps serves as emergency lighting in the evening twilight.

Beams of light from spotlights highlight areas for work (desk), relaxation (sofas, armchairs), dining area, kitchen countertops.

By combining lighting, get a unique room design. Illumination of fragments of walls, floors, ceilings, bookshelf, figurines creates an individual atmosphere.

Advantages

After high-quality installation, the lighting will not require any maintenance other than dusting for the next decade.

The popularity of LEDs is justified by many advantages over traditional light sources:

1. High-quality LEDs last for decades.
2. Fire safety - heat generation is 7-8 times less than that of incandescent lamps.
3. No ultraviolet radiation.
4. There are no mercury vapors.
5. A wide color spectrum allows you to create original designs.
6. The combination of different lamps visually changes the volume of the room.
7. Light intensity is smoothly adjustable.
8. Automatically turns on when equipped with motion sensors.
9. It operates on direct current, so there are no harmful pulsations of the light flux, like with LN.
10. 12 volt voltage is safe in high humidity conditions in bathrooms, greenhouses, or near a sink or washbasin.
11. Simple installation can be done with your own hands.
12. The flexibility of the tapes allows you to emphasize any curved surfaces of the interior.
13. The small thickness of diode panels expands the design possibilities of rooms with low ceilings.
14. Withstand power surges from 80 to 230 volts.
15. Energy consumption is 8 times less than other types of lighting. This allows you to significantly save on electricity bills.

Flaws

A serial connection to a power source is often used. If one LED fails, the rest do not work either. This is typical for linear and tape products. Spotlights must be connected using an independent parallel circuit.

The cost of LEDs is quite high. High-quality products cost about 2,000 rubles. You can find options for 100 rubles, but they will be made in China. It's possible they won't be bad. Mass production greatly reduces the cost of even traditionally expensive products.

To obtain soft light you need filters. For example, a suspended ceiling, which is also not cheap. Then lamps or strips are mounted in the cornices. Soft light pours down through the film, reflected from the ceiling.

The need for special filters arises when the lamps are chosen incorrectly. To avoid mistakes, pay attention to the light temperature indicated on the packaging.

At 2700 K (kelvin) we get the usual warm glow, like the Sun or a regular incandescent lamp. This is the optimal choice and does not require any additional filters.

At a light temperature of 4200 K we get white light, which is used by professional photographers in the studio. Prolonged exposure to harsh rays can cause your eyes to become tired. This stream of light should be passed through a filter to get soft shades.

The bluish tint at 6400 K is rarely used in the home environment.

Prolonged exposure to hard rays harms the eyes, especially children's eyes.

How long will LEDs last?

Service life from 25,000 to 100,000 hours of continuous operation. On average, the lighting works 6 hours per day, so the lamps will have to be changed once every 10 years. And the highest quality ones can last up to 40 years, if you believe the promises and the meager energy consumption makes LEDs the leader among lighting devices. The high starting cost pays off in a maximum of two years, even with stable electricity tariffs.

If we take into account that the price of electricity only increases over time, then the initial costs of LED lamps turn into a profitable investment. Moreover, manufacturers provide a guarantee for a period of 1 to 5 years.

Design and principle of operation of LEDs

LEDs are devices created on the basis of semiconductor elements with an electron-hole junction. Devices emit light only when electric current passes through them.

One of the semiconductors is dominated by positive ions, the other by electrons. When a current passes through the point of their contact, recombination of elements occurs. As a result, excess energy appears, which is converted into light radiation.

Diodes emit rays in the green, blue and red spectrum. As a result of mixing these tones, a white glow is obtained. Depending on the type of lamp, the flows can be either warm or cold.

Standard LED lamp design:

• A board with diodes located on it.
• Radiator.
• Driver.
• Diffuser.
• Base.
• Flask of any shape.
• Lower and upper holders.

The most important element of the system is the driver, which is located in the base of the device. It is a combination of a transformer, capacitors and microcircuits. The cost of LED lighting sources depends on the quality of this part. The driver is used to convert alternating current into direct current and stabilize the incoming voltage. Another function is powering the LEDs.

The socket is a necessary element for connecting the lamp to the lamp socket. There are several types of parts, but the most common are pin and screw.

The radiator serves to remove heat from the LED crystals. The larger the part, the better the effect of its work.

The diffuser plays an important role in the system. It helps to evenly distribute light fluxes and protects the lamp body from moisture and dust.

Colored LEDs

Round LED lamp

Classification

Depending on the parameters of the apartment (room area, ceiling height, size of window and door openings), different modifications of lamps are used.

Areas of application

The ways to use LEDs in an apartment are numerous and are constantly being expanded.

Application options in the apartment:

• built-in;
• ceiling;
• wall;
• hanging;
• console;
• desktop

Countless gradations of halftones combined with creative design create true art.

The miniature dimensions of LEDs allow illumination:

• shelves in the closet;
• kitchen countertops;
• arched openings;
• skirting boards;
• steps;
• door handles;
• mirrors

Types of LEDs used

Only a few technologies have been used in mass production.

There are 3 types of diodes for lighting:

1. SMD is a common type for household lighting fixtures with a long service life.
2. COB is distinguished by its reliability and adjustable light distribution. Several crystals are mounted on one board. Each is individually controlled by a controller. The maximum reached is 128 LEDs working together.
3. Filament LEDs are the latest generation of LED lamps. Manufactured with power from 10 to 100 watts. They have the most efficient light output.

The method of fixation of LEDs varies depending on the design. Linear and tape are attached with double-sided tape, glue, and staples.

The lamp base is adapted to the operating conditions:

• threaded - similar to the usual LN, has a different diameter;
• pin - used in ceiling lamps;
• pin - for work in conditions of high vibration.

Optimal lighting in different rooms

When creating lighting in the house, the main rule is the harmonious arrangement of lamps. A bulky chandelier will look awkward in a small room, so you need to think in advance about what light sources you should buy. Each room has its own layout depending on its purpose.

Living room

Living room lighting
The hall or living room is the most spacious room in the entire apartment. This is where they spend time with their family and welcome guests, so there should be a lot of light in the living room. The classic version of a room with lighting is to install a central LED chandelier, several lamps around the perimeter of the room and on the walls.

There are also more complex ways to organize lighting. For the living room, 3 types of interior lighting are used:

• General. Can be either with or without a chandelier. LED sources are located evenly around the perimeter of the room.
• Working. An LED strip can be used to illuminate the seating area, sconces are placed next to the coffee table, and wall lamps are mounted in the ceiling.
• Decorative. Light frames decorative elements, paintings, mirrors, shelves, cornices.

When using multi-level ceilings, LED lighting is used in the room using strips or spotlights. They allow you to make the room visually more spacious and the ceilings higher. Can be placed in baseboards.

Bedroom

Illumination of the bedroom
The rest room is a place for which you need to carefully select the lighting. In the bedroom, the lighting should be soft, relaxing, and help you fall asleep quickly. In the bedroom you can install main and additional light sources.

In a small room, you can place a miniature overhead or built-in chandelier in the center. The bedside area is decorated separately with the help of wall sconces and beautiful floor lamps. The LED strip lighting under the bed looks original. Neon flexible strips and tubes with LEDs are also used; strips can be installed in profiles made of polyurethane or aluminum.

We need to make light in the dressing room too. You can hang several miniature wall lamps in it.

Children's

Lighting a teenager's room with spotlights
A room for children is designed depending on the age of the child. The room should be divided into several zones - a play area, a sleeping area and a work area. Bright LEDs with a uniform glow should be installed in the room. On the ceiling you can hang a central chandelier in the shape of stars, animals or with another original lampshade. You can also install an ice panel and spotlights. In a children's room, original ceiling lighting is often done using spot LEDs and photo printing. This could be a starry sky, figured lighting.

The desktop must be illuminated. Table lamps and wall lamps are used for this. Place a night light on the wall or cabinet next to the bed. For the game part, you can design original lighting using tape.

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting decor
Usually the kitchen space is small in size. The kitchen has several zones that need to be visually separated. General light is organized using compact ceiling lamps or pendant chandeliers. You can place powerful ice lamps with cold light on the work area.

Strip lighting is often used in the kitchen. It can be fixed in niches, above shelves, under glass. The tape can also be installed on furniture - for example, along the contour of a table top. On sale you can find ready-made kitchen furniture with light sources installed in it.

Bright light is needed above the dining table. It can be provided by one or more pendant chandeliers. If the kitchen has a bar counter, it can also be illuminated using original pendant light sources.

Corridor

Lighting placement in the center
The hallway is a room in which there are no sources of natural light. All lighting is created only by lamps. The placement of the lamps depends on the size of the room.

In a long narrow corridor with a high ceiling, the light can be placed centrally in one or two lines. You can hang an ice strip around the perimeter to expand the space. If the ceilings are low, sconces are hung on the walls, in which you can change the direction of the light. Typically, indoor LED lighting lamps are directed upward to visually enlarge the ceilings.

Sconces are also hung next to the mirrors. If the mirror is large, you can hang two light sources on the edges. Instead of sconces, you can use ribbon.

Lamps in the hallway must be powerful. There should be no contrast felt when moving from one room to another.

Bathroom

Functional illumination of the sink area
The bathroom is a room with a difficult microclimate. There is high humidity here, so the main requirement for lamps is resistance to moisture.

Typically, LED spotlights are placed evenly on the ceiling in the bathroom. Additionally, functional areas are illuminated - sink, mirror. For this purpose, sconces in a waterproof housing are used.

Types of LED light sources

Currently, 5 types are used for lighting and apartment design.

Spot

They are installed in furniture niches, suspended ceilings, and illuminate work surfaces.

Recessed ceiling

LED panels of rectangular or round shape are conveniently built into suspended ceilings due to their small thickness (up to 1.5 cm).

Linear

They have a length of up to 60 cm. They are used for general and area lighting.

Lamps

A smooth change in the intensity of glow and color opens up new possibilities for using familiar chandeliers, sconces and shades. Lamps have different shapes, sizes, and types of bases.

Ribbons

In addition to lighting an apartment with LED strip, this is an ideal option for illuminating any curved surfaces. The tape is very flexible and will repeat any turns on the surface of furniture, ceilings, walls.

Main types of lamps

Types of socles
Lighting manufacturers produce products with different characteristics. You should understand these parameters before purchasing light bulbs.

There is no strict classification of lamps, but LED light sources can be divided into several large categories:

• By type of source used. There are lamps that use SMD LEDs, COB models with uniform light distribution, and heavy-duty diodes.
• At the installation location. There are street lamps and products for indoor use.
• By the type of base. Available with standard sockets E27, E14, G5.3, G10 and others.
• According to the form. There are light bulbs in the shape of a pear, candle, oval, circle and other geometric shapes.

  
  Types of flasks

• By the presence of a cooling radiator.
• By the brightness of the glow.
• By power.
• By color temperature.

Particular attention is paid to the manufacturer. In order for a lamp to meet the declared characteristics, it must be made of high-quality materials; therefore, such a device will not be cheap. Manufacturers of unknown origin may skimp on circuit elements, which will cause malfunctions during lamp operation.

LED lamp selection criteria

Lamps for residential premises should have a “light temperature” in the range of 2700-3200 K. Then the emitted light will be harmless and soft on the eyes.

Products made in China are considered low quality. In this case, you should focus on cost. Good things are rarely cheap.

With the same electrical power, LEDs and incandescent lamps have an average 8-fold difference in brightness. Instead of a 75-watt “Ilyich light bulb,” a 10-watt LED lamp will do.

How to calculate the required illumination and standards

For preliminary calculations, you can take the construction GOST standards as a basis.

Illumination is measured in lux (Lx) per 1 square meter of room area:

• living room, bedroom - 150;
• children's - 200;
• office - 300;
• dressing room - 75;
• hallway - 50.

Now it is enough to multiply the area of ​​the room by the standard illumination. The resulting figure is the required minimum. For example, the area of ​​a children's room is 20 m², then you need 4000 Lx. The packaging of the LED lamp indicates the amount of luminous flux, measured in lumens (Lm). It is usually accepted that 1 Lm = 1 Lx. The final figure can be greatly adjusted by design features and personal preferences of the owners living in the apartment.

Kitchen

This room places the highest demands on lighting. If the lack of artificial light in the living room is not a fatal mistake, then in the kitchen incorrectly installed lighting causes a lot of inconvenience. Thus, light rays directed from behind and from above relative to a standing person give a thick shadow to the working surface. As a result, you have to strain your eyes, lean lower over the cutting board, and protect your fingers from cuts. Therefore, the closest attention must be paid to the placement of lamps in the kitchen. What rules and recommendations are there?

• It is not customary to hang too luxurious chandeliers in the kitchen, since the room is not large in size, and it is difficult to put numerous decorative details in order. Therefore, experts recommend giving preference to ceiling or recessed lamps with a laconic design. They provide even, diffused light, which is very important when working in the kitchen. You can choose both single-lamp models and multi-lamp models with several shades. Hanging chandeliers are chosen exclusively for high ceilings.

• In the kitchen there are usually at least two functional areas - a working and a dining room. Therefore, it makes sense to purchase not one, but several central lamps, distributing them in accordance with the designated areas. They may be the same, or radically different in design.
• The work area is often illuminated with spots or tracking systems. They are very convenient as they allow you to direct and enhance light flows at a certain point. And for the recreation area, elegant hanging products and wall sconces are suitable.
• Models with the ability to adjust the height of the lampshade and several brightness modes are an ideal option for the kitchen. They allow you to create exactly the lighting that is required at the moment.
• Even, soft light around the entire perimeter of the work area is provided using an LED strip mounted on the lower edge of the upper tier of wall cabinets.
• Spot lights mounted on top of hanging cabinets provide excellent illumination for the countertop, stove and sink. Spot and built-in lamps located at the junction of the kitchen apron and the upper tier of cabinets, on their lower surface, serve the same purpose.

If the kitchen is spacious enough, you can complement the composition with an interesting floor lamp located next to the dining group or seating area.

Light control

Multi-colored ribbons are controlled by a controller. According to a given program, it changes the brightness of the glow, color, order and sequence of activation. The brightness of the light and the inclusion of different groups of lamps can be controlled by remote control.

LED lamps can be equipped with motion sensors that respond to human presence.

Application of LEDs: types of lighting

Due to their excellent performance parameters, LED lamps are suitable for use indoors and outdoors. Types of lighting:

• Apartment.
• Office.
• Trade.
• Industrial.
• Street.
• Spotlight.
• Emergency.

LED lighting is especially often installed in living rooms. Diode lamps can be present in any lamps: wall, ceiling, decorative. You can also use LED strips. They are good for illuminating interior items, furniture, multi-level ceilings, niches, and stairs.

Apartment lighting with LED lamps

How to make it yourself

The technology for installing LED lighting is extremely simple. A standard set of tools and minimal skills will be required.

Selecting a power supply for the tape

LED strips operate on a direct current of 12 volts. They cannot be connected to a regular 220V network. To select a power supply, let’s assume that the total length of the tape is 15 meters.

The specific power consumption is written on the packaging. For example, 5 W/m (watts per meter). Then the power consumption will be 75 watts.

We must add to this a safety factor of 20%. In total, the power supply should provide at least 90 watts of output.

Calculation of the number of lamps

As above, determine the light level. For example, for a bedroom - 150 lux/sq.m. If its area is 25 square meters, then the total luminous flux should be at least 3750 Lm.

If lighting is provided by a five-arm chandelier, then each lamp must be at least 750 lm. This characteristic is indicated on the packaging.

Layout diagram

When connecting LED lamps to the power supply, keep in mind that its output is constant current. Therefore, the optimal scheme is a parallel connection.

It is advisable to divide the tape into short sections of up to 5 meters. They also need to be connected in parallel. If the length is longer, then due to the increased resistance of the electrical circuit, the last LEDs will be less bright than those closest to the power supply.

Fastening

When starting installation, make sure that the LED lamps and strips are in good working order by simply connecting the power.

For even illumination of the stretch ceiling, the lamps are mounted hidden inside the eaves. In the case of a designer pattern, for example, a starry sky, tapes are glued and connected to the ceiling. Then the film is stretched.

LED panels are mounted simultaneously with a suspended ceiling or on brackets (consoles).

Connecting lamps

Now connect the lighting system to the power supply and controller. For wiring, stranded copper wire with a cross section of 1.5 mm² is suitable.

We crimp the bare ends of the wires with contact tips. We connect, strictly observing the polarity.

What other LED strips are worth paying attention to?

Gauss 312000310 (from 770 rubles)

Gauss 312000310. Photo: yandex.market.ru
Another large manufacturer of inexpensive lighting equipment. In his arsenal he has fifty ribbons of different colors, lights and characteristics. We will tell you about this model as one of the most popular from the brand. The declared service life of 50 thousand hours is several years of non-stop glow. The manufacturer provides a one-year warranty on the device. Unlike the product, which is located one line higher in our rating of the best LED strips of 2022, this one has minimal protection from water - in fact, only from small drops and splashes. There is no self-adhesive side, which means you will have to solve this problem yourself. But what I want to praise the device for is the high density of light bulbs. The factory managed to install 120 diodes per meter. This is a record figure. However, not only this company has it.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

High LED Density

No self-adhesive side

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Yeelight Aurora Lightstrip Plus YLDD04YL (from 2.2 thousand rubles)

Yeelight Aurora Lightstrip Plus YLDD04YL.
Photo: yandex.market.ru A coil of LED strip, two meters long, is placed in the box. The same manufacturer produces meter-long extension cords that can be used to increase the number of light bulbs. There are 24 of them for every meter, which is not so much. Buyers complain that they can only be extended to a maximum of ten meters, and the price for each additional part is comparable to a whole device. The good thing about the device is that the package includes an outlet and a control panel. There is a sticky layer on the back side. Therefore, you can stick the tape anywhere. Note that the device can be controlled via a smartphone application or a smart speaker. There you can set lighting scenarios: a quick color change for a party or a smooth gradient transition to maintain the atmosphere. Let us separately highlight the light-music function - the LED strip adapts to the rhythm.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

Remote control

For a high price, few diodes

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VOLPE ULS-Q921 2835-60LED (from 140 rubles)

VOLPE ULS-Q921 2835-60LED.
Photo: yandex.market.ru If you come to the construction market or a not very popular lighting store, you can easily find cheap LED strips like this one. Despite the good density of diodes - 60 pieces per meter, here are the weakest existing light bulbs, model 2835. You can read more about their differences below in the section on choosing LED strips. This device also doesn't look attractive. It is assembled in the most utilitarian way possible - a crumpled base, diodes wedged on top randomly. So why do we still place this device in the ranking of the best LED strip lights of 2022? It's simple: the device is budget, anyone can afford it. It is not intended to hang in a visible place. These are hidden somewhere behind furniture or in special “plinths” to create lighting. And it copes with this function perfectly.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

A budget option for those who like to do everything themselves

Appearance

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Philips Hue LightStrips Plus (from 3 thousand rubles)

Philips Hue LightStrips Plus.
Photo: yandex.market.ru This product is the complete opposite of the previous candidate. The device is so neatly and efficiently assembled that you can’t find fault with it. The adhesive composition on the reverse side clings to the surface without the slightest hint of the possibility of falling off. The familiar ability to set one of 16 million color shades is implemented here. Plus, the white color here lends itself to flexible temperature settings from warm yellow to icy blue. The tapes can be cut to the required length, which is why it does not lose its functionality. Controlled through a proprietary application. But now about the fly in the ointment, which does not allow us to make this device the leader in the ranking of the best LED strips of 2022. If not for this nuance, it would definitely be the best. Each meter of this product costs from 3,000 rubles. For any corner in the interior you need at least two meters. For the tape to work, you need a proprietary Hue Bridge router. Together with two meters of tape, this costs at least 7,000 rubles. So this option is for those who are willing to overpay for quality.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

Quality of materials

To equip high-quality lighting you will have to pay a considerable amount

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ERA LS2835-120LED-IP65-WW-eco (from 500 rubles)

ERA LS2835-120LED-IP65-WW-eco.
Photo: yandex.market.ru This famous manufacturer of lighting equipment has a lot of diode strips in its arsenal. There are even monocolor products, that is, those that glow only red, only yellow, only green, etc. Despite the simplicity of the technology, for some reason few produce similar products. This particular model has a warm white color. There is good protection against dust and moisture. The model implies that you yourself will purchase a controller, a power supply and install everything as needed in a particular situation. However, ready-made kits are also available for sale, which you just need to plug into an outlet. There are tapes with remote control, although this particular device does not support such a function without additional accessories. Despite the fact that the LEDs here are not the brightest, no one complains about the power. Probably the highest density of light bulbs per meter - 120 pieces - saves the day. The tape has a self-adhesive base.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

Bright

Branded controllers cost from 1000 rubles

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Lemon Tree LED SMD 3528 (from 360 rubles)

Lemon Tree LED SMD 3528. Photo: yandex.market.ru
Perhaps this is the most inexpensive LED strip, which comes with a controller and power supply. That is, you won’t have to buy anything in addition. It is self-adhesive, but in the reviews we read complaints from customers about the quality of the sticky side. However, you can always add a couple of drops of superglue. When planning your lighting, keep in mind that the wires here are not the longest. For a good price, as always, you have to pay with inconvenience. The device lights up in all primary colors. Many people use it as a New Year's decoration: the device cannot be called durable - there are too many complaints about its limited lifespan. But it’s not a shame to decorate the interior with it for the holiday and then put it in a drawer or throw it away altogether. By the way, in the comments to the product, many DIY enthusiasts described that they had no problem purchasing failed adapters and other components, replacing them and continuing to use the device.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

Complete set at an affordable price

Short service life

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URM 2835 multicolor (from 1.6 thousand rubles)

URM 2835 multicolor.
Photo: yandex.market.ru Formally, this is not exactly an LED strip, but a more advanced product, which is more correctly called flexible neon. However, the point here is only in the outer shell in the form of an elastic tube. Inside are the familiar LED lights. You can’t glue one like this: you need to run it along the wall and secure it with some kind of clips. Buyers note a uniform glow along the entire length of the cable. It is durable and moisture resistant. There is a built-in controller that can be used to switch colors and flashes. With proper artistic skill, you will be able to depict the outlines of some animal or person from this tape. The bad thing is that the length cannot be increased - you just need to buy another set. This complicates the arrangement of a complete composition, since you will need a second socket, another place and, most importantly, synchronization of the glow.

Characteristics

Advantages and disadvantages

LEDs are driven into an elastic tube

The length of the product cannot be increased

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How to beautifully illuminate windows and curtains

Window lighting with LED strip is now not only the prerogative of public institutions. You've probably noticed glowing windows in apartment buildings, especially on New Year's Eve. You can create such a fabulous atmosphere with your own hands. Choose RGB strips, in this case you will be able to enjoy the original multi-color glow, changing in dynamics, both while in the room and passing by your windows.

Another option is to illuminate the curtains with LED strip. It brings coziness to the room and demonstrates the beauty of curtains and tulle, thanks to the play of light. It is necessary to correctly position the light source to achieve the best effect. The lighting of the cornice looks good. It’s even more interesting to place the LED strip in the plasterboard recess where the curtain is attached. Then people in the room will only see how the light magically flows across the fabric, without focusing on the source.

An option for illuminating window curtains with an LED strip placed on the cornice.

How to choose a strip for LED backlighting

When planning to purchase a strip for a DIY LED backlight, you should consider several factors. These will be the determining factors when choosing a tape model:

What type of lighting are you planning to implement using the tape: fill or main. For fill light, SMD-3528 tape with an LED density of 30-60 per 1 lm is suitable. For basic lighting, you must choose a strip with at least 120 LEDs per 1 linear meter. It should be taken into account that the strips contain 120-240 LEDs per 1 linear meter. must be mounted on an aluminum profile. For better cooling, to avoid rapid degradation of LEDs from overheating.

If you choose SMD-5050 tape, you should take into account that the luminous flux of white light from it is very weak. It is suitable only for background lighting or decorative purposes. To realize the possibility of using the tape as a source of white light, you must choose a tape with additional white LEDs. SMD 5050 strip not equipped with additional LEDs has the following luminous efficiency indicators, corresponding to the luminous output of incandescent lamps:

TABLE 1

Dependence of power on the number of LEDs per 1 linear meter.

If the tape is planned to be used in rooms with high humidity or outdoors, the protection class of the tape must be IP65, this is indicated in the certificate attached to the tape upon sale. If the tape is planned to be used to illuminate a pool, fountain, pond in the garden, or to illuminate an aquarium, the protection class must be IP67.

Scope of application of LED backlight

As noted above, the scope of application of LED strip is constantly expanding. Initially, it was used as an element of lighting organization to implement design solutions. Gradually, LED strips moved from confined spaces onto the streets. This was facilitated by the creation of tapes with a high degree of protection IP65 - IP67/IP68, which can be used under water.

LEDs in architectural lighting

The middle of the last century was marked by the dominance of neon light - the facades of buildings were decorated with advertising and lighting consisting of low-pressure gas discharge tubes, which, due to changes in the composition of the gas, produced different shades of glow. Neon is blue.

The beginning of the 21st century is marked by the dominance of LED design of facades of architectural structures.

The most common is the illumination of the contours of buildings and the contours of their main elements: window openings, columns, cornices, arches, sculptural and stucco decorations.

Unique effects using an LED strip placed in a transparent waterproof casing can be achieved by using it to illuminate fountains, swimming pools or open reservoirs.

LED lighting in the interior

Interior lighting depends solely on the taste and imagination of the designer or owner of the room. Having practically no restrictions on the scope of application, being safe for children and animals, lighting using an LED strip can be organized even above a baby’s crib. The tape is powered through a rectifier. The DC voltage is only 12V, which is completely safe for humans.

Illumination of walls, ceiling, floor

Illuminating a room with LED strip is often used to zone a room. In this case, the device is placed along the contour of something: the ceiling, floor, recesses in the wall.

Lighting with LED strip for stretch ceilings is widely used, because it enhances the mirror effect. You can often see how niches or transitions of a multi-level ceiling are illuminated. This gives the room an atmosphere of mystery and unreality, especially if you use colored ribbons that go well with the interior.

The glow emanating from the joints where the wall connects to the ceiling or floor allows you to visually change the space of the room. As for floor lighting, the light emanating from the baseboard can also have a functional purpose when it is necessary to walk along a dark corridor without creating large illumination.

You can use lighting in another way, for example, by making some special pattern on the ceiling. It looks original when the light source is placed under the stretch ceiling film, creating a slightly blurry glow.

Illuminating a wall with LED strip is easy and quick. Many tapes are equipped with a sticky back, which allows you to stick it to almost any previously degreased surface. And the flexibility of the board itself allows it to be mounted along a curved path. Also, at the design stage, do not forget to provide a place for the location of the power supply.

Interior with lighting: techniques and trends in decorative lighting

Decorative lighting is always in fashion - only trends change. Let's discuss the most popular trends.

Illumination of photos, frames, paintings, mirrors

You can use LED strip for illumination. To create the effect, it is enough to mount it around the perimeter of the object. Decorative elements look best in warm white light.

For lighting decoration of paintings and mirrors, there are special diode lamps with convenient mounting. They emit streams of light directed upward or downward.

Decorative lighting for paintings

Cornice lighting

If there is a hidden cornice in the room, you can highlight this area with light. Ideal colors for highlighting: blue, yellow, purple, pink. A warm white tone is also a great option, but a bright design will look more interesting. Ideas for decorating the eaves space will help inspire interior design feats.

Decorative lighting for hidden cornice

Illumination of stair steps

The easiest and fastest way to make decorative lighting for stairs is to decorate the steps with LED strip. Self-adhesive specimens made of plastic polymer material are ideal for this purpose. You can attach tapes under each step or along the span.

Advice! To decorate the steps, it is better to choose a monochrome LED strip.

For creative lighting of steps, you can use miniature LED lamps. It is important not to miscalculate the number of elements so that the glow does not turn out to be too bright. The choice should be made taking into account the length of the step.

Decorative lighting of the staircase with LED lamps

Decorative staircase lighting with LED strip

Lighting for skirting boards

Decorative lighting near the floor is not only an original accent, but also a safety measure. In this case, you won’t have to turn on the overhead lights when moving around the room at night.

A colored LED strip is suitable for organizing lighting. It can be mounted directly into baseboards or above them. The first option is appropriate if the slats are made of light, thin plastic.

Decorative lighting of skirting boards with LED strip

Niche lighting

Niches in the walls can be highlighted using LED strips or wireless sconces. When installing products, it is important to remember - the larger the recess, the brighter the backlight should be. Miniature niches are best decorated with LED strip, placing it around the perimeter.

Decorative lighting of niches with lamps

Colored lighting of two-level ceilings

A two-level ceiling is a godsend for lighting designers. The shaped surface can be decorated with miniature built-in lamps or LED strip.

Hidden lighting is an ideal option for two-level ceilings. The lamps are “hidden” in the plasterboard structure, so the streams of light seem muted and mysterious.

Colored lighting of a two-level ceiling