How to make lighting on the balcony

What's the secret to creating the right lighting?

Truly, garden lighting is akin to art - it can create unprecedented effects that are born from the union of plants and decorative lighting. You just need to bring to life some "educational" ideas for a summer residence - with your own hands you can transform your garden so much that from an inconspicuous, no different from many others, it will turn into a fabulous corner that can touch you at any time of the day.

Evening illumination of the summer cottage will not only give the garden some mystery, but also allow you to safely move around the site

Your garden house and country landscape will look natural during the day and mysterious in the evening if you successfully combine the functionality of lighting with its decorative effect. What are the tasks assigned to the lighting of the garden area? Depending on the function and area of ​​placement of outdoor lamps, the following types of summer cottage lighting can be distinguished:

• home lighting;
• illumination of tracks;
• lighting of stairs;
• accent lighting;
• backlit patio;
• festive lighting;
• security lighting.

An important condition for the correct organization of the dacha lighting system is to preserve the aesthetics of the garden in the daytime, that is, lamps for night illumination should not violate the harmony of the dacha landscape. To fulfill this condition, it is enough to choose lighting devices of a natural shape and / or made of natural materials.

A widespread technique for decorative illumination of a garden is glowing stones that absorb solar energy throughout the day and release it at night in the form of a mysterious glow pouring softly, as if from the inside of a rock.

Original lighting, placed in dense vegetation, will create a cozy atmosphere in a secluded recreation area

Air butterflies and dragonflies, glowing in the dark, naturally and unobtrusively coexist with garden plants

Or maybe you prefer a group of bright butterflies on long twigs stuck in the ground, which will enliven the lawn during the day and glow at night? And how do you like a gnome peeking out from behind a bush with a lamp or a glowing frog nestling under a large leaf? Such original solutions will give your dacha individuality and originality, to your delight and the kind envy of your neighbors.

In addition to the artistic impression, it is necessary to think over the technical side of the cottage lighting. The use of alternative light sources based on solar energy is the most economical option for illuminating a garden. In addition, this type of lighting will not spoil the appearance of the site with long electric cords stretching along the flower beds and paths, since it consists of an autonomous battery pack and a group of lamps connected to it.

The unusual illumination of trees in the form of glowing wells is so mysterious that one inexorably wants to look into this depth.

Artificial flowers in the form of solar-powered lamps will harmoniously fit into the landscape design of the garden

Self-installation

The choice of materials depends on the specific situation. Do-it-yourself installation of lighting on the balcony is divided into stages depending on its type.

Selection of materials and tools

The following materials are required for wiring:

• cable: it is better to use a model with 3 copper conductors and a cross section of 1.5-2.5 mm. It is also worth choosing a cable with soft insulation, which bends easily and practically does not deform;
• terminals: they connect the wires together;
• cable duct: this is the plastic part in which the cable will lie.It is an elongated rectangle with an opening top cover;

The cable duct looks like an elongated box that opens from one side

• fasteners: these can be dowels and screws;
• junction box: the cable leaves from it. It is best to place it inside the apartment;
• junction boxes: they "hide" switches and sockets.

In addition to materials, you will need to prepare some tools in advance:

• a hammer drill for drilling holes in walls and laying a hole for the cable itself;
• voltage multimeter;
• tape measure, screwdrivers, pliers.

How to make lighting with and without wiring

The light on the balcony can be powered both from the electrical network and from batteries. In the first case, you will need to lay the wiring in advance, in the second - just stock up on batteries.

Important! Before laying the wiring, it is necessary to calculate the voltage with a small surplus and turn off the electricity in the apartment. Open wiring is mounted on top of walls

Open wiring is mounted on top of walls

Wiring can be done in 2 ways - open and closed. In the first case, the wires are not hidden and can act as a decorative element, in the second, they are removed into the wall. Open wiring is usually laid if it is impossible to remove it into the wall without additional repairs.

Open wiring is laid in several stages:

1. It is necessary to measure the required amount of wire and mark the places where grooves, lamps, sockets, cable channels (if any) will be laid;
2. Next, drill through (drill through) the wall, through this hole, stretch the cable from the apartment to the balcony;

To pull the wire, you need to drill through the wall

1. Lay the cable channels according to the selected scheme between the sockets and switches, stretch the wiring inside and combine all the elements into a single circuit;
2. Check the voltage level in the network;
3. Seal the grooves with mortar, close the cable channels;
4. Connect the mains to the switch at the input site.

The laying of hidden wiring is similar to laying open, but it has one feature - the wires pass inside the wall in special channels and can only be carried out until the end of finishing repair work. When working, instead of cable channels, corrugated pipes are used, which protect against wetting and fire, fastenings are made with special clamps.

Concealed wiring must be laid before redecorating

Important! After completing the work, it is necessary to test the lighting and only after finishing the finishing, otherwise, if problems arise, the repair will have to be redone. If desired, you can do without wiring

In this case, you do not need to drill walls or stretch and lay wires - the entire lighting system will be powered by batteries or rechargeable batteries. Three batteries are usually enough for 100 hours of operation, but this is an average value: it depends on the power of the lamps, their number and the power source itself

If you wish, you can do without wiring. In this case, you do not need to drill walls or stretch and lay wires - the entire lighting system will be powered by batteries or rechargeable batteries. Three batteries are usually enough for 100 hours of operation, but this is an average value: it depends on the power of the lamps, their number and the power source itself.

You can mount such a system in several steps:

1. Choose a lamp and its location;
2. Fix it in the chosen place and connect to the power source;
3. If necessary, install additional elements, for example, a motion sensor.

Lamps can also operate on batteries

When choosing lighting for a balcony, it is necessary to take into account many nuances: the space is glazed or open, the repair is completed there or continues, how the room will be used

It is equally important to resolve the issue with power: lamps can operate on batteries and the mains, wires can go over the wall or in it

What can you make a plafond from?

When it comes to creating a plafond, any available materials are used for this purpose, including:

1. Unnecessary glass or plastic bottles.
2. Newspapers and paper.
3. Threads.
4. Dried tree branches.
5. Disposable plastic spoons.
6. Unnecessary disks.

Glass bottle shade

The original version of the lamp from available tools is a shade made from glass bottles. Often, modern cafes and recreation areas are decorated with such decorative elements. A future lighting fixture can be made from several bottles by connecting them with wire or threads, or from 1 copy, having previously cut off the bottom. To cut glass, you need to use a special tool, so if possible it is better to go for help to a workshop that provides such services

Option using threads

A lampshade decorated with threads or ribbons looks no less beautiful. Often they are used to create a stained glass window. To implement the idea, you need to prepare a strong wire (it will serve as the basis for the frame), multi-colored threads, PVA glue and scissors. Then you should be guided by the following instructions:

The basis of the future luminaire includes 2 rings of wire, connected by pieces of metal.
At the bottom of the frame, 1 end of the thread is fixed. Then it stretches through the upper ring, goes down and is thrown over the lower one. At the stage of tying the frame, it is necessary to monitor the degree of tension and tightness of the turns. If the thread is over, 1 more piece is attached to the ring.

All leftovers are carefully trimmed off.

Exclusive shade made of metal cans

If there are small metal basins available, they can serve to create a sconce with your own hands. Luminaires made of copper or aluminum plates look especially stylish.

The inner surface of the workpiece is coated with a light paint, which is necessary for good light reflection. The outer part is painted with a dark, contrasting color that goes well with the interior. A fringe is glued to the bottom of the rim. Its length is approximately 5 cm. A hole is drilled in the center of the container for the electrical wire.

A similar version of the plafond is additionally decorated with a mosaic of discs. They need to be finely chopped and secured with PVA glue. Some craftsmen paste over only the lower part of the metal basin, and the upper part is simply painted.

Depending on the convexity of the surface, the disc fragments are cut as finely as possible. And if you beautifully decorate the plafond with fabric cuts, threads, paper or acrylic paints, this will make it especially elegant and original.

Wiring Tips

• The first and most important tip: if you have never been involved in conducting electricity, seek help from a pro
• All work that you carry out on the balcony belongs to the category of remodeling or even redevelopment. This means that their implementation requires an appropriate permit and subsequent approval in the architectural and operational authorities.
• Balcony wiring must be done with double insulated cables. When installing external wiring on open and "cold" glazed balconies, the cable must be additionally placed in special corrugated tubes. Protection class of electrical equipment - not less than IP 44
• In order not to complicate your life, the lighting of the balcony must be thought out in advance - before insulation, cladding and arrangement
• Decide in advance on the function of the room. There is a big difference between the lighting of the study and the winter garden.
• Before starting work, be sure to draw a diagram of the future wiring: where the energy-consuming devices will be located, what power will be needed for their operation, etc.
• Open wiring is easier to make than closed wiring, but it looks less aesthetically pleasing. This option is good if you plan to sheathe the balcony with panels, behind which you can hide unattractive communications.

As you can see, lighting a balcony is not an easy thing to do. You need to have certain knowledge and skills to carry out all the necessary communications here. If you feel that you have the necessary competencies, it remains to choose the type of lighting and get down to business. If not, it is better to seek professional help and just enjoy the result.

Views

Before starting any work related to the repair, you need to make a connection diagram for lighting devices and decide on their type. For a complex lighting system, it will be necessary to additionally stretch the wires from the switchboard to the balcony. Connecting to the network in the apartment in an accessible junction box is quite problematic and can be dangerous. To do this, you need to be sure of the quality of the wires and the number of cores of each cable.

The most elementary and economical way is to provide electricity to the balcony from the nearest outlet. In addition, modern technology allows the use of lamps without electricity. LED strips and some models of lamps run on batteries and accumulators. You only need to periodically charge or change the batteries.

But the most economical option is solar-powered lamps. This is a real discovery not only for the owners of suburban areas, but also for the happy owners of sunny balconies. The unique device does not require constant maintenance and charge on your part.

There are no restrictions on the choice of appliances for a warm balcony. As a lighting device, you can choose a floor lamp, sconces, spotlights and even a small chandelier. Just like the place of installation can be absolutely anything: ceiling, walls, window sill or floor.

Basic rules to follow when choosing lamps for a balcony:

• The more light the better. To change the lighting level according to desire and mood, it is better to use light power regulators.
• Ceiling spotlights require more installation costs. For conventional lamps, it is necessary to prepare a ceiling mount, and for hidden lamps, a false ceiling must be installed. A direct light fixture will visually expand the space.
• A vertical stream of light from wall lamps will visually raise the ceiling and expand the space. The sconce is perfect for various interior options. And to illuminate a small balcony, a couple of lamps are enough.
• A mobile and lightweight floor lamp with a lampshade is the best option for solving the problems of a large family. The floor lamp can be installed near a chair for reading books or near a work desk, or next to a basket of children's toys. A floor lamp with several lamps will help create a decorative effect of semi-darkness and seclusion.

• Do not choose lamps with colored or dark shades and shades.
• Lighting with LED strip will help create unique lighting effects and add romance to the interior of the balcony.
• On an open unglazed balcony, you can use a street garland or LED strip as a backlight. Perimeter railings and window openings are the best way to place bright lights.
• Suspended openwork small chandelier will be the best solution for a miniature cozy balcony. Conversely, if you have a large loggia, the use of multiple ceiling lights can be a unique accent in the interior.
• When combining a balcony with a living room, it is necessary to observe the unity of style in the interior.

Lamps

The main point that requires special consideration is heating during the cold season.If balcony heating is not provided during the winter period, then it is necessary to choose reliable lamps that are resistant to changes in humidity and temperature. The degree of protection for luminaires for cold balconies must be IP44. If the balcony is glazed and heated, then it is equated to an ordinary living space.

Modern technologies have long been proposing to move away from the use of a single light bulb to illuminate the entire room. Manufacturers offer a wide range of new lighting products.

Which lamps to choose:

1. Previously widely used conventional incandescent lamps, ranging from 15 W to 200 W. The price of such products is low, but their service life is very short, about a thousand hours.
2. The fluorescent lamp has an elongated tube shape and provides a stronger light output. These lamps can be installed both on the ceiling and on the wall.
3. Halogen lamps consume less electricity at the same power level.
4. LEDs have the longest lifespan, are more economical, but are expensive. At the same time, the LED strip has a high degree of protection against dust and moisture and can be used even on an open balcony. Some products have several colors and modes of operation. LED strips with diffused warm light will help you relax and will not get tired.

Spotlights for false ceilings

Spotlights have a small illumination radius - only 30 degrees, but they are compact and therefore can be installed quite tightly on a false ceiling. The big advantage of spots is the name given to these spotlights of small size and low power, that they can be installed evenly over the entire surface. And then you can get uniform shadowless lighting, which cannot be achieved by a chandelier or sconce. In order for the lighting to be good and even, the distance between the rows should be no more than a meter, and the distance from the wall should be up to 60 cm. Spotlights are mounted on suspended structures. The safest and easiest thing to do is to install spots in the holes in plasterboard ceilings. But according to the same principle, spotlights can also be installed from ceilings made of plastic or aluminum strips. However, in this case it is necessary to use heat-resistant plastic inserts. It is better to entrust the installation of spotlights in stretch ceilings to specialists.

For the installation of spot lighting in suspended ceilings, it is best to use spots with LED lamps. The wire must be selected depending on the material from which the suspended ceiling is made. For ceilings made of plastic and MDF, fireproof wires RKGM are selected. Wires and lamps are connected with terminal blocks. The joints are insulated with electrical tape.

Photo gallery: LED backlight options

With the help of LED lighting, you can create an unusual interior in your apartment. This structure can be built not only into walls and ceilings. For curtains, furniture or stairs, such lighting is easy to make yourself.

Multilevel lighting in home interiors

The uniform, bright and unblinking light from the LEDs does not harm our eyesight. Depending on what material the semiconductor is made of, the backlight color changes from classic white to any shade of the rainbow palette.

Today, designers use the following types of LEDs when planning and decorating an interior, creating a variety of multi-level lighting:

• Lamps for main or additional spot lighting.
• Tubes - for lighting the perimeter of large plasterboard or stretch ceilings, kitchen aprons or podiums.
• Soft and flexible LED strips with a lighting radius of up to 120 degrees are used in the most unexpected cases, on a wide variety of surfaces. Tapes are used for both main lighting and decorative design.
• LED cords with 360-degree circular lighting are used in decoration in much the same way as ribbons.

LED lamps are installed in specially prepared recesses, niches, grooves.

You can create a starry sky on the ceiling

How to choose a lamp

On the glazed balcony, you can install any ceiling, wall or floor lamps. Lighting devices are suspended, overhead, built-in. Rotary lamps are on sale, in which the position of the plafond is adjusted. Lighting devices are chosen based on the lighting task and focusing on the style of the room.

Workplace lighting

On the balcony, you can make a small office and put a table with a chair. There should be a table lamp on the table. You can hang a luminaire with a swivel mechanism side by side on the wall. A built-in or pendant lamp is installed on the ceiling.

Under a small winter garden

In the glazed loggia, you can equip a corner of wildlife and admire the flowers even in winter. True, for normal growth, plants need not only warmth, but also additional lighting. All green crops need rays of the red and blue spectrum. A person in a room lit by such lamps will be uncomfortable.

It is best to install fluorescent lamps in the winter garden. They have low energy consumption and provide bright and pleasant light. In the winter garden, you can install a lighting system with a timer so that the light automatically turns on in the evening hours, prolonging the daylight hours.

Loggias and French balconies

On the balcony, you can install metal-plastic panoramic windows from ceiling to floor. Glass panels provide a lot of light, increase the space, and provide a panoramic view. In such a room, you can make spot lighting on the ceiling or on the floor. You can hang a sconce on the wall. Lovers of antiquity can install a wrought-iron balcony railing on the balcony itself, and equip the exit with glass swing or sliding doors. In the unglazed loggia, you can hang a street lamp on the wall.

Varieties of lamps for the balcony

The lighting of the balcony space can be organized using a certain type of lamp. The choice of the device is carried out taking into account the design, the rules of general design, the required level of light.

Basically, there are several types of lamps:

Ceiling lighting fixtures are used most often. These are built-in spotlights, chandeliers suspended on various structures: cord, chain, rod. With the help of point ceiling fixtures, optimal illumination or local distribution of light is organized.

Wall options - sconces and lamps. They will add comfort and coziness to the place. Suitable only for organizing a recreation space, since the degree of illumination for reading or working with papers is too low.

Floor - spotlights or fluorescent tapes. They are more often used as additional lighting.

Optical expansion of balconies

An increase in the luminous flux at any of the walls will help to optically expand the balcony space. Place the light source closer to the wall and your narrow balcony will appear more spacious. Spotlights built into the floor will visually raise the balcony ceiling. Combined with ceiling lights, they create a fun combination of reflected and direct light.

If you are opting for floor-standing recessed luminaires, opt for non-heating 12-volt LED bulbs with a step-down transformer.

For recreation areas, LED lighting of the ceiling around the perimeter with dimming is more suitable.

Wall lights

On open balconies, it is better to use facade lamps adapted for outdoor conditions - they are not afraid of humidity, heat or frost.Nevertheless, it is not recommended to place them under the direct influence of precipitation and sun. In this case, balcony lamps in any case must be waterproof - regardless of whether the balcony is closed or open.

Great opportunities for simulating the increased space of the balcony are given by spots - swivel lamps. They can be installed both on walls and ceilings, and in some cases even on the floor. The play of shadow and light creates the most unpredictable effects of space perception, increasing not only the area of ​​the balcony or loggia, but also the room as a whole.

Principles for decorating an open balcony

The materials used to decorate an open balcony must be weatherproof and withstand temperature fluctuations. They also must be moisture resistant.

For flooring, it is better to use porcelain stoneware intended for outdoor work. The wall can be finished with decorative stone or brick. A robust and elegant wrought iron fence completes the picture.

It is advisable to choose furniture from plastic or artificial rattan. Folding furniture is a good option - it can be folded up and hidden in the rain.

In the photo of examples of how to decorate an open-type balcony, you can see that flowers are a wonderful decoration of the balcony space. Pots with them can be put on the shelves of shelves and whatnots, hung in a planter, or simply put on the floor.

Which is better: a chandelier or a spotlight

Let's take a look at two of the most popular lighting fixtures. Let's find out when it is better to install practical spotlights on the balcony, and when - a chandelier with several arms. Both options are appropriate and noteworthy, because they are the main sources of artificial light.

Compact model in the style of a city cafe

The choice is influenced by several factors, first of all - the ceiling. If there is no decorative finish, there are few options: hanging or wall-mounted lighting fixtures. However, it is not customary to leave the ceiling "naked", most often it is masked with plastic, waterproof drywall or tension structure. This finish expands the range of possibilities and allows you to install spotlights - the most appropriate type of lighting fixtures for rooms with a lack of free space.

Modern decoration of the insulated room

Advantages of point models:

• do not take up free space;
• do not require additional care;
• have a different design;
• differ in low cost.

Various models can be found on sale. To emphasize the neutral style, it is better to take simple economical models with chrome trim, but there are also more expressive options: in a crystal frame, with gilding and pendants.

Lamp with a shade VS loft "Edison lamps" over the dining group

A chandelier is also used, but not all types are suitable. Better to opt for models "pinned" to the ceiling, rather than suspended from a cord or chain. Parts of the device and lamp may be damaged if accidentally touched by hand. This is dangerous for apartment owners - sharp elements of the chandelier can cause injury, and cut the broken glass. In addition, a low hanging object will always interfere with free movement along the loggia.

Non-standard interior solution

In terms of the installation method, the chandelier and built-in appliances are similar. Usually, special brackets are installed above the decorative coating, which are called racks. Platforms or chandelier hooks are attached to them.

Lamp selection

On sale there are bulbs of different sizes, shapes, powers. Incandescent lamps are considered the cheapest, but they consume a lot of electricity and do not last long. For the balcony, you can buy energy-saving bulbs: fluorescent or LED. True, the price of the lamps is higher, but the service life is longer.

Incandescent

It is a popular light source. Such a light bulb costs less than others.The lamp emits a pleasant yellowish light. A lot of heat is generated during operation of such a light bulb. It will last 1000 hours. For 1 hour it consumes 0.060-0.100 kilowatts.

Luminescent

This is an energy saving light bulb. It is expensive, but it will last 10 times longer than an ordinary incandescent lamp. Powered by ultraviolet radiation. Does not flicker, does not heat up during prolonged use. It emits a soft and eye-pleasing light.

Halogen

This is an improved version of the incandescent lamp. Such a lamp glows with white light, illuminates all the details of the room, but emits heat. For a small balcony, one such lamp on the ceiling is enough. True, halogen bulbs have a minus - sensitivity to voltage drops in the network.

LEDs or LED strip

LED lamps use LEDs as light. Light bulbs with white LEDs are used for lighting, and colored LED strips are used for decorative purposes. In any lamp, instead of an incandescent lamp, you can install a replaceable LED bulb. One such lamp will last almost 10 years. In addition, LED bulbs are more energy efficient.

Step-by-step instructions for balcony lighting

We offer step-by-step instructions for creating lighting on the balcony and loggia:

1. Disconnect the power outlets first. To do this, find the circuit breaker belonging to your apartment in the distribution board and lower it down until it clicks.
2. Now you need to check if the electricity is really turned off. To do this, plug in a test screwdriver. If the voltage indicator on the screwdriver does not light up, then the phase has disappeared, and you can get down to business without fear.
3. Unscrew all screws holding the socket and pull the core out of the socket.
4. Prepare the cable. To do this, at the ends of the cord, it is necessary to cut off the insulation and strip the wires by 1 cm. Next, put the clamping lugs (terminals) on the ends of the wires or twist the wires into a ring.
5. Connect the wire to the outlet. The blue wire must be connected to zero, and the second (black, red or white) to the phase.
6. After connecting the wires properly, plug the socket back into the socket and secure with the screws. Due to the protruding cable from the bottom, the outlet cover may not fit properly. The fix is ​​pretty easy: make a small notch for the cable in the plastic.
7. At the next stage, the newly laid cable must be fixed and veiled so that it does not spoil the overall appearance of the interior. It is advisable to lead the cord to the plinth in the cable duct, and then lay it up to the balcony in the plinth cable box. Attaching the cable channel is quite simple if you use a dowel nails.
8. You can run the cord directly onto the balcony through the wall by drilling a hole in it with a puncher, or under the balcony door or window sill through a layer of polyurethane foam. The second option is much simpler and better from an aesthetic point of view.
9. On the balcony, the cord can also be brought to the desired place in the cable channels or in the corrugation. Helpful advice: if you do not want to spoil the general appearance of the interior even at the stage of renovation, lay the wiring in a hidden way. To do this, it is worth resorting to wall chipping and subsequent plastering. Alternative option: if the balcony is finished with plasterboard, clapboard or panels, the cable in a fire-retardant corrugation is laid between the insulation and the finishing cladding.

Lighting options

The illumination of the balcony is designed in accordance with the functional use of this space. For high-quality lighting, several sources are connected. One lamp per balcony is out of order.

To illuminate balconies and loggias, they are trying to connect ceilings and floors by conducting multi-level wiring. If you add spot lighting using built-in lamps, you get a mini botanical garden.

Balcony

It is possible to organize the illumination of balconies with the help of one lighting device. The installation site should be determined in accordance with the design decision. If the space is not assigned specific functions, then good lighting is not required. More light sources are needed for special use.

For a small balcony, one lamp will be enough

If the balcony is well insulated and completely repeats the temperature regime of the room, then any lamp can be used. Usually installed are those that are adapted for apartments. If the functionality of the room is not determined, then it is easy to get by with a portable or table lamp, arrange everything without supplying electricity, using ordinary sconces, wall lamps. This is the simplest and most importantly mobile way to illuminate the balcony.

Loggia

For a loggia, lamps can be open and have several points of light. The space parameters of the loggias are large enough, so it is better to resort to a multi-level method of distributing light devices. A large and varied number of lighting elements are used to organize the cabinet.

The loggia requires several light sources

If the loggia is not glazed, street wall lamps with a metal frame with glass are used. Moisture will not penetrate inside such a lamp, which excludes the possibility of damage to the bulb. The latter must meet increased safety requirements.

Balcony-cabinet

The organization of the lighting design of the room, which will act as an office, should be as thoughtful and of high quality as possible. Light sources should be located closer to the place where the desktop will be installed. In such a room, only a table lamp can be used.

Also, spotlights are often installed above the work table in the ceiling. Wall sconces can be suspended, swivel devices with the ability to direct light to the desired point. Outside the working area, it is not necessary to illuminate effectively as well - two lamps are enough here.

Winter Garden

In the case of organizing a botanical corner, you need to set the maximum number of light sources with different powers. The winter garden can also be heated with lighting fixtures. After operation, the lighting structure can be easily dismantled.

Design solutions

To create original ideas, all kinds of devices are used: point, wall, floor, table, suspended ceiling. The room can also be illuminated in a mixed way. The main option for organizing a design solution is the choice of non-standard lighting devices. See photos of illuminated balcony designs.

Safety engineering

Both closed and open types of balconies are a particularly fire hazardous place.

Therefore, it is necessary to observe precautions: insulate electrical wiring as much as possible and do not use flammable materials when decorating balconies (plastic is especially dangerous)

In cases of short-circuits, the possibility of fires with hidden wiring is minimal. Use copper wires. They are the most resistant to overload and last longer than aluminum ones. Aluminum wires have only one advantage - low price.

Note: Please note that you cannot combine copper and aluminum wiring.

Criteria for choosing lamps for a balcony

The choice of lamps for balcony lighting is based on the following aspects:

• durability;
• profitability;
• moisture resistance;
• resistance to temperature extremes.

If you can carry out heating on the loggia and make a full-fledged living area out of the room, choose any light sources that you use in all other rooms. What lamps are most suitable for organizing balcony lighting in terms of efficiency and functionality?

1. Incandescent bulbs are a popular and cheap option.They can hardly be called economically profitable, because they quickly fail, and they consume a lot of energy.
2. Fluorescent lamps, they are also energy saving. They have a longer lifespan than conventional bulbs and provide enough light. Plus, they are energy efficient. Such lamps are ideal for organizing a greenhouse on the balcony.
3. Halogen lamps continuously work for the benefit of people for up to 9 thousand hours. This is one of the most cost effective options in terms of energy costs.
4. LED bulbs are the most popular decorative lighting option. Thanks to the variety of lamp colors and different modulation options, the field of application of LEDs in lighting is very wide. These lamps are cheap and consume little energy, which is a huge plus.
5. Fiber optic is the most expensive lighting option, but also the safest. For chic decor, fiber optic lighting is indispensable. It is suitable even for unheated balconies that are not protected from moisture.