How to make illumination of paintings in the interior of a house with your own hands: Review and Instructions

Pictures made of semi-precious stones

Original paintings made from semi-precious untreated stones will be a wonderful organic addition to any interior. You can order them, or you can make them yourself. To do this, you will need a canvas (preferably on a stretcher), a sketch of the drawing, a lot of stones of approximately the same size 1-1.5 cm in different colors, epoxy resin, a glue gun, a lot of time and a great desire to create a masterpiece.

This filler is round in shape and large in size; you will have to split it with your own hands using a cloth bag and a hammer. But then you can fully demonstrate your design qualities.

By assembling a mosaic from multi-colored glass or pebbles, you can create not only a natural landscape (which is very popular among Ural masters), but also create abstract mosaics for design or a canvas in the Japanese style. When decorating a room with plain painted walls, such a picture will be in perfect harmony with the red fans traditional for this style. Rooms with white walls will not look like hospital rooms in this design.

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Built-in wall lighting

Among the variety of lighting elements, built-in lamps are very popular. They illuminate the room well, and there is no need for additional wall or hanging fixtures. The built-in elements can be turned on all at the same time or only one lamp. In most cases, such lighting is built into plasterboard walls and involves the following actions:

Before starting work, it is necessary to determine the areas in the room that need lighting and its intensity.

If you need to illuminate a certain place, you should calculate the power of the lamps so that the light does not turn out to be too bright. At the preparatory stage, you should also pay attention to the style of the room. Lighting should match the interior. It is not recommended to install lighting elements only in the central part of the wall

Symmetrically located lamps at an equal distance from each other will look more attractive. Thanks to this arrangement, the lighting will spread evenly throughout the room. Next, you need to designate the placement of the lamps in the wall. Since plasterboard sheets are mounted on a frame, the material should be pierced in designated areas to ensure that there are no crossbars. If profiles are detected in this way, the fastening areas must be shifted. Then you need to measure the diameter of the lamp and, using a compass, make the appropriate marks on the wall surface. A hole is cut in the designated place using a knife. Next, you need to remove the power wire and strip its ends. Connecting clips are used to connect the wire to the lamp. The electrical box is inserted into the hole and then secured with screws. Then a lamp is placed in it, which is fixed with a spring. This greatly simplifies the installation process. At this point, the backlit plasterboard wall is ready.

DIY LED lighting

A flexible LED strip is a flexible strip, one side of which is an adhesive base, and resistors and LEDs are mounted on the other. The tape is divided into sections, each section contains 3 diodes and cut points. The LEDs are connected in series. Tapes are either open or protected with tubing or silicone. The RGB tape has four outputs - one for ground, the other three - for red, blue and green colors.

LED strip installation diagram

When starting installation, you need to accurately calculate how much tape is needed: measure the perimeter of the area that we will illuminate. Now let's calculate the total power consumption of the tape. To do this, the power of one meter must be multiplied by the total footage of the tape. Based on these calculations, we will select a controller and power supply. An experienced store salesperson will help you understand this issue.

Let's prepare the base. We will make a ledge on the ceiling from plasterboard. We will attach our tape to this protrusion pi. We clean the base from dust. Remove the protective film from the adhesive surface from the tape and press it to the base. The installation of the tape itself is very simple. The most difficult thing is to cut it correctly and connect it correctly.

Step-by-step installation of LED strip

Creating a light painting “Winter”

While looking through old Soviet postcards, I came across such a cute drawing. Since I had been planning to make a light painting for a long time, I decided that it was perfect.

I want to say a few words about choosing a drawing, if you know how to draw, then you have no problems, if not, then it’s not a problem either, in this case, any drawing you like from the Internet, diagrams of paper tunnels or a favorite postcard will do. So you have chosen a plot, before dividing the drawing into layers you must decide on the frame. The number of layers depends on the depth of the frame and vice versa, the number of layers can be any; the more there are, the more impressive your painting will look. In my case, the standard IKEA frame is 2.5 cm deep, so I can afford 5 layers with an interval of 3 mm between them, this will be 1.2 cm + the width of the LED strip 0.9 cm + glass thickness. Usually they make an interval of 5mm, but 3mm is not bad either. You have solved the technical issues, now you need to divide the drawing into layers. Use tracing paper, it’s very convenient, firstly, by placing your layers on top of each other, you will clearly see where each Christmas tree should be, and secondly, you will need to transfer each layer to a separate sheet.

All layers together on tracing paper

Here are the 1st and 2nd layers:

Third layer:

4 layer:

5 layer:

The photo shows that I added birch trees to the original drawing, I decided that this way the forest would be more “dense” and rich, accordingly, by adding some details to the selected drawing, you can increase the number of layers. If you have an icy pond and you want trees to be reflected in it, then the trees that will be reflected should be mirrored on the same sheet.

So, I divided the drawing into 5 layers and transferred them to paper, note that each sheet has a frame 1 - 1.2 cm wide around the perimeter. We cut out the fawn (2 pieces) and the bush separately. I'll cut out our pond from tracing paper, I have three of them, which you glue on layers 2, 3 and 4 on PVA (pointwise), due to the density of the tracing paper it does not deform. Please note that you cut the tracing paper to the full width of the sheet, and in height - along the upper edge of the snowdrifts of each layer.

Cut the foam board into strips 0.7 cm wide, and begin to assemble layers: between layers 1 and 2, 2 and 3, 3 and 4, 4 and 5, glue strips of foam board onto PVA around the perimeter. That's it with the picture itself.

We put our “sandwich” in the frame and cover it with another (whole) sheet of paper. We cut strips of foam board 0.9 cm wide and put them in the frame.

We glue the LED strip around the perimeter of the frame from foam cardboard strips

PS for those who don’t know how to connect the tape!

First you need to connect an adapter to it, it looks like this:

And the power adapter itself goes to the adapter, like this:

Please note that the adapter and tape must be identical, i.e. if your tape is designed for 12v, then the adapter should be 12v; I have a 24v tape, so the adapter is 24v. You can connect a 24v strip to a 12v adapter, the light will just be dimmer, but I don’t think it will work the other way around.

Close the back cover, plug it in and admire it!

Types of modular canvases

Depending on how many separate particles the canvas consists of, the following types are distinguished:

diptychs are an option consisting of 2 segments that fit perfectly even into the interior of a small room;
triptychs - contain 3 segments, which are most common among users, and from this they began to be considered classics of the genre;

penaptychs - consisting of 4 pieces, freely located on the wall;
polyptych - from five or more elements of a single canvas.

In order to decorate a room, you don’t have to adhere to strict rules. With the capabilities of today's printing, you don't have to be a professional artist to create modular paintings at home. Isn't this a challenge for a truly creative person?

Stylish table made of wooden slats with your own hands

This bench can serve as a coffee table, extra seating, or a place to place indoor plants. This piece of furniture will “fit” well into almost any interior!

DIY coffee table photo

Materials:

3 boards 2.5×7.5 cm;
1 board 2.5×10 cm;
8 boards 2.5x5 cm;
4 leg mounts;
4 conical legs 30-40 cm long (depending on the required height of the table);
8 screws 3.5 cm long;
32 wood screws with a flat head, 3 cm long;
16 finishing nails 3.75 cm long;
Gorilla Glue;
wood putties;
primer and paint for wooden surfaces;
sandpaper 120 and 220 grit.

Tools:

hacksaw;
drill and drill bits;
Kreg set for drilling countersunk holes at an angle;
2 short and 2 long clamps;
roulette;
hammer;
grinding machine.

Step One: Using a hacksaw, cut the ends of two 2.5 x 7.5 cm boards at a 45 degree angle. Cut out fragments from 2.5x5 cm bars, the length of which will correspond to the internal length of 2.5x7.5 cm blanks.

how to make a coffee table with your own hands. Photo

Step two: Place 2.5x5 cm of the workpiece in the middle, and 2.5x7.5 cm on the edges. Make sure the ends of the inner slats are aligned.

Step three: Measure the distance between the outermost 2.5x7.5 cm bars and cut two pieces of this length from 2.5x10 cm boards. They will serve as lower supports for the bench. Secure them by screwing self-tapping screws into each longitudinal rail.

Step Four: Using a Kreg Jig, drill two pocket holes at each end of the support crossbars. These holes will be used to connect to the 2.5 x 7.5 cm edge bars.

Tip: It is difficult to give specific recommendations regarding how far from the edge to attach a Kreg Jig. This depends on the length of the screws used, the exact thickness of the board, etc. We advise you to first practice on unnecessary scraps of boards.

unusual coffee table with your own hands. Photo

Step five: Place 2.5x7.5 cm blanks along the edges of the structure. After making sure that their ends are at the same level, secure them with clamps.

Tip: If you use soft wood (for example, pine) to make the table, place unnecessary scraps of boards under the clamp supports. Otherwise, marks from the clamps will remain on the wood.

Step Six: Securely attach the outer 2.5x7.5 cm bars to the base of the bench by screwing 3.5 cm screws into the countersunk holes that you made a little earlier at the ends of the support crossbars.

coffee table made of wood. Master Class

Step seven: Measure the width of the manufactured base to determine how long you need to cut 2.5x7.5 cm blanks for the ends of the bench. We recommend that you make a cut with a small margin in length, and then slowly grind off the excess until you achieve the perfect fit.

Step Eight: Wet the ends of all slats with water and apply a small amount of Gorilla Glue.

Step Nine: Place the end boards in their designated locations and secure the entire structure with a strap to prevent it from falling apart while the glue is wet. For reliability, you can additionally secure the ends with several finishing nails.

Step Ten: Sand the surface of the bench with 120-grit sandpaper to remove any rough edges at the joints. Fill all gaps in the seams and recesses from nail heads (the latter must be recessed into the wood) with putty. Once the putty is dry, sand the surface again, this time with 220 grit sandpaper.

Step Eleven: Paint the bench. We recommend that you sand the surface again using 400 grit sandpaper and water before painting.

Step Twelve: Install special mounting plates on the lower support crossbars to secure the legs. When attaching them, make sure that you drill holes in places where there are no screws already screwed in. The distance from the fastening to the edge of the base of the bench should be about 2.5 cm. Screw the legs themselves into the fastenings.

Read with this

Photos of paintings with your own hands

DIY light painting

The black and white painting will become a real decoration of any room. An interesting and original craft, in addition to its aesthetic function, you can also use it as a cute night light.

To create you will need the following:

A sketch on the basis of which the painting will be created. When creating it, it is necessary to take into account all the “highlights and gaps” so that the resulting picture looks solid and complete.

Good quality cardboard or paper. In our case, the format is 210 by 297 mm.
Knife for prototyping.
Frame for fixing sheets.

Box-frame. You can choose any deep frame that fits the size of your base.
LED strip.

Sequencing:

First, prepare a space for creativity. To make a neat glowing painting with your own hands, cut out the work on a hard, clean surface.

After all the necessary elements have been cut out, secure the frame of each layer.
Install the selected lighting inside the frame and lay each layer together with the frame.

Ready! You can enjoy the painting you made yourself or give it to friends.

Some tips:

Take your time - try to get maximum pleasure from the curly cutting process.
When cutting long straight lines, it is advisable to use a ruler.
Try to cut curves and circles with a slight indentation from the stencil - this way you can later correct the line.
It is more convenient to cut out the most curved sections of a backlit painting with your own hands using nail scissors.

New Year's light panels

If we talk about New Year's themes, you can also make a panel with the inscription “Happy New Year!” or in the form of some kind of New Year's figure, for example, a Christmas tree, a snowman. There should always be some kind of base that you decorate with a garland.

Convex New Year's figures made of duralight will be an excellent addition to New Year's decor.

For example, cut out a snowman figure from thick cardboard. You can decorate it, for example, with cotton balls or sea salt on PVA glue to give it texture. Along the contour, the snowman will be framed with a garland. There is any way to fix it on the wall – from simple hanging at the back to simple buttons.

Light panel “Snowflake” (video)

New Year's electric panels

New Year's electric panels are compositions on a New Year's theme, equipped with an electric glow system.

The most popular types of such panels on the wall:

Snowflakes . Simple or patterned, light, multi-colored or made in the same color scheme.
Herringbone . It can also be simple, the lighting goes only along the contour, or it can be a complex panel, with tints, sensory.
New Year's deer . Recently, figurines of snow-white or red New Year's deer have become in great demand.

It’s not difficult to assemble a New Year’s light panel with your own hands: the main thing is to have a strong frame

You can compose a whole New Year's themed composition from several fragments.

Illuminated panel: we decorate the wall ourselves

To decorate a room with an original light panel, you don’t have to buy an expensive product in a store or order it from a workshop.

Most lamps are not difficult to make yourself, using available materials.

To do this, you only need to understand electrical engineering and have artistic taste.

Frame installation

The design options for such lamps are huge. One option involves making a box (to house the interior lighting), which is attached to the front decorative panel. To make it, you can use an ordinary photo frame with glass on which you want to make a stained glass window.

A simple drawing can be made even without artistic skills. On the reverse side, fix the sketch on paper and trace the outline of the stained glass window on the glass according to the finished template. Then fill it with color. Materials can be purchased at any specialized store.

A box is made of plastic, which must match the size of the front panel with the stained glass window. All elements will then need to be fastened with a special, very strong glue or use household brands (“Titan”, “Master”, etc.) For a better reflective effect, foil is glued inside the box.

Design of LED dots under the frame

To get uniform lighting, you need to choose an LED strip of low power and with a more frequent arrangement of bulbs.

You will also need a transformer of suitable power.

LED strips are glued to the foil evenly over the bottom area of the box.

They are connected to a transformer and output using a regular copper wire to the outlet.

If you have no experience working with electrical appliances, then it is easier to use a Christmas tree garland as a light element, choosing the one that is suitable in terms of power, size, and color of the bulbs.

Mounting a picture with backlight

When the blanks are completed, the front panel is glued to the box. All that remains is to install a reliable fastening element to the lamp, taking into account the weight of the structure, in order to place the finished panel on the wall.

Modular picture with backlight

A glowing three-panel painting will decorate the walls of your room and make your guests think you're a professional artist.

Tools and materials

To create an original painting you will need the following:

Three finished canvases.

Important! The size of the canvases will depend on the size of the painting you want. Canvases must be the same size.

Acrylic paints - black, white and blue.
Brushes of different sizes - thick is suitable for applying the background to the canvas, thin and medium - for drawing.
LED strip - 100 lights will be enough.
Screwdriver.
Scissors.
Scotch.

Sequencing:

Paint the canvas with blue paint using a thick brush. To make the color brighter, you can apply two layers of paint.
After the paint has completely dried, draw one small dandelion on the first canvas - here you can either use your imagination, or find a ready-made version on the Internet and copy it.
Paint the center of the dandelion with white paint. Then add the stem and fluffs of color.

Important! To add dynamism to the picture, draw seeds flying up.

After the paint has dried, you can begin creating the backlight. Make small holes in the canvas in the middle of the flowers and fluffs, there you will insert LED lights.

Important! If threads remain when piercing the canvas, remove them with scissors.

Insert the lights into the prepared holes and secure the garland to the wrong side of the picture with tape.
Cover the canvas with varnish - it will give the painting additional shine.
Since our canvases are the same size, use a ruler and level to position them as evenly as possible on the wall.

LED backlight selection

When searching for the optimal LED backlight model, you need to consider the following points:

It is necessary to determine in advance where the paintings will hang, and then carefully prepare the electrical wiring diagram: terminals for lighting, type of sconces, lamps and other elements of technical and decorative lighting.
For each individual case, you need to select a special backlight brightness. The level of softness of the light, as well as its temperature, also matters.

Attention! The optimal color rendering index is from 70 to 90. The best parameters for the color of the luminous flux are considered to be 2700-3000 K

Relevant information can be found on the packaging of lighting products.

Before purchasing wall sconces, you need to make sure that they fit perfectly with the interior of the room.
An original solution is an LED lamp built into a canvas or mirror. Such lighting allows you to highlight important details of the product. Thanks to the presence of a switch, the backlight can be used only when necessary.

How to choose a light panel for the interior

First of all, the light panel should match the style of the room and color scheme

When choosing, it is important to take into account the recommendations of designers:

Panels look more impressive on light, plain walls.
The room should not be overloaded with furniture and decorative elements.
The panel should be organically combined with other furnishings and present a single composition with them.
If a small light painting can perfectly complement other, more voluminous interior decorations, then a large panel on the entire wall is already the main bright accent and in the room besides it there should be no other decors of the same format, otherwise they will drown out each other.
This piece of decoration provides an additional source of light. Therefore, when choosing and placing, consider how well the panel will look and illuminate the room. Combination with other lighting fixtures also plays a big role.

Take these nuances into account in advance so that there are no “surprises” later after installing the panel.

Light panel on the window: stylish decoration

A light stained glass panel is an exquisite decor that looks great on small windows, door windows and windows that are more decorative.

Stained glass panels can be ordered from craftsmen who use different technologies in the manufacture of these beautiful things

Technologies for creating stained glass light panels:

Sintering;
Painted stained glass windows;
Soldering technology.

Sintering has another name – fusing. This technique of creating stained glass has only been actively used for a couple of decades. Its essence is that glass fragments are sintered in a furnace at a temperature of 800 degrees, and the edges of the fragments melt. Products using this technology are durable, multi-layered, moisture-permeable, and embossed.

DIY light painting

The black and white painting will become a real decoration of any room. An interesting and original craft, in addition to its aesthetic function, you can also use it as a cute night light.

To create you will need the following:

Good quality cardboard or paper. In our case, the format is 210 by 297 mm.
Knife for prototyping.
Frame for fixing sheets.

Box-frame. You can choose any deep frame that fits the size of your base.
LED strip.

Sequencing:

First, prepare a space for creativity. To make a neat glowing painting with your own hands, cut out the work on a hard, clean surface.

After all the necessary elements have been cut out, secure the frame of each layer.
Install the selected lighting inside the frame and lay each layer together with the frame.

Ready! You can enjoy the painting you made yourself or give it to friends.

Some tips:

Take your time - try to get maximum pleasure from the curly cutting process.
When cutting long straight lines, it is advisable to use a ruler.
Try to cut curves and circles with a slight indentation from the stencil - this way you can later correct the line.
It is more convenient to cut out the most curved sections of a backlit painting with your own hands using nail scissors.

DIY LED painting with 3D effect Add to bookmarks 24

Making a three-dimensional panel of LEDs is much easier than it seems at first glance.
It looks even more interesting if, in addition to the LED frame, there is also a pattern, also made with LEDs. You can also make such a spectacular picture in the spirit of love to infinity for your interior if you follow the step-by-step instructions below. To make a painting with LEDs with your own hands, prepare:

LED strip;
LEDs, 14 pcs.;
picture frame 50 x 50 cm (IKEA);
mirror 50 x 50 cm;
papier-mâché heart;
foil;
mirror film;
window cleaner;
a rag;
hot glue sticks;
pieces of foam;
double tape;
heat gun;
wires.

Step 1

. Disassemble the frame. To do this, bend the fasteners and remove the cardboard backing along with the sheet of paper that was inserted into the frame.

Step 2

. Cover the glass in the frame with mirror film on the inside. Before starting this process, be sure to clean the surface with a special detergent.

Step 3

. Attach LEDs to the sides of the papier-mâché heart. You can use hot glue for this. The LEDs will need to be soldered together using wires. Don't forget to add resistors to the circuit.

Step 4

. Place two pieces of foam inside the heart. Secure them also with hot glue. Please note that the foam should protrude slightly beyond the edges of the heart, so that when attached inside the panel, this part of the composition seems to float in the air. Apply double tape to the pieces of foam. It will be needed to secure the heart inside the picture.

Step 5

. Wrap the heart in foil. The LEDs must be visible from the outside. Glue the blank in the center of the mirror.

Step 6

. Attach the LED strip to the inside of the frame. Use a furniture stapler as a fastening tool. Handle the staples carefully so that they do not damage the tape itself. Solder the wires to the tape.

Step 7

. Make a cutout in the frame for the wires to come out.

Step 8

. Insert the mirror and the back cardboard part of the frame into the frame. Don't forget to bring the wires out. Bend the fasteners.

The frame with the original three-dimensional image is ready. All you have to do is connect it to a power source.

Multi-level lighting in home interiors

Uniform, bright and non-flashing light from LEDs does not harm our vision. Depending on what material the semiconductor itself is made of, the color of the backlight changes from classic white to any shade of the rainbow palette.

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

Lamps for main or additional spot lighting.
Tubes - for illuminating the perimeter of large-area plasterboard or suspended 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. Ribbons are used for both basic lighting and decorative purposes.
LED cords with all-round lighting - 360 degrees are used in design in almost the same way as strips.

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

You can create a starry sky on the ceiling

Decorative panel lamps

Such lamps usually decorate the interior of a hallway or room where lighting of some area is required. And everything is done simply, you buy a diode strip, stick it on and install the adapter. You strengthen the panel above the door. And the role of the panel itself can be played by a structure with holes - metal or other dense material. So that light shines through the holes.

At the same time, this design shines very brightly, soft light floods the entire room. On the mezzanines you can find old Soviet-style panels, which will be attached to the LED strip.

DIY panel lamp for the interior (video)

Light panels are always a little bit of magic in the interior. This is a cheap way to transform your home, and not just for the holidays. You can buy a ready-made panel, you can build it yourself, and please yourself, your household, and your guests with yet another light from the hearth.

Black and white paintings

It’s even easier to make a black and white picture with your own hands. To do this you will need the Internet, a printer, photo paper and a laminator. Black and white photography has never gone out of style. Photographers often resort to black and white film when shooting portraits, flowers, and animals.

It is this way of conveying emotions and natural phenomena that allows you to focus on the main thing, and not on the combination of colors. In addition, when making a printout from a color printer, you cannot be sure that color distortion will not occur.

They can be located in the walls between window openings, above rest areas. Such homemade paintings will fit perfectly into both a classic interior and a high-tech design.

General information

In the hands of a competent designer, a painting will help give the room originality and charm. Besides this, how do you look at the idea of creating a gallery from an apartment or a separate room? After all, they carry a certain emotional message. When creating his masterpiece, each artist gives a piece of himself, puts his soul into it. Perhaps it is for this reason that one feels enchanted when viewing the paintings. And you want to stand near some paintings for hours, as they beckon to you. To get the right feeling of presentation, you will need the right lighting for the paintings.

But keep in mind that the location of the lamps may vary. In addition, even the lighting elements themselves may differ from each other. You've probably seen and noticed more than once that different light bulbs produce different colors. Some of them emit white cold, others a radiance like the sun at noon.

With the right lighting, it will be possible to examine in detail each stroke, which emphasizes the overall idea of the picture and makes it more expressive. For this reason, choosing lighting becomes an important and responsible task.

Please note that to choose decent lighting you need to choose the right place in the interior of the apartment.

Determination of quantity

To create a cozy atmosphere in the room, when the lighting is not annoying, but there is no darkness, you need to choose the right power of the lamps, their location and quantity.

There is an easy method for determining the number of lamps: for five square meters of room volume, at least sixty and no more than seventy-five kilowatts of light power should be consumed.

If you turn to a specialist for this task, he will prepare a house lighting scheme with all the details and in various variations. In addition, you can get useful information on installation rules.

Successful options for the location of light sources and their quantity can be seen in the photo of house lighting.

Selection of images for the kitchen

For example, in the kitchen what looks best is not modern delights or abstraction, but realistic images of flowers, fruits, coffee beans, but it is better to avoid photographs with spiders, snakes and other subjects that can worsen appetite. The ability to abstract is not given to everyone, and having a little why in the house there is no guarantee that during a meal, he will not want to find out what this creature depicted in the picture eats.

The location of the canvas with a glossy surface under or next to the light source is not the best. A self-made panel with internal lighting solves this problem.

How to simulate a Martian dawn: a review of Nanoleaf Shapes smart lighting systems

Are you dreaming of decorating your home with colorful LED lights, but don't know where to start? Well, now you have an option: the new Nanoleaf Shapes series of smart modular lighting systems. It is called this because all the modules, or panels, have different shapes. This means that you can do much more with this system than with its predecessors: Aurora (renamed Light) and Canvas.

We tell you what is the beauty of the light panels of the new Shapes series.

In previous episodes

Nanoleaf was founded by three engineers, graduates of the University of Toronto. They introduced their first consumer product in 2012: the Nanoleaf One LED light bulb. It was distinguished by high energy efficiency and high brightness. The design was reminiscent of origami figures. The shape was chosen for practical reasons: the light bulb was made of printed circuit boards in such a way as not to overheat. It gave a luminous flux of 133 lumens. The project raised $250,000 on Kickstarter. The second version, Nanoleaf Bloom, raised $200,000 a year later from crowdfunding platform backers.

For the new type of light source, Nanoleaf received two Red Dot Awards, for design and innovation. Not wanting to rest on its laurels, the company changed its focus and moved into entire smart home lighting systems.

The result of the work was Nanoleaf LED panels. Triangular Nanoleaf Light and square Canvas are modules that can be assembled in any way, like a Lego constructor. The walls or even the ceiling turn into a canvas of light. Build compositions of any complexity on the surface, depending on what your imagination and supply of modules are enough for. Do you want a lamp in the form of a light panel, like in a sci-fi movie? Here. A ribbon bending over a computer? Please. Christmas tree or stylized robot? Just ask.

Only the first panel is powered directly from the network, while the rest are supplied with power through special connectors.

Features of Nanoleaf Aurora and Canvas:

triangular panels are compatible only with triangular ones, and square ones only with square ones;
controlled from a smartphone and connected to smart home systems;
Canvas responds to touch and is controlled tactilely;
can shine in time with the music, acting as a kind of visual equalizer (in the case of Aurora, this requires the Rhythm module, which recognizes sounds).

Read more about the Light and Canvas system in our previous materials.

LED panels have acquired a large number of fans and imitators. The release of a new version was a matter of time. It was announced in May 2022: meet Nanoleaf Shapes.

In search of new forms

The Nanoleaf Shapes series is the third generation of Nanoleaf panels. The developers came up with a new concept for it. Now there are three types of panels:

Hexagon, hexagons measuring 20 x 23 x 0.6 cm;
Triangles, triangles measuring 20 x 23 x 0.6 cm;
Mini Triangles, triangles measuring 10 x 11.5 x 0.6 cm.

All panels can be freely combined with each other. Apparently, if any new options appear in the future, they can be easily attached to the existing panel. But old modules will not work. Shapes, Aurora and Canvas are not physically compatible. With the new system, you will have to start assembling the light panel all over again.

How to mount Shapes

A panel of Shapes modules is mounted on walls or ceilings, just like previous versions of Nanoleaf panels. In Canvas and Aurora, double-sided tape from the kit was used for this. As a rule, its strength was enough, but in rare cases it was necessary to look for stronger adhesive tape or use mounting kits. To change the configuration of the panels, they had to be torn off from the wall entirely, along with pieces of paint or wallpaper if the glue turned out to be too tenacious.

With the new system, everything is different: each Shapes module has a separate base, to which a special adhesive layer is attached. They are fixed together on the wall, just like the old panels. But then, when you need to remove the panel, the light panel is easily separated from the base. To dismantle the fastening element itself, it is enough to pull out the adhesive layer from under it - and the base will detach from the wall without leaving any traces.

Shapes panels are connected to each other using standard connectors. Through them, power and commands are supplied, which panels turn on, in what order, what color they light up and how brightly. Power to the entire assembled LED strip is supplied through a separate controller unit, which is discreetly attached to any triangle or hexagon.

The final composition of the panel is entirely in the control of the owner of Shapes. If I had had panels like this when I was a kid, I would definitely have used hexagons to make the wall look like a battlefield from Heroes of Might and Magic (hey fans!).

Controlling smart light

Let's move on to management and settings. Just connect the controller to the panel and to the power supply, and the individual modules will light up with an even white light. Next they need to be configured. Nanoleaf Shapes can be controlled in four ways:

buttons on the controller
via Nanoleaf app
touch-sensitive, panels respond to touch
voice assistants Apple Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa

Among other things, Shapes work with the proprietary Nanoleaf Remote controller, but this is a topic for a separate review.

The controller is the simplest and most intuitive way to control the panels. It has a button to turn it on and off, increase and decrease brightness, and change the preloaded color scheme of the panels. In addition, the controller listens to the surrounding sounds to turn on the light and music. The button with musical notes changes the standard modes and allows you to choose how the backlight will shimmer to the music.

The controller works with a Wi-Fi network and serves as a hub between the application and panels. In order not to connect the panels to the Wi-Fi network, it can be switched to hotspot mode.

Through the Nanoleaf app, you can customize the panels even further. The app works on iOS and Android devices and allows you to do four things:

customize the colors, brightness and animation of each panel;
draw layouts of diagrams of the entire composition;
set the panel operation schedule;
configure interaction with a smart home, including through the Touch function.

It's fun to draw your own layouts. The panels have a huge palette of 16.7 million colors - plus a variety of shapes. And all that remains is to set the desired pattern, which is accessible to technically unadvanced users. By the way, then you can use augmented reality mode to see what the finished panel will look like.

Touch is a touch feature that turns any Shapes panel into a smart home control button. By clicking on a triangle or hexagon, you can launch an entire scenario. For example, in the morning, boil a smart kettle, heat up a smart waffle iron and turn on the panel illumination circuit that simulates a dawn. Martian if you're a geek! Plus, turn on the smart heater - if you are a geek living in Russia. The future is here in the form of smart home appliances: we warned you.

In addition, Shapes panels can synchronize their work with a smart TV if the system is placed next to it. They imitate the shades on its screen and dynamically reproduce a similar color pattern. Great for immersion. Turn on the Justice League Snyder Cut and watch it both on your TV and on the wall behind it. Finally, a near-theatrical release of the most underrated four hours in superhero movie history.

Why is this necessary?

We managed to talk about how pressing one panel of Nanoleaf Shapes will help you meet the morning. It’s tempting to turn the panel into a smart home control panel, but in fact the main function is to create light space and atmosphere in the room.

The panels draw attention to the desired areas and objects. Hang them above your workstation with a powerful computer to highlight the futuristic design of the system unit. Decorate the wall in the living room where you gather guests. Maybe use light to highlight your collection of vinyl records or gamer trophies.

Parties and movie nights seem to be the best way to use the panels. Since the panels glow in time with the music, you don’t have to think about the design. It’s enough to choose a mode that suits your mood from the library and enjoy the lighting effects.

It should be noted that it is better to turn off the music mode while sleeping - if you snore, there is a chance to oversleep in a disco atmosphere.

What can you buy

Nanoleaf offers separate starter kits for each type of panel. Each includes a controller and power adapter, and a different number of panels:

Hexagon sets of 5, 9 and 15 elements;
Triangles sets of 4, 9 and 15 elements;
Mini Triangles sets of 5 elements.

When your appetite grows, you can purchase additional sets, which contain only panels and fasteners. More panels - it’s easier to create light panels of different sizes, shapes and complexities.

Brief summary

The Nanoleaf Shapes smart lighting system develops and complements the functions that existed in previous generations. Now these are panels of different sizes that are really simple to install and easy to connect.

The result: a highly customizable glowing panel. This can be endlessly supplemented with new panels or completely reconfigured without damaging the walls.

You can buy new Nanoleaf products in the Madrobots online store: Nanoleaf Shapes Hexagon, Triangles and Mini Triangles. For Habr readers, there is a 15% discount on all starter kits and additional Shapes panels using the promo code MADSHAPES15 .

Operating principle of LED strip

LED lighting for paintings can be in the form of a strip and highlight the entire perimeter of the product or just the image (built into the frame). Such devices can be moisture-resistant and simple, single-color or multi-color. The moisture-resistant version is equipped with a silicone shell, which allows you to illuminate the space in rooms with high humidity. With the help of multi-colored ribbons you can emphasize certain interior details. Moreover, they have different luminous flux intensities. Such devices operate from a 12 V DC network and are connected using a power supply.

With the help of LED strips, wide possibilities open up for the implementation of any ideas, for example, you can highlight the entire perimeter of the picture, one or several sides. In addition, they have several more advantages:

the ability to control the light flux;
ease of installation and connection, since the device has a simple circuit and a small number of connected elements);
low power consumption.

Choosing a place for lighting

To make a person feel comfortable in a room, it is necessary to correctly position the LED lighting for paintings. For example, it can be located: outside, inside, around the perimeter, supplemented with auxiliary devices, etc. Using lamps, you can emphasize the shape, color and other features of products. If you choose the right distance and angle of incidence of light, you can control the flow and choose the most successful design options.

Depending on the location, lighting can be: contour, spot, directional or shaped. The first option involves using strips with LEDs. Spot lights have a directional glow, while strip lights have a diffused glow. You can also arrange lighting at the top of the picture, below or on the sides. The option of three-sided illumination is very popular today. To make the interior look harmonious and beautiful, it should be combined with the lighting of the entire room.

Lighting options for paintings

Several types of lighting elements can be used to illuminate works of art:

Fluorescent lamps. The most popular device for illuminating canvases and mirrors. They are characterized by a long service life and soft diffused light.
Incandescent lamps. Great for illuminating handicrafts, but use too much electricity and can distort the light. Canvases with such backlighting will not demonstrate their true color range. When using this lamp, art objects should be protected with special glass.

Halogen lamps. This is the best option for illuminating silk-screen printing. They tend to get very hot, which contributes to accelerated aging of the paint and the appearance of cracks. When illuminating an antique work, it is recommended to equip the lamp with a special coating.
LEDs. A useful new product in the field of lighting elements. They save energy, do not heat up and can last up to 10 years.

The following lamps cannot be used as lighting for paintings:

Infrared. They lead to fading of colors on works of art.
Ultraviolet. When exposed to ultraviolet light, paint molecules disintegrate and the canvas deteriorates quite quickly.

How to choose a panel for the interior?

A mural can be an attractive centerpiece in any room. It can be placed on the central wall in the living room, where friends and guests often gather. In principle, such an installation can be placed in any room. But remember the basic rule - the decorative panel must be made in the style of the interior. Inappropriate frilly elements, no matter how attractive and bright they may be individually, can ruin the overall impression.

Designers claim that light panels on neutral-colored walls look more attractive. It is advisable that the premises have a minimum of furniture. In addition, the theme, color and accent “roll call” in the room will be an ideal addition to creating an attractive and unique interior.

Modern designers are noticing a high demand for porthole panels, which create the effect of an additional window in the house. Often the motives for installations are mysterious cosmic landscapes and the beauty of the seabed.

Light panels on the wall are used not only in the interiors of shops, restaurants and clubs. Such attractive things can fit perfectly into the design of a modern apartment.

Light panel on the wall in the apartment

A wall light panel is a thin structure made of fabric or plastic, with a backlight located behind or on the side.

Artistic painting is applied to the surface by craftsmen, thanks to which the panel becomes a stylish, original and self-sufficient element of the interior

At the same time, masters in panel design can use both realistic images and fantastic, bright paintings, which, when the lights are turned off in the room, create a completely special, magical atmosphere. From a simple starry sky to views of landscapes of distant planets.

Pictures made of semi-precious stones

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Built-in wall lighting

DIY LED lighting

Creating a light painting “Winter”

Types of modular canvases

Stylish table made of wooden slats with your own hands

Photos of paintings with your own hands

DIY light painting

To create you will need the following:

Sequencing:

Some tips:

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Light panel “Snowflake” (video)

New Year's electric panels

Illuminated panel: we decorate the wall ourselves

Frame installation

Design of LED dots under the frame

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Modular picture with backlight

Tools and materials

Sequencing:

LED backlight selection

How to choose a light panel for the interior

Light panel on the window: stylish decoration

DIY light painting

To create you will need the following:

Sequencing:

Some tips:

DIY LED painting with 3D effect Add to bookmarks 24

Multi-level lighting in home interiors

Decorative panel lamps

DIY panel lamp for the interior (video)

Black and white paintings

General information

Determination of quantity

Selection of images for the kitchen

How to simulate a Martian dawn: a review of Nanoleaf Shapes smart lighting systems

In previous episodes

In search of new forms

How to mount Shapes

Controlling smart light

Why is this necessary?

What can you buy

Brief summary

Operating principle of LED strip

Choosing a place for lighting

Lighting options for paintings

How to choose a panel for the interior?

Light panel on the wall in the apartment

Light wall panel in the interior (video)