sofa wall
Should downlights or spotlights be used on the sofa? This is a controversial issue. It feels like the most hard problem of the century.
Some people say to use downlights – downlights have even light and are not “dazzling”, making them suitable for reading books and newspapers on the sofa (no).
Some say you can’t use downlights–the light spots on the wall are too ugly.
Some people say that spotlights can be used to take photos, wash walls or to wash them.
Many people claim that spotlights are dangerous to use because they are too bright and you will get injured instantly if you lie down.
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They all seem to have their own reasons, and there is no right or wrong.
We then start with the application and see which lamp would be best for you. This is only a discussion tool and not a decoration.
Let’s take a look at the conventional ways to decorate the ceiling in the living room:
- Side ceiling/return ceiling
- Lift the entire ceiling
The usual width of the looped ceiling is about 40cm, so let’s take the regular size as an example.
Look at the distance only, and not at the light.
The normal opening will be on the center line of the side hanging, that is, the distance between the lamp position and the wall is about 20cm.
This distance is just from the perspective light effect
The picture below is a downlight with a flood light source of 100+degV
Installing balloon light spots is easy if you accept the effect. (Don’t laugh…your home decor will look exactly the same).
Furthermore, large-angle downlights are the basic floodlight source. Why do you need ceiling lights, light strips, and other basic lighting in your living area? What is it for?
What if we switch to a downlight with another beam angle?
The picture below is the effect of 58deg downlightV
If the effect instantly improves, then use it. The problem has been solved. It’s so exciting…
Don’t rush…
We will first look at the practices that are common for this type of downlightV
The lamp cup is a bright reflective cup with a relatively high reflectivity, so the light utilization rate will be much higher.
The following is the picture drawn by the actual testV
- When a person is at a distance other than point A and looks up at the lamp at a horizontal distance of 230cm from the lamp, there is almost no glare, which is very good.
- It is an unacceptable glare when a person at point B looks up at a lamp that is 100cm horizontally away.
- When a person moves from point A to point B and looks up at the lamp, the glare gradually increases.
The glare can be tolerated by looking straight ahead or raising your head slightly, even if you are close to or within point B.
The bright reflector on the downlight is the main culprit of the glare that you see when you look up at the lamp from a distance.
Don’t forget, the thickness of our sofas is basically 20cm+. When we lean back on the couch, the lamp will be directly above us. This means we are exposed to a lot of glare.
Alas… I’m disappointed again…
Is there no solution to the problem of downlights? Is it true that light patterns and glare are incompatible?
There is really no solution. The only solution is not to install it, but only to look at which aspect is more preferred, such as the 58deg “full spectrum” downlight below.
Since you’ve already seen the pattern, I will post another image.
There is no connection between photography and downlights. Compare spotlights from the same distance.
If you want to install downlights, have you thought about it?
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Continue to look into the spotlight
Does it work better than downlights or not? Are you jealous?
If you like it this way, then you are too easily satisfied.
Anyone with a little knowledge can see that the central beam of the spotlight has long exceeded the frame of the painting, forming an extra strong light on the wall, which is visually very awkward.
Then try another kind of light.
The picture below is 30cm away from the wall
When I look at it, it feels better.
Give me a referenceV
Usually:
Optical with lenses within point B,
B-A can use reflective cups.
The effect will be better, so I won’t explain it now, otherwise it will be another two thousand words longer.
Three recommendations for a low budget
If you use spotlights at point C and choose Philips Pinying, the effect will be slightly better.
Don’t understand?
Save the answers below and read them slowly
What is the cost of a downlight for a living-room? Which brand is more cost-effective?
The problem of taking photos is solved by using spotlights behind the couch. Glare is also a weakness, but using a lens type and placing the angle slightly closer to the wall will alleviate it.
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Large flat top
Here is a paradise for downlights and spotlights
The same image
- Basic lighting is provided by Light Strip 1.
- Light strip 4 is a cabinet fill-in and atmosphere light.
- Light strip 4 for ambient lighting
- Spotlight 2 function sofa wall
- Spotlight 3 can be used as a coffee table light
- Spotlight 6 living room atrium fill light
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TV Wall
The arrangement of lamps on the TV wall needs to meet the needs of watching movies (hidden light strips on the TV wall are more effective)
- You can use the atmosphere on the ceiling to hide the light source.
- You can also use ceiling downlights/spotlights
- You can also install hidden light strips on the TV wall. In Guanyin mode, there is no need for too bright lights. Hidden light source allows for 4-6W/M to be sufficient.
2-1 Advantages and disadvantages of using downlights and spotlights
I have mentioned many times in previous articles that if you must use downlights/spotlights on the TV wall, you should avoid the TV to avoid the bad experience of reflection from the TV screen.
The lighting is usually arranged in this way:
- Install spotlights
You will get glare if you place the lamps this way. It doesn’t matter if you are watching TV or not.
- Install downlights
As mentioned many times in previous articles, if downlights are arrang-ed in this way, due to the limitation of the width of the side hanging, there will be obvious balloon spots on the wall, which is really ugly.
If spotlights are install-ed, the central beam will be particularly strong. There will be different degrees of interference.
A reference lighting installation method given before is as shown below:
Although this method has certain feasibility, it also has corresponding disadvantages.
You can avoid the glare from the lamp if you stare directly at the television (line of vision 1).
However, the position where we watch TV will not always be fix-ed (sight line 2), so this method will fail.
If the distance between lights is too small, the problem of light and shadow overlap will occur, which will compromise the experience.
Just like the picture below:
Why should we install spotlights and downlights in the TV wall?
- Does it look good?
- Is it because of coordination?
- Is it because others do this that we must do the same?
- We should think again, what is the main function of the lamps place-d on the TV wall?
I believe everyone has their own answer, but it is nothing more than:
Make the space more layered
Can have more atmosphere
Create ambient lighting for movie viewing
Finally, if we think about it in reverse, if the lights we arrange have obvious “side effects”, does such an arrangement still make sense?
2-2. Which solution is the most reliable?
There are many ways to achieve the above scenes, and it is not necessarily necessary to use spotlights, such as using light strips.
I made a few sketches of simulations (they are a little rough but you can still read them to understand what they mean).
Example 1:
The TV wall in the picture above uses three strips of light.
Light strip 1: It can be us-ed with the lamps above the ceiling to provide the basic main lighting of the space.
Light strip 2: This method of wall washing will be more uniform, the light will be softer, and it will not interfere with watching TV.
Light Strip 3: Low brightness light strips are used for low level lighting. This instantly improves the ambience and level in the room.
You can also choose light strips with adjustable brightness to suit your needs and meet the lighting requirements of different scenes.
Example 2:
The combination of a vertical light strip and slightly brighter ceiling lights will give you the impression that your floor is getting higher, which reduces the feeling of depression.
It can be the perfect way to add light to your movie without interfering with the viewing experience.
Example 3:
You can make horizontal light troughs as well. The principle is the same and it depends on your actual situation and personal preferences.
I believe that this kind of light experience is far better than using spotlights to wash the wall roughly.