{"title":"Staircase lights","description":"\u003cp\u003eLight the step, not the eye: a low wall light along the stringer, a profile under the stair nosing and an ambient source on the landing are enough to make a staircase readable. Stair lights are chosen first on how they are fixed, then on how they cast light onto the steps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cnav\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#eblouir\"\u003eLighting without glare\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#applique\"\u003eThe wall light\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#choisir\"\u003eWall light, ceiling light or strip\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#exterieur\"\u003eOutdoor staircase\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#detecteur\"\u003eMotion sensor\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#normes\"\u003eStandards and safety\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#deco\"\u003eMatching the adjoining room\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"#installer\"\u003eInstallation and maintenance\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/nav\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"eblouir\"\u003eHow do you light a staircase without glare and without multiplying light points?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo light a staircase without glare, the light lands on the step and not in the line of sight: a low wall light along the stringer, a profile under the stair nosing or a recessed spot at grazing angle. An ambient source on the landing completes the whole without multiplying light points.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInterior stair lighting: light the steps or the wall?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wall carries the light, the step receives it. A wall light that projects downwards and towards the step draws a clean pool on the stair nosing, without washing the wall full in the face. Interior stair lighting is judged by this simple test: if the source is visible when you look up as you climb, it is badly aimed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInterior stair lighting: which light colour to choose?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAround 2700 to 3000 K, the light stays warm and does not whiten the stair wood. A circulation landing copes with 3000 to 4000 K for a more neutral rendering. Interior stair lighting benefits from staying within a single white family, otherwise the flights look uneven.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"applique\"\u003eStair wall light: why is it the most common format?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe stair wall light is fixed to the side wall at handrail height and directs light towards the step without crossing the gaze of the person climbing. It frees the width of the passage, needs no major works to be powered and is easy to change.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eInterior stair wall light: where to fix it along the climb?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAllow one wall light every two to three metres of flight, at about 1.10 m from the finished floor, above the handrail. On a wide staircase or walls set far from the step, lighting both sides balances the light; on a narrow staircase, one well-aimed side is enough. Compare the shapes with the \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/lampes-minimaliste\"\u003eminimalist selection\u003c\/a\u003e when the wall is already busy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStairwell wall light: which model when the stairwell is open?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an open stairwell, the wall light is seen from behind from the living room: the model matters as much as the light. A mesh or metal wall light asserts its presence, a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-en-ceramique\"\u003eceramic piece\u003c\/a\u003e softens a white wall. \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-coloris-noir-pour-salon\"\u003eBlack finishes\u003c\/a\u003e hold up well on a metal stringer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"choisir\"\u003eInterior stair light: wall light, ceiling light or light strip?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe choice depends on the available width and the light wanted: the wall light guides the step, the ceiling light illuminates the landing, the strip underlines each stair nosing. A narrow staircase prefers the wall light or the profile, which do not protrude from the wall; a wide stairwell copes with a central pendant. In a WC or a small landing, the same wall light works if it stays diffuse and easy to clean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe strip and the light profile are reserved for straight staircases or removable stringers: they need a continuous cable run and a power point at the bottom of the flight. In terms of rendering, the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-led-design\"\u003edesign LED models\u003c\/a\u003e give a clean line without a visible bulb, to compare in the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003elighting catalogue\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ccaption\u003eWhich light to install depending on its use on the staircase\u003c\/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eType of light\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhere to install it\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat it brings\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTo check\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLow wall light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAlong the stringer, at handrail height\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLights the step without glare, frees the passage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFixing in a solid part of the wall\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStairwell wall light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStairwell wall, high up\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiffuse light, strong visual presence\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAccess for changing the bulb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLanding ceiling light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLanding ceiling or top of the climb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGeneral lighting of the stairwell\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHeight available under the ceiling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStrip or light profile\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eUnder the stair nosing or along the stringer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStep-by-step guidance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCable run and power point\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecessed spot\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWall or stringer, staggered\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiscretion and grazing light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNature of the surface to recess into\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStairwell pendant\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentre of the stairwell, high up\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVolume and ambient light\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDrop height and access for cleaning\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"exterieur\"\u003eOutdoor stair light: how do you protect it from the weather?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOutdoors, the light must withstand rain, damp and frost: a suitable ingress protection rating, a treated material and joints in good condition. The light is directed towards the step to illuminate the passage without a halo into the void or nuisance to the neighbours.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA garden staircase is read from the bottom up: place the source at the bottom of the flight, aimed at the first step, rather than at the top where it lights the void. The \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-orientables\"\u003eadjustable table lamps\u003c\/a\u003e from the house do not replace an outdoor model, even under a canopy. Treated \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-en-metal-pour-bureau\"\u003emetal\u003c\/a\u003e holds up outside, raw wood does not.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ccaption\u003eIndoor or outdoor staircase: the criteria that change\u003c\/caption\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCriterion\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eIndoor staircase\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOutdoor staircase\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eIngress protection rating\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSufficient for sheltered use\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMust withstand rain, damp and frost\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaterial\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWood, metal, glass, ceramic\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTreated metal and weather-resistant materials\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLight direction\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrazing on the step, never in the line of sight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAimed at the step, without a halo into the void\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eControl\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTwo-way switching or sensor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSensor or timer\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaintenance\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRegular dusting of the diffusers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCleaning of deposits and checking of the joints\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"detecteur\"\u003eStair light with sensor: what are the real advantages?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA light with a sensor switches the staircase on as you pass and off after an adjustable time: handy when your hands are full, economical when the staircase is rarely used. It complements two-way switching but does not replace it in a permanently used passage area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMotion sensor or two-way switch?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo-way switching remains the reference for a flight used every day: you control it from the bottom and from the landing, with no delay to set. The stair motion sensor takes over in a service staircase, a little-used entrance or an outdoor flight, where nobody looks for the button.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eCan a stair light be controlled from the ground floor and the landing?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, that is the principle of two-way switching, and an additional control point per level can be added to an existing circuit. Just check access to the junction boxes and the rating of the circuit before adding light points.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"normes\"\u003eWhat are the standards for a staircase?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no standard that imposes a light in a house staircase: the requirements concern the electrical safety of the circuit, the protection of persons and, in buildings open to the public, the emergency lighting of escape routes. In a dwelling, safety in use comes first.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn practice: isolation and protection of the circuit, equipment suited to damp, no exposed conduit within reach. In a place open to the public, the emergency lighting of escape routes and the marking of exits are the responsibility of an installer and a inspection body. In a house, the step stays visible and no source causes glare: that is the criterion that counts, and \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/luminaire\"\u003ethe Designix lighting universe\u003c\/a\u003e should be read with that grid.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"deco\"\u003eHow do you match the stair lighting with the decoration for the kitchen and adjoining rooms?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA staircase open to the living room or the kitchen is seen from the living area: the light placed on it must stay in the same family, warm and low in contrast, with a material that echoes the neighbouring lights. Two light temperatures that cut off at the boundary of the rooms are avoided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eLight colour for the living room and decoration for a modern kitchen: stay consistent\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePick up the temperature of the most used room in the evening: if the living room sits around 2700 K, the stair wall light follows. Kitchen decoration copes with a more neutral white on the worktop, but the staircase stays warm. A \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-led-pour-cuisine\"\u003elighting plan for the open kitchen\u003c\/a\u003e and a staircase at two different temperatures are immediately noticeable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eStaircase open to the living room: how do you avoid two atmospheres?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe finish provides continuity: \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-coloris-dore-noir\"\u003egold and black colours\u003c\/a\u003e on one side, \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-coloris-blanc-design\"\u003ewhite models\u003c\/a\u003e on the other, and the break shows. Choose the dominant material of the living room, then vary it. The light visible from the climb sets the tone: a \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-en-cristal\"\u003ecrystal model\u003c\/a\u003e calls for \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-moderne-pour-salon\"\u003emodern style\u003c\/a\u003e, a sober wall light fades away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2 id=\"installer\"\u003eHow do you install and maintain a stair light?\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wall light is fixed into a solid part of the wall, never into a hollow partition without a reinforcement, and access to the junction box is planned. Maintenance is limited to dusting the diffusers and checking the fixings, especially in a tall stairwell where dust settles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFixing: load-bearing wall, partition or stringer?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn a plasterboard partition, fit a mounting plate or a wooden reinforcement before the wall light: screws alone will not hold. On a wooden stringer, a through fixing with a washer spreads the load. Plan the run under the source: you do not place a wall light at shoulder height in a narrow flight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do you clean the lights in a tall stairwell?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA telescopic pole and a microfibre cloth are enough for the low wall lights. For a stairwell pendant, remove the diffuser before washing, then check the fixings when refitting. A \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/lampes-a-poser-en-bois-design\"\u003ewood finish\u003c\/a\u003e is dusted dry, without product.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow do you light a path?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sources are placed at the edge of the path, at low height, aimed at the ground and spread out to avoid dark areas. On a staircase, the principle stays the same: grazing light on the step, no source directly in the line of sight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eHow do you connect several lights to a single electrical supply?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeveral lights can run from the same supply if they stay on the same protected circuit: tap into an accessible junction box, with tight, labelled connections. The number of points and the combined power depend on the rating of the circuit, to be confirmed by an electrician.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eLarge chandelier for a high ceiling: where to place it in a stairwell?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a tall stairwell, the large chandelier hangs in the centre of the stairwell, high enough not to obstruct the climb or the view from the landing, low enough to light the volume. Above all, check access for changing it and cleaning it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eCan a living room chandelier be matched with the stair lights?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, provided you keep the same light family: similar material, finish shade and light colour. The living room chandelier visible from the staircase sets the tone; the wall light picks up its finish rather than being an isolated model, to avoid a visual break.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eWC light and stair light: can the same model work?\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA wall light model can serve in both spaces if the ingress protection rating and the fixing are suitable: in a WC, you want a diffuse light that is easy to clean; on the staircase, a light aimed at the step. They are two different uses, not two ranges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBefore ordering, check three points: the nature of the wall that will take the fixing, access to the power supply and the light colour of the adjoining room. Secure payment, tracked delivery, returns and Designix customer service accompany every order.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cscript type=\"application\/ld+json\"\u003e{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"CollectionPage\",\"name\":\"Stair lights: lighting the steps, the stringer and the landing\",\"description\":\"Stair lights: how to choose a wall light, ceiling light or LED strip depending on the stairwell, the light wanted and indoor or outdoor use.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/lampes-pour-escalier\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"name\":\"Designix\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\"},\"speakable\":{\"@type\":\"SpeakableSpecification\",\"cssSelector\":[\"h1\",\"h2\"]}},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Lighting\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/luminaire\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Lamps\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/lampes\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":4,\"name\":\"Stair lights: lighting the steps, the stringer and the landing\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/designix.fr\/collections\/lampes-pour-escalier\"}]},{\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do you light a path?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"To light a path, the sources are placed at the edge of the route, at low height, aimed at the ground and spread out to avoid dark areas. On a staircase, the principle stays the same: grazing light on the step, no source directly in the line of sight.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How do you connect several lights to a single electrical supply?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Several lights can run from the same supply if they stay on the same protected circuit: tap into an accessible junction box, with tight, labelled connections. The number of points and the combined power depend on the rating of the circuit, to be confirmed by an electrician.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Large chandelier for a high ceiling: where to place it in a stairwell?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"In a tall stairwell, the large chandelier hangs in the centre of the stairwell, high enough not to obstruct the climb or the view from the landing, low enough to light the volume. 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