What Do You Need to Know About Staircase Lighting?
There is no secret that a staircase is one of the most dangerous structures in the house. However, with the right approach to staircase construction, its future use will be comfortable and safe for all family members. One of the frequent questions that arise for people looking to get a staircase installed is lighting.
At V.P Stairs, we are well aware of the importance of proper lighting for any staircase. Our extensive experience and many successfully completed projects allow us to share useful information with you, including lighting techniques. Read this article if you want to know all about staircase lighting.
Why Do Staircases Need to be Illuminated?
There are actually several benefits of staircase lighting. One of the main ones is safety – when the whole area of the staircase is well lit, the possibility of injury is significantly reduced. No less important is the aspect of comfort. Everyone understands that moving along a light passage between floors is much more pleasant and comfortable than going to another room in the dark.
The last reason to illuminate the stairs is aesthetic. Since soft or bright glow can be successfully used to emphasise the interior design. It is also possible to complement the staircase with an exquisite author’s sconce or LED strip in a high-tech style. Lighting as a design element opens up endless possibilities for transforming the house from the inside.
Where is Staircase Lighting Installed?
Any staircase, regardless of its materials, should be equipped with modern lighting. This is a fact that is pointless to argue about because personal safety depends on it. The staircase should be illuminated evenly, but at the same time softly, diffused, so as not to blind the eyes. In a private house, depending on the type, shape of the staircase, lighting elements can be placed in several places:
- On the ceiling above the steps.
- On the handrail or between it and the wall, so that they are hidden, illuminating the space from under the handrail.
- On the steps, the LED strip is usually fixed on the rib of the step or on its vertical surface.
- On the walls along the entire staircase. Here it is relevant to use both sconces and spotlights.
The lighting arrangement to choose for a staircase depends on many factors. The most important are the size and shape of the stairs and personal preference.
Types of Staircase Lighting
Today, there are three main types of lighting that are used for staircases in private homes. We want to tell you a little about each of them:
- Neon lighting. Characterised by a long service life, high level of fire safety, and no shadows. Provides a soft, pleasant light. Needs additional protection due to excessive fragility.
- Halogen illumination. Allows even illumination of the stairwell. Gives a brighter illumination. When installing, take into account that the lights are heated.
- LED lighting. One of the most popular types of staircase lighting. Gives a bright glow, is characterised by a high level of protection, low power consumption and long life.
When choosing staircase lighting in the house, it is important to pay attention to all the pros and cons, and stop at the best option. However, if the design of your staircase is minimalist and modern, the best option for you is LED lighting. Statistics show that the majority of all staircases are lit in this way.
Smart Staircase Lighting System
Thanks to today’s technology, there are innovative solutions for staircase lighting. For example, V.P Stairs specialists recommend their customers to pay attention to the smart LED lighting system. Smart system means that the light switches on automatically and does not require any human action.
On each step there are LEDs and sensors that detect a person’s feet and automatically switch on the light. This way, when you walk up or walk down and each step will light up with your foot pressure. First of all, it looks very aesthetically pleasing and does not blind your eyes at night due to the absence of a lot of light rays. Another positive point is the economy as these bulbs consume little electricity.
Trust the Staircase Lighting to V.P Stairs Specialists
Do you wonder what other ways you can update the interior of your home? Then you should take a look at projects with lighting inside the stone. This element can be placed anywhere, including the wall near the staircase. We place the lighting in a beautifully polished piece of marble and other stones, which creates an incredible interior piece.
Our experts have successfully completed dozens of staircase projects with different lighting systems. This allows us to work with your favourite staircase materials, sizes and shapes. Our experts will be happy to advise you on lighting installation and do a site assessment. Make your home brighter, more practical and safer with V.P Stairs by contacting us in any convenient way!
7 Comments
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vpstairs
LED step lights typically consume between 0.5W and 3W each, and with 10-15 lights, they would use around 1.8 kWh per month.
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Henry Green
I have an old staircase and want to start the process of cosmetic rennovation. I think adding lighting is a great idea. However, I’m stuck on the choice as I can’t decide between halogen, LED and neon….
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Amelia King
I would like to share my opinion with those who have also read this article. A smart lighting system for staircases is the most wonderful thing that people have come up with. Now I have to worry about falling down the stairs from a three metre height)
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Sophie Harris
Really appreciate that you’ve emphasised safety before decoration. It’s easy to get carried away with feature lighting and forget that the whole point is to see each step clearly, especially at night
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Harry Collins
If I use LED lighting in the treads themselves, how does maintenance work? I’m worried about what happens if a strip fails once everything is installed and decorated.
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vpstairs
Thank you for raising an important point. When we design staircases with integrated LED lighting, we plan access from the very beginning, typically by installing the strips in removable channels or profiles. This allows faulty sections to be replaced without damaging the staircase or surrounding finishes.
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Isabella Morgan
How much electricity do these LED lights for steps consume on average?