How to light up stairs?

How to light up stairs?

Stair lighting — why is this important?

Stair lighting has a dual function. First of all, lights make it easy to move up and down. They give us a sense of comfort, especially when there are switches mounted and located in intuitive places. The second thing is a decorative aspect. Especially when the stairs have a characteristic appearance, and they are part of a spacious day area — in that case, they simply need to look good. With the right lighting you can create a welcoming and cosy atmosphere!

e cannot overlook the fact that good visibility of stairs guarantees safety. It is easy to find yourself in a very dangerous situation in non-illuminated areas. We have to keep in mind that stairs are often located in places with the limited access to natural daylight. Stair lighting is thus a must! If you don't feel comfortable about walking up the stairs, it's a sign that you need more light there!

Staircase lighting ideas

As you may have guessed, there are many lighting possibilities for staircases. You can find many ideas and inspirations on the Internet and in magazines. We have prepared a list of the most popular ideas about how to light up stairs and which type of lighting to use.

Spotlights on stairs

The first proposition is using spotlights in staircases, especially in order to illuminate a staircase leading to the second floor. The spotlights should be properly positioned — it should be around 50-70 cm distance between two spotlights. The key thing is to illuminate each step of the staircase well.

However, be careful not to overdo with the amount of light — it cannot blind household members and their guests. It's worth mentioning that spotlights will work perfectly not only inside, but also outside the house due to their insulation. They are resistant to frost and extreme temperatures.

Hanging lamps

Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best. Hanging lamps are especially functional in a high, spacious interior. It can be, for example, a chandelier. Remember, however, that one hanging lamp will probably not be enough to illuminate every single stair, which is why you will need some more light. Adding subtle accent lighting seems to be a solution worth considering.

Ceiling tiles (ceiling panels)

We can call ceiling tiles (also referred to as ceiling panels) a versatile type of lighting. They can be mounted not only on the ceiling (as its name suggests), but also on the wall. They will work well in every stairwell, both in case of a modern stainless steel stair design and as light fittings illuminating a small old-fashioned stairwell leading to an attic. Just give them a try!

Sconces

The most obvious choice for the side lighting is a scone. Depending on the style of your interior design, you may choose a classical model with a lampshade, but you are also free to pick a more modern solution, like a lamp with crystals or glass. If you arrange it carefully, you will be able to light up every part of your staircase without having to mount extra stair lights.

Don't forget that if you're an owner of an open staircase where the light naturally filters from the ground floor to the floor above, it's possible to create a night light effect by mounting sconces at ground-floor level.

LED strip lights

LEDs are highly popular now. Lots of people use this kind of lighting to light up their stairs. There are many kinds of LEDs, and it may be difficult to choose just one. Side-mounted LED miniature light fixtures and staircases make the perfect match.

Another great option is using LED strip lights which are able to illuminate each stair and are quite easy to install. A power cord is responsible for powering LED luminaries. The light source is not visible at all to the naked eye. If we want to add strips to finished stairs, we can use ones that are available in the surface mounting version. LED strip lights are the most flexible lights in the line-up because they can easily be cut. If the light is too bright, we can use an LED dimmer to reduce the light output.

LED strip lighting is always a good idea — strips have different numbers of LEDs per metre, different colours, different colour temperatures (warm white, neutral white and cool white), and different voltages. Additionally, they are easily adjustable to fit any staircase.

Summary

As far as the staircase lighting is concerned, there is a lot to choose from. There are good-looking spotlights, great hanging lamps such as chandeliers, practical ceiling panels, which can be used not only on the ceiling (surprise, surprise), multipurpose sconces, and flexible LED strip lights. You are the one who decides which option is the best for you!



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