The lamp for a mirror

A differently illuminated mirror can spoil the whole look of a person reflected in it. The point is not that the mirror is bad, but that the light is chosen incorrectly. Because of this, you can make a lot of mistakes during the training and look worse than planned.

Illumination for paintings is fundamentally different from that set for mirrors, but there are still some similarities. Despite the fact that in both cases the lamps are placed around the perimeter of the highlighted object, and the mount and the direction of light are completely different.

Mirror luminaires should create soft diffused light directed nowhere. It should not clearly highlight any area.When installing lighting, they try to achieve a complete absence of shadows or glare, while the lighting does not need to be made particularly bright so that the eyes are comfortable. Power should be enough only to see your image in detail, without straining.

In the case of lamps to highlight the pictures, everything is different. Spotlight is positioned to highlight the most important parts of the canvas or its entirety. Diffused color is rarely used, basically a cool white glow is chosen that can show the colors most clearly and intensely. Due to the strong brightness, no shadows are formed, but sometimes the picture can give glare from a certain angle of view. For picture lights used wall mount, different from that used for mirrors.

An important difference lies in the ability to illuminate other objects than the central one. As a rule, the mirror lamp acts as an additional source of lighting in the room. Some models are even equipped with a system with which they can be deployed and redirected light.

Lamps for mirrors are fastened to the frame or for it around the perimeter. This system allows you to fix lighting devices reliably enough and at the same time to direct the light as needed. You can buy a mirror with a built-in lamp or install the light yourself, in any case, fasteners on the mirror frame - the most suitable of the options.

It is possible to carry out the installation on the sides of the mirror or on the top and bottom, fixing the light sources directly on the wall. This method is not recommended, especially horizontal types of fastening, as this leads to the formation of shadows and distortion of reflection.

Installation of fixtures on the glass is made using plastic screws or adhesive tape depending on the climatic conditions of the room. Wall options are mounted with screws.

Installing the lamp in the bathroom on the tile is clearly shown in the video below.

Despite the specificity of the fixtures, they are represented on the market by a rather large variety of models, which are often completely different from each other:

• The mirror can be equipped with a backlight, installed in two types: with bulbs on the sides and with lamps around the perimeter. Depending on the height of the mirror, the general level of illumination of the room, the functional purpose of the room, this or that type is chosen.

• In addition to wall sconces, the mirror can be lit and small ceiling chandeliers, descending on the sides of the glass. This option is quite bold and requires its planning at the stage of installation of ceilings, especially when it comes to tension canvases.

If you summarize all types of fixtures suitable for framing a mirror, you can make the following list:

• Wall sconces. The largest number of options are just wall-mounted light sources. A huge number of various models that give light of different shades and warmth, allows you to create lighting that is closest to natural daylight.

• Backlight around the perimeter. It can be built-in or mounted separately depending on the model of the mirror. It does not carry any aesthetic load, as it is hidden behind glass; unlike the previous view, it serves only for lighting.

• LED spotlights. Often installed around the perimeter of the mirror, when there is no possibility to install a backlight of another type. LEDs give bright light of different shades, which designers use skillfully.

• LED Strip Light. Installation of this type of lighting is very simple and does not require special skills. LED strip is durable, can be exposed to a large number of negative effects of the environment, however, its light is slightly dimmer than from point LEDs.

• Fluorescent lighting. Lighting using fluorescent lamps is considered the most successful option for decorating mirrors, since it is this type that allows you to get soft diffused light that is bright enough, but not dazzling.

• Chandeliers. Wall hangers descending on both sides are sometimes more appropriate and convenient than wall or frame versions. They are much more original, and sometimes this unusual technique works flawlessly. However, this kind of use is possible only in some rooms and in selective stylistics.

In addition to the lamp itself, it is necessary to choose the source of light for it. To create near-mirror illumination, the following types are used:

• Energy saving halogen. These bulbs give a soft diffused even lighting, highlighting both the mirror and the surrounding space. Bulbs are quite economical, but they can not be used in such living rooms as a bedroom or nursery. Halogen inside the llama is toxic, so that in case of damage to the tightness, you can get serious health problems.
• Energy saving fluorescent. The double spiral of a lamp differs in the maximum light return with the minimum electricity consumption. Lamps provide even white light that can be dispelled by choosing frosted glass and a suitable ceiling for sconces. A light bulb can last a very long time.
• LED light. The most expensive option of all, it differs from other significant advantages. LED bulbs almost do not fight, serve up to 15 years, and also differ in color temperatures: from soft orange to bright purple. LED lighting does not spread to all the surrounding space, depicting only a mirror, so that as a source of additional lighting, this option will not work.

A more popular option with a switch when, at its discretion, you can turn on or off the reflector. In this case, it can be simply removed from the wall, outweighed and reused. It is possible to connect the power from the outlet, and directly from the wiring.

Depending on the style of the interior, the color scheme of the lighting systems is also selected. The most popular are shades of white gold or chrome-plated metal for the case and frosted yellow or white glass for the ceiling.

For more traditional interiors of type Provence, classic and similar colors of precious metals are chosen. Bronze, gold, brass adequately frame the mirrors, adding to the whole atmosphere of solemnity and importance and putting a noticeable emphasis on the mirror.

Use transparent models, giving a diffused light. This mainly refers to ordinary wall sconces, used as an additional light source.Sconce offers a wide scope for experimentation. With a great desire, you can also use fully enclosed fabric models, for example, if the room is furnished in Japanese style.

In some cases it is appropriate to use round light bulbs on black bases, located around the perimeter. Black is used quite often, but not in cases with near-mirror lamps. It is believed that it partially hides the light, and also creates unnecessary shadows.

Consider the following options in the interior:

• Most often, the backlight for the mirror is selected for the bathroom. In this situation, you should remember about security, because high humidity, temperature changes and contact with water can lead to a short circuit. To prevent this from happening, choose models with an IP44 or IP55 index value, these characteristics are most suitable for the bathroom.

• Set mirror in the bedroom It is not recommended, however, this rule is often neglected.For full-length mirrors, the backlight is placed on the sides at a height of about 2 m from the floor. This arrangement is very successful, because it allows the large mirror to simultaneously play the role and make-up option.

• For the cabinet The best choice will be wall sconces on long flexible cords, allowing selectively direct the light. They do not take up much space, do not interfere with the use of the cabinet and serve not only to illuminate the mirror, but also as an additional source of lighting for the room.

• For the make-up mirror, as well as make-up options, it is more logical and more correct to choose a highlight around the perimeter, alternating shades of light. This is very convenient to do if you choose the backlight from large round lampshades. Using alternately warm, then cold light bulbs, you can achieve the most natural light.

• An interesting example is the use of a mirror. as an element of decor, rather than functional details. Reception is used in living rooms, where mirrors are replaced by paintings for the general expansion of space. In this case, you can simply hang beautiful sconces on the sides, choosing them in accordance with your taste and under the style of the interior.

Experts in one voice advise to choose products of proven European brands. The products have all the necessary certificates and indicators, including the IP index on the lamps. Poor-quality Chinese fakes are often devoid of such data, moreover, the poor quality of the lamp can lead to a short circuit.

If a beautiful mirror in a carved frame is used only as a decorative element, and not functional, it is worth emphasizing its unusualness with the help of the most simple lamps-bras on the sides. Such light will not help you to see yourself better in the mirror, but the interior detail itself will sparkle with new colors.

The use of suspensions-chandeliers in the design of a large mirror is an unconventional solution, but quite rational. Lamps hanging close to the glass will be reflected, and with them the light, making the room sufficiently lit and without any other ceiling devices. Moreover, the space seems more.

To large mirrors, bras are mounted at a height of 2 meters above the floor, illuminating a person’s face and hair, but not forgetting everything else.The light can be used at least warm, even cold, as long as it is diametrically opposed to the main light. In this case, the result will be the most close to reality combination.

The backlight in the bathrooms is mounted close to the mirrors, highlighting the face for makeup or shaving. This placement is justified: no shadows or glare, but an excellent flashing of all the flaws. A similar fixture fixtures typical not only for bathroom mirrors, but also for make-up models in boudoir or ladies' tables.

The most ordinary mirror mirror lights can look mysteriously, mysteriously and unusually with proper selection of the shape of the mirror and the temperature of the light. A warm yellow-orange hue suggests thoughts of bonfires, and the slightly cave-like African furnishing of the bathroom supports this illusion.