Repair Design Furniture

How to make a lamp at home. DIY chandelier - manufacturing instructions and a master class on creating designer models. Options for creating lamps from wood

Everyone wants to decorate their home with decorative items. This brings something alive and completely non-standard to the interior of the house. Such a transformation also affects lighting, lighting fixtures made by yourself - this is an excellent option to transform everyday life. This article will tell you how to make a lamp with your own hands.

There are countless ideas, this applies to both the design itself and its type. It can be a floor lamp or a chandelier shade, or even a table lamp.

Materials (edit)

It is worth paying attention to safety precautions and using non-flammable materials. Avoid using paper, plastic or similar materials that have a fairly low ignition temperature.

As for the lamps themselves, it is worth using LED lamps, since they have many advantages, such as a long service life, do not undergo overheating. Also has several shades and, of course, saves energy.

Lighting Ideas

Since relatively recently, the creation of interesting lighting devices from completely useless materials has become fashionable, a striking example of this is lamps from empty glass bottles.


There are countless ideas, however, if you have a desire to do something like this, but the idea is not ripe, then you can spy on the network photos of lamps made by yourself.

The easiest and most effective way to create original lighting is to create a lamp from a regular glass jar with a screw top.

Place the jar in hot water and dilute the detergent to remove labels and dirt. The next step is to drill a hole for the base. Now you need to insert the plinth into the cover and fix it.

The main thing is not to forget to solder the wire with a 220V plug, otherwise you will not have a power source. Finally screw in the bulb and screw on the lid of the jar. Done, now you have a very simple lighting fixture that stands out from the general concept of classic everyday life.

By the way, the jar can be decorated with painted engravings or a knitted pattern of threads. This is a very original and beautiful solution, for example, you can make a lamp with a knitted pattern in the shape of a flower.

Lamps made of wood

This kind of lighting fixture is completely different from simple designs. After all, a lamp made of wooden driftwood will look truly extraordinary. However, the work requires more time and accuracy in handling tools and materials.

But with all this, such work is quite within the power of almost anyone. And wood can be found in forest plantations. The technology is quite simple, you need to clean the wood and sand it with sandpaper.


Now, in the necessary places, drill holes for the wiring, but this must be done where the wood blank will be installed closest to the ceiling. To heighten the effect, you can make small grooves in the tree where the wiring will be installed.

After laying the wiring, part of the wood with the wire can be putty, and after waiting for the putty to dry completely, polish these places and open the entire snag with colorless varnish.

It remains only to install this lamp. Of course, after the work done, the skill and understanding in this will appear, and now, with a high degree of probability, you will be able to repair the lamp with your own hands.

Lamp made of planks

Not everyone is satisfied with a spotlight, but you can assemble structures from scrap materials. When working with wood, in particular with boards, there are often scraps left, and even they can be used. They can be used to make an excellent decorative lamp.

The most interesting thing about this design is that you don't need to use nails. To create such a lighting fixture, you need 17 boards, which will be the same size.

Now, each plank needs to be shaped like a wedge and a base where you want to install the cartridge. The next step is to use a drill to make a pair of holes in the base for each plank and, accordingly, in the blanks.

Take the wooden dowels and fasten the structure together. Such a lamp is very simple to manufacture, but it looks very impressive.

If these ideas do not suit you, then on the network you can easily find master classes on making a lamp in video format.


Photo of lamps with your own hands

A chandelier in any room has long been not only a lighting device. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the piece of furniture that acts as the main decoration in any room.

Of course, a do-it-yourself chandelier will be an especially valuable thing. This will allow not only to highlight the special taste of the owners of the house, but also their creative mind.

Despite the fact that deciding to make a lampshade with your own hands for a chandelier, you will need to spend a lot of effort, because the process requires special concentration - for sure, the work time cannot be considered wasted, since the work will bring incredible pleasure and after that even a pleasant aftertaste will remain, and in the future you will definitely want repeat again this kind of work.

If you are thinking about how to make a chandelier, then you have probably already seen that today you can use a variety of materials for this, and sometimes completely unusual ones. For example, very often a ceiling for a chandelier is made of wood or glass.

However, if you want something even more incredible, then you can also use cardboard, and wood skewers, and even wine bottles. The choice here depends solely on the ideas that the creator has, as well as on the various wishes of the apartment owners.

In addition, a chandelier made of scrap materials must also be created taking into account the overall interior of the room.

Chandelier made of plastic spoons

Disposable spoons, which most are accustomed to using exclusively for a picnic, in reality can also act as one of the simplest and at the same time easily accessible materials for everyone to create an interesting version of a chandelier in any room.

If you look at a photo of a chandelier of such a plan, you will be struck first of all by the variety of colors, and in the future it will be easy to understand that the material will last a long time.

In addition, in order to create such an interesting piece of furniture, you will need a minimum of financial and material investments.

What materials will you need?

  • Any empty plastic bottle. The only condition is that its volume cannot be less than five liters.
  • Any plastic spoons. Their number depends solely on the chosen size of the future chandelier.
  • Glue that will allow the plastic to stick together.
  • The cartridge is from an old, no longer working chandelier.

The process of creating an original chandelier

Prepare a plastic bottle. First of all, you need to get rid of the label and bottom, as well as dry it properly.

Remove the plastic spoons and use a knife to remove any handles you don't need. The only thing that needs to be done is to leave a couple of centimeters above the so-called “scoop” level.

Glue the blanks to the base of the prepared bottle. On the "tail" that remains, you need to apply as much glue as possible and then press it to the surface.

It is very important to continue to cover the entire bottle in this way directly in a circle until the entire prepared perimeter is “occupied” with plastic spoons.

It is best to arrange them in a classic checkerboard pattern and slide them together a little.

Thus, it will be possible to reduce the number of "free spots" to a minimum.

  • The ceiling is removed from the old prepared chandelier and placed in a dried bottle.
  • If there is a desire, then decorative can often be performed in a similar way.

That's all. It remains only to install the chandelier in the chosen place, and also check its operation by connecting it to the power supply.

Another interesting chandelier option is a chandelier with decorative butterflies. It is worth noting that going to almost any master class on making a chandelier, designers always offer to learn how to create it, which is not surprising, because it can perfectly fit into almost any interior of the room.

Note!

In addition to the fact that this option looks really luxurious and expensive, even a child can do it with the help of an adult, so its popularity is easily explainable.

DIY chandelier photo

Note!

Ceiling chandeliers are lighting fixtures that perform two functions at the same time. First, they are used to organize the main lighting in the room. Secondly, devices are one of the main elements of decorative room decoration.

Numerous manufacturers offer equipment of different designs, but it is far from always possible to find something really worthwhile that fits into the overall interior of the room. In other situations, the cost of the chandelier you like may be too high. That is why many people are interested in how to make a ceiling lamp with their own hands.

Hand-made products will be unique and original, thanks to them you can express your taste and character. It is not so easy to make such devices on your own. The work requires a certain imagination and perseverance. On the other hand, a ceiling chandelier can be created from improvised tools and items that have become trash for you.

Choose any materials for making - wood, plastic, metal or glass. Chandeliers made of wine bottles, wooden skewers or straw look very original. To summarize: the choice of material for a homemade lamp completely depends on the imagination and idea that arose in the head of the owner of the apartment.

Varieties of lighting devices

The final stage in the implementation of any repair and construction work will be the purchase of lighting fixtures. Often, the main one is the ceiling chandelier, installed in the center of the room, provided it has the correct geometry. There is a wide range of luminaires on the market that differ in design, shape, principle of operation and even the presence / absence of certain structural elements.

Today, all people strive to save money, so it will be important to use a chandelier under energy-saving or LED lamps. It is advisable to choose products with partially or completely closed shades in which lamps are hidden. Due to this, you will protect the ceiling structure and will be able to protect yourself in the event of a light bulb explosion (the fragments will remain inside the plafond).

If you still liked the chandelier with an open arrangement of bulbs, then inspect it and make sure that after installation the luminous flux will be directed downward. There is also a simple rule - the simpler the product, the easier the subsequent installation.

Another point to consider when choosing a chandelier is the purpose of the room and its dimensions. In spacious halls with high ceilings, pendant-type volumetric lamps should be installed. Space saving is required for small spaces, so focus on flat (flattened) options.

Conventionally, ceiling chandeliers can be divided into two main types:

  • classic hanging;
  • flat, placed as close as possible to the ceiling.

And the latter are divided into two subcategories - built-in and overhead. Overhead shades are considered the best solution for bathrooms, corridors and kitchens. The presence of a separating platform ensures their rapid cooling and high fire and electrical safety.

Recessed luminaires are also called spotlights. They are often installed (more correctly - built in) into furniture, suspended ceilings or arched structures. Manufacturers provide a wide variety of shapes, colors and designs for both traditional and flat luminaires.

Finally, in addition to the design features of the luminaires themselves, the type of light sources used is distinguished:

  1. A filament lamp is one of the common and simple options. The cheapest light source. Under mechanical stress, it quickly breaks down due to the vulnerability of the structure, burns out relatively quickly (in the case of continuous operation, it can burn out in two or three days).
  2. An energy-saving fluorescent lamp is one of the best types of housekeepers. The advantages of the product are associated with efficiency and long service life. Along with LEDs, it is the most common light source in developed countries.
  3. The LED lamp is an expensive product, the popularity of which is increasing every year. The efficiency exceeds 90%, and in the case of high-quality devices it reaches 98%. They are characterized by a longer service life and increased reliability.

An example of a homemade lamp

Consider one of the simplest examples of a DIY ceiling lamp.

For manufacturing we need:

  • plastic bottle with a volume of 5 liters;
  • plastic spoons - their number depends on the size of the bottle, which will become the frame;
  • quick-drying glue for plastic;
  • sharp knife;
  • cartridge with wire.

To begin with, a frame is prepared from a plastic bottle. Remove any labels from the item, rinse and dry thoroughly. After that, boldly cut out the bottom. Cut off all the handles from the plastic spoons, but so that small pieces of 2 cm remain.

Glue the resulting scraps with "scoops" to the base of the frame from a plastic bottle. To do this, we just need the remaining pieces of handles, which need to be poured abundantly with glue and pressed tightly to the surface (the convex part of the scoop should look outward). Glue the container in a circle until the entire surface is hidden. Ideally, spoons are staggered and then slid for a tight fit and no visible areas.

Cartridges with wiring can be taken out of some old chandelier, then installed and fixed in a new product by stretching through the neck of the bottle. A decorative bowl can be decorated with the same blanks using glue and placed on the neck.

To make sure that the product is working, at the final stage, screw a light bulb into the lamp and connect it to a power source. If successful, it remains to install the chandelier on the ceiling.

For a more stylish design and change of color schemes, you can paint plastic spoons. This will increase the originality and attractiveness of the product.

Style selection

In addition to the points listed in the first chapter of the article, when choosing a chandelier, you need to focus on a specific style. This is also true for those cases when you decide to make the product yourself. Comfort, coziness and how pleasant it will be to be in it depends on the interior created in the room.

The ceiling chandelier is the main element of the decor, therefore, with a competent approach, the perception of the environment will improve, with a careless one, it will completely deteriorate. As you know, "to break - not to build", therefore, to spoil the interior, it is enough to choose the wrong style.

Decide in advance on the design of the future lamp. The most common styles for chandeliers are high-tech, modern and provence.

High tech

It includes products made of glass and metal. Modern appliances fit perfectly into the design of the bedroom and living room. Outwardly, a chandelier may look chaotic (with an arbitrary arrangement of decorative elements). An excellent option for people who want to modernize an apartment or a private house, but do not want to tinker with something too complicated. Any errors made in the manufacture of the chandelier may look like an original design solution.

Modern

In accordance with this style, appliances are created from glass and wood. The ceiling luminaire is characterized by perfectly straight and clear lines and has the correct geometry.

Provence

The most complex execution, which is suitable for people who are versed in the principles of hand-made. Various fabrics, colorful ribbons, beads, embroidery can be used to decorate the chandelier. The lamps turn out to be gentle, suitable for creating a romantic atmosphere. The Provence style lighting fixture is suitable for decorating any living space.

Installation materials

For ceiling mounting the luminaire, certain materials and tools will be required:

  • the lamp itself;
  • junction box;
  • screwdriver (curly);
  • switches;
  • as an alternative - dimmers (rotary toggle switch that regulates the brightness, on / off the light bulb);
  • wires;
  • electrical insulating tape;
  • indicator (tester);
  • pliers;
  • connecting blocks.

Ideally, electrical wiring should be routed using connector blocks. If there are no such products, then twist the bare ends of the wires with pliers and hide them under a dense layer of electrical tape. Connections can also be placed under polymer caps. Make sure the wires are tightly wrapped around each other.

When laying the cable, pay attention to the material from which it is made. It is advisable to twist aluminum with aluminum or copper with copper. When wires of two different materials come into contact, gradual oxidation will occur, leading to burnout and loss of contact.

Sequence of work

Determine the phases of the wires before installing the ceiling light. To do this, you need an indicator screwdriver or a special probe. If you attach the working surface to the phase core, the light will start to glow. Otherwise, the wire belongs to the zero phase.

Next, you need to determine the phases on the wiring of the lighting fixture. Plug in two wires, but never touch the third. If there are several bulbs on the chandelier, then about half of them will light up. Leave any wire in the socket and insert the third instead of the second. The other half of the bulbs should light up. Thus, the wire that is constantly in the outlet (and when connected alternately with the other two turns on the bulbs) is a zero phase.

Fix the luminaire to the ceiling. For this, both a classic hook sticking out from the ceiling and a mounting rail (included in most modern devices) are used. If there is a hook from an old chandelier, it is advisable to dismantle it.

Connecting luminaires

If it is necessary to connect a floor lamp or chandelier with a two-core cable, difficulties should not arise at all. Simply connect the ends of this cable together with the two ends of the wiring harness. If the luminaire consists of several parts and more wires, then twist them correctly in pairs, subsequently connecting them to the desired residential electrical wiring in the apartment.

A three-core cable indicates the presence of two normal and one neutral phase. Follow the scheme described above to find the zero phase. After that, connect the device to the house wiring.

Traditionally, the neutral phase on the luminaire has wires with blue insulation, the usual one is brown, black or red. If there are several blue wires, then they need to be connected in pairs, and then connected to the zero phase. Proceed in the same way with the other colored parts.

Products with four veins are much less common. The latter is intended for grounding and is usually colored yellow-green. It should be screwed to the luminaire body using a regular screw. Be sure to insulate all connections.

For the manufacture of ceiling lamps with your own hands, any materials can be used. The main thing is to choose the style and shape in advance and navigate the place of installation. Also, before starting work, it is advisable to draw a sketch of the future product. Everything else is limited by your imagination.

The connection of homemade lighting devices is carried out in the same way as purchased ones. Using our instructions, you can easily connect ceiling chandeliers with two, three or even four conductors. The main thing is not to forget about the safety rules and to ensure complete isolation of the wires, excluding a short circuit.

Today, a chandelier is more than just a source of light. It is one of the main elements of the room decor. Handcrafted lighting fixtures are the most popular as they represent the personality of homeowners and their extraordinary creativity.

Undoubtedly, hand-made creativity is a rather difficult task that requires a lot of patience and accuracy. However, doing something with your own hands is always quite exciting and informative. The topic of this review is how to make a chandelier with your own hands.

The choice of material for a homemade chandelier

In order to make a handmade lamp, a variety of materials are used:

  • glass;
  • wood;
  • plastic.

In addition, sometimes very unusual things are used to make a chandelier at home:

  • paper;
  • cardboard;
  • disks;
  • straw;
  • branches;
  • wine bottles and stuff.

When choosing this or that material, you must take into account your own preferences and style used in the design of the room.

In addition to material, devices may differ in manufacturing techniques. The most common are:

  • Japanese origami;
  • macrame;
  • weaving;
  • thread;
  • knitting;
  • application;
  • embossing.

DIY chandelier ideas - step by step instructions

Nowadays, there are many unusual ideas on how to create a beautiful lamp for an apartment with your own hands. Let's consider those that are more popular.

Chandelier made of plastic spoons

Conventional disposable plastic spoons are the easiest and most affordable type of material to craft a chandelier. The advantages of such raw materials are:

  • low cost;
  • variety of colors;
  • durability.

To make a lamp, you will need:

  • a plastic bottle with a volume of 5 liters;
  • disposable spoons;
  • PVA glue;
  • bulb holder;

Procedure:

  1. Prepare the bottle. To do this, remove the label, cut off the bottom, wash the workpiece thoroughly and dry it.
  2. Prepare the spoons by cutting off the handles.
  3. Place the scoops over the entire bottle with the convex part facing outward.
  4. Fix the cartridge in the made cover.
  5. Attach the chandelier to the ceiling and plug it in.

Chandelier made of plastic bottles

An interesting solution from a decorative point of view will be a lamp assembled from plastic bottles.

  1. We take scissors and cut out various patterned shapes and unusual figures. From them we will assemble a chandelier.
  2. We attach several thin rods to the frame of the old lamp and connect them, removing the central one. At this stage, the lighting fixture takes on the shape of a hedgehog.
  3. We fix all the prepared shapes and forms on the chandelier frame. The product is ready!

Let's consider a particular example - the process of creating a lamp in the form of leaves:

  1. Cut out small blanks from bottles that imitate leaves. Usually birch leaves are chosen.
  2. Using a soldering iron, slightly fuse the cuts at the leaves, and draw the veins - this will make them look more spectacular.
  3. Punch holes in the leg of each leaf with a heated fine needle.
  4. Use wire to form the branches. Screw them to the frame of the future chandelier.
  5. Attach leaves to the branches. The original design ceiling lamp is ready!

Chandelier with paper butterflies

The lamp with paper butterflies is also popular. This model looks very impressive and luxurious, although it is quite simple to manufacture.

Sequencing:

  1. The role of the base is played by a frame from an old lamp or a simple rim made of metal or wood.
  2. Take paper and cut out butterflies from it according to pre-prepared templates.
  3. Attach the cut insects to a fishing line or nylon thread.
  4. Attach the resulting threads to the frame of the future chandelier and decorate it.

Fabric chandelier

This type of lighting fixture is also based on a solid frame or thick wire. First of all, prepare the base, and only then you can start cutting out the material to create the lampshade.

The length of the finished product depends on your wishes, and the width must correspond to the size of the frame. After completing the cutting work, be sure to try it on. The next step is to sew the fabric to the base of the chandelier.

In order for the lampshade to retain its shape, you need to competently approach the choice of material. If you are using a light fabric, then the lower part of the lampshade should be heavier.

Fringe, braid or lace can be used as decoration. But try not to overdo it with the decor.

Plafond made of threads and a balloon

To create such an original shade, you need to prepare:

  • thick threads or rope about 1 m long;
  • old cartridge;
  • petrolatum;
  • glue and brushes;
  • balloons - 1 - 2 pcs.

Manufacturing process:

  1. Inflate the ball to the required volume, and use a felt-tip pen to mark the boundaries of the winding of the thread.
  2. Coat the entire surface of the ball with Vaseline using a paintbrush.
  3. Pour the glue into a wide container and start to process the threads with it as you wind it around the ball.
  4. After you fill the ball with threads to the marked boundaries, it should be left to dry.
  5. After a day, burst the balloon and remove it.
  6. Cut a hole for the chuck at the top and insert it. You also need to cut a hole from the bottom of the plafond - this will make it more convenient to insert the light bulb. The product is ready!

Wine bottle chandelier

Such a chandelier is more time consuming to create than the options described above. It is rather difficult to make it. Patience and attention are needed here. But the effort is worth it!

Necessary materials:

  • wine bottle;
  • cartridge;
  • cable;
  • sandpaper;
  • base made of metal or wood.

From the tools you will need a glass cutter.

Manufacturing procedure:

  1. Preparatory stage. Wash and dry the bottle, get rid of the labels, mark with a marker a line along which cut the bottom using a glass cutter.
  2. Sand the cut.
  3. Slide the wire through the bottleneck and attach the socket.
  4. Secure the bottle to a pre-prepared frame.

The number of shades for the chandelier depends on you - you can leave one or make five or six.

Laser disc chandeliers

If a large number of old CDs have accumulated in the apartment, do not rush to throw them away. They will make a pretty creative lamp.

To make an unusual accessory from laser discs, you will need to prepare a pair of round plates. They should be slightly larger than the discs. Still needed:

  • fluorescent light bulb;
  • steel or wooden racks;
  • old magnetic starter;
  • many CDs.

Take a board that is thicker and punch a hole in it for the starter. Attach everything to the lamp. Then start stringing CDs onto it while mounting the racks. Attach a second plank at the end. The work has been completed.

Chandeliers made of wood

Wood is the most common material for all kinds of crafts. The chandelier is no exception.

To make such a lamp, you need:

  • wooden planks 0.4 m wide;
  • glass jars with a volume of 1 liter for shades;
  • sandpaper;
  • self-tapping screws.

The order of manipulations:

  1. Sand the planks with sandpaper.
  2. Make recesses in them on the back for mounting the wire and three holes for the shades.
  3. Varnish the planks.
  4. Attach the sockets, screw in the bulbs.
  5. Plafonds will serve as ordinary liter cans, painted white.

Choosing a lamp for a homemade chandelier

To make a chandelier made of scrap materials made by you look even more attractive, you need to choose the right bulbs for it. The following guidelines will help you:

  1. Choose a lamp with a suitable wattage. Remember that overly strong products can cause a fire.
  2. Look at the number of lumens. The larger it is, the more natural the light is.
  3. Consider the shape of the light bulb to match your appliance. For some models of chandeliers, light bulbs of a strictly defined shape are required. Only then will they work efficiently and correctly reflect light rays.
  4. Be sure to look at the expiration date. If you plan on using your luminaire frequently, then look at the luminaires with the longest lifespan.
  5. Ask what kind of light the lamp will glow - cold or warm. For the home, it is better to purchase an option with a warm shade of light. This will make the environment seem more comfortable.
  6. Do not ignore the energy consumption of the light bulb. Products with low energy consumption are considered the best choice.
  7. Check for mercury in the lamp - this will determine how you dispose of it. Mercury-containing products cannot be simply thrown into the trash can. They must be handed over to special collection points.

Product decoration

You can use a variety of things to decorate homemade chandeliers and lamps:

  • paints and varnishes;
  • lace;
  • satin ribbons;
  • fringe and braid;
  • beads, beads, rhinestones, stones.

Artificial or dried flowers, feathers carved from butterfly fabric are a good decor. In general, how to decorate the finished product depends only on you. You can use any available means that your imagination indicates.

In conclusion, we note that such a homemade lighting fixture, like a chandelier, will definitely bring notes of freshness and stylishness to the room atmosphere. Your loved ones and guests will definitely note the originality of the accessory and your skill. In addition, a hand-made lamp is an excellent gift for a friend or colleague.

Original photo ideas for homemade chandeliers


Handmade items fill the house with special warmth and comfort. In addition, they turn out to be exclusive. We offer an overview of lamps that will completely change the atmosphere in the room, turning into an object of envy from the groans of friends and relatives. Moreover, they are made from everyday objects that are usually thrown away.




A cardboard bag for juices or other drinks is common in most homes. Most often it is thrown away. But Malay design Edward Chu spent a lot of time to cut them into hundreds of strips and build amazing lamps from them without a drop of glue, a simple origami principle.


Yaroslav Olenev proposed to make lamps from disposable plastic spoons and became the winner in the Ecology and Design nomination from the Future Now magazine.




Natalie Simpson found no less original application for ordinary wooden hangers. But they look amazing in the form of a chandelier.




Kevin Champaigne needs to be given credit, not everyone has the strength and patience to string 14 thousand bears to get a chandelier.


Tyra Hilden and Pio Diaz have their own vision of the problem of lighting housing. Thanks to their lamps, the room becomes like a forest. All walls come to life and turn into trees.


The talented welder Matt Ludwig also turned out to be an excellent designer. For JJ's Red Hots, he made an incredibly original chandelier from an old drum kit.


Texas-based artists Joe O'Connell and Blessing Hancock used old bicycle parts to construct stunning lights and hang them in a tunnel under the track.


It will probably be difficult to find a more original chandelier than a pumpkin chandelier from a Polish artist. It cuts stunning patterns on the peel that do not repeat.


Lampshades made of felt hats from Jeeves & Wooster look original and stylish.


Once Heather Jennings saw an amazing Rhododendron chandelier in the store, but it cost more than $ 800. Then the designer decided that you can do it with your own hands just as well. To do this, she needed paper cupcake tins.

11. Chandelier in the kitchen


A chandelier made of ordinary metal tetrahedral beads will look incredibly beautiful.


Vases and candy bowls made from openwork napkins are still fresh in my memory. Now it's time to knit chandeliers.


Fansua Lego offers a strange option, he believes that the best way to store cutlery is a chandelier.


A large cloud is cut out of wood, but the rest and the switch are made of cardboard.


Several globes can make a wonderful cascading chandelier, a great way to light up a flight of stairs.