Illuminate pictures: How it works

Pictures, photos and works of art hang on almost every wall. But only the right lighting makes it an absolute highlight in your home - in the truest sense of the word! How you design your individual lighting is entirely up to you. Whether with LED lights, mirror lights, ceiling lights or classic floor lamps - there are no limits to creativity! In our guide you will learn how to use picture lights optimally and how you can easily illuminate pictures yourself.

How do you properly illuminate pictures?

With the right lighting, you can give your artworks a very special flair. However, you should pay attention to which light you use and at what angle you illuminate the pictures. Important: Never place your works of art directly where they are particularly exposed to the sun. The UV radiation permanently bleaches the colors. Choose exactly which pictures you want to illuminate. The effect is even greater if you only stage individual favorite pieces. Also note: the more details an image has, the more intense light it can take. LEDs are a particularly atmospheric and compatible variant because they emit neither UV rays nor heat. This way you keep the colors fresh and save additional electricity. A backlight creates a very special effect for pictures made of acrylic glass: With simple LED stripes on the back, you can make the front of the pictures shine.

Reading tip: We will tell you how to hang pictures so that they come into their own!

With wall lights you create an impressive effect, the pictures are optimally illuminated and shine in perfect light.

Photo: living4media / Allig, Birgid

Types and forms of image lighting

When it comes to illuminating your pictures, you can choose between direct lighting that is close to the picture and general room lighting. In the latter, you can choose between ceiling lights, floor or table lights. You should note this depending on the lighting system:

1. Wall washer

Wallwashers are flat lights, the light of which shines directly along the wall. Above or slightly to the side of the pictures, they have a special effect and optimally focus on the work of art. In addition to the picture, the rest of the room is bathed in dim light. Attention: Do not position the wallwashers under the pictures. That makes them look bigger, but also more scary and creates a dark atmosphere.

2. Pictures and mirror lights

Mirror lights are known from the bathroom, where they serve to illuminate mirrors. They are usually mounted directly above the frame and thus illuminate the pictures up close. This creates a particularly intimate mood and immediately draws everyone's attention to the pictures. In contrast to LED lights, you need an external power connection here.

3. Table and floor lamps

With the right lamps, you can add another accent: if your painting hangs over a chest of drawers, a table lamp in the same style fits well with the ambience. In addition, table lamps are very decorative and can be repositioned at any time. The same applies to floor lamps. With an extravagant design and a beautiful picture, you can create a tasteful corner in every room.

2er Set Brubaker Tisch- oder Nachttischlampen

4. Rope and rail systems

These lighting systems are perfect if you want to remodel a room and adjust the lighting. The focus of the light can be changed individually by rotating, moving and aligning the individual lights. So you don't have to worry about lighting if you want to change your gallery again after some time. Perfect for those who like a bit of variety!

Paulmann 954.62 URail Set Cover max 3x10W GU10 Chrom matt/Chrom 230V 1m Schienensystem

5. Ceiling lights

In a room in which you want to stage pictures, you should select suitable ceiling lights. In a hallway, for example, you do not have to worry about separate picture lights, but can already generate the optimal light with the ceiling lights. Here, too, we recommend a lamp that has adjustable spotlights so that you can point it directly at the pictures. The light should cover most of the image so that there are no dark edges or black corners. A lighting angle of around 30 degrees is best.

B.K.Licht LED Deckenleuchte Schwenkbar Inkl. 4 x 3W Leuchtmittel GU10 IP20 LED Strahler Deckenlampe Spots Wohnzimmerlampe

DIY: make illuminated murals yourself

As an alternative to external lighting, you can also integrate the lights into the pictures. This creates an extraordinary effect and is very easy to do on your own. Here is a step-by-step guide for self-made illuminated pictures:

Images with integrated lighting can easily be designed by yourself.

Photo: tesa

Material and tools:

three deep picture frames (25 x 25 centimeters)
blue cardboard
black cardboard
three fairy lights powered by LED batteries (approx. 1 meter long)
Templates for the letters
scissors
pencil
ruler
Craft scalpel
transparent paper
tesa® adjustable adhesive nails for wallpaper & plaster (2 kg)
tesa Easy Cut® table dispenser Compact
tesa® permanent ecoLogo® adhesive roller
tesa® craft tape

Step 1:

Since the background of the picture is white, the light could shine through. Therefore, start by creating a black background by copying the background with black cardboard. Fix the new background on the old one, for example with tesa® permanent ecoLogo® adhesive roller.

Step 2:

After you have also brought the transparent paper to the correct size, glue it on the black background with the adhesive roller, so that a transparent surface remains free in the middle.

Thanks to a black background, no light can shine through.

Photo: tesa

Step 3:

Carefully cut out the letter shapes along your templates with the craft scalpel.

Step 4:

Fix the letters in the middle of the transparent surface.

No matter which lettering you choose: a greeting is always inviting.

Photo: tesa

Step 5:

You attach the fairy lights within the frame.

Step 6:

Reassemble the individual parts with the battery cases hanging from an open corner. Now stick an adhesive strip to the back of the housing and remove the protective film.

The fairy lights provide an optical eye-catcher in the room.

Photo: tesa

Step 7:

Place the battery case neatly on the frame. In this way, each illuminated picture has its own switch.

Step 8:

To hang the picture frames, use the adjustable tesa® adhesive nails for wallpaper & plaster and follow the tips and instructions on the package insert. Since the height of the adhesive nail can be adjusted, you can make fine adjustments even if the pictures are already hanging. Finished? Then take a step back and admire your illuminated murals!