Tips for Selecting the Ideal Crystal Chandelier for Your Living Space

Most people think of crystal chandeliers when they picture the large, earthy ceiling lamps in their parents’ living rooms.

90% of people cross out crystal chandeliers when choosing lamps for a new home decor.

We must now correct the name of a crystal chandelier. The crystal chandelier may not be too expensive or ugly, but you chose the wrong one!

Crystal chandeliers are very commonly used in Nordic homes. It is not necessary to pair them with heavy furniture, wallpapers and intricately carved plaster designs.

As long as they are simple tables and chairs and large white walls, they create a wonderful sense of conflict and eye-catching effect. Full.

Crystal lamps are generally priced between 8,000 and 10,000 yuan in local stores. Compared with the per capita income of local people, which is well over 20,000 yuan, crystal chandeliers are relatively affordable, but they are definitely not luxury goods.

Good-looking crystal lamps are not only suitable for the most popular light luxury style now, but can also add color to the light and refreshing Nordic style.

This piece of furniture will make your home look elegant and noble.

What is ugly and rustic? It’s only for the nobles

A crystal lamp is a chandelier. The first chandeliers were made in Europe during the Middle Ages. At that time, the design was simple: two wooden beams formed a cross with spikes on each end to hold candles.

Medieval 1460 illustration of a chandelier from King Rene’s Tournament Book

By the 15th Century, gold-plated chandeliers were becoming more complex due to the advancement of production techniques. The metal could reflect the light of candles and became an important element in churches and the homes of wealthy nobles.

Amsterdam church antique chandelier with candle

Chandelier made from the paintings of Jan van Eyck (15th century).

In the 17th century, crystal chandeliers became more and more elaborate. They were first seen in castles and palatial buildings.

Because crystal refracts light better than metal, it makes large spaces appear brighter, luxurious and high-end enough.

After the 18th century, the glass manufacturing industry developed, and glass gradually replaced natural crystal in crystal lamps. Crystal lamps became more popular as the production costs were reduced.

Crystal lighting in China only began to develop after 2002. Crystal lighting was used for the first time in official occasions, such as the Great Hall of the People or Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Crystal lamps were used in homes and villas after the reform and opening.

Around 2006, crystal lamps became popular in various European and Chinese style model houses, and many ordinary families would buy one to decorate and create an atmosphere.

The crystal lamps that we find ugly are by no means the darlings of the European courts mentioned above.

These are ceiling crystal lamps that were imported into China and localized, as well as some modern crystal lights with thick branches and spherical elements.

These new chandeliers have a mixed design, and their proportions are far worse than original classic designs. The materials have also been replaced with cheaper acrylic or plastic, and the texture is very poor.

No wonder young people find crystal lamps with random elements piled on top of them tacky and expensive. The problem isn’t the crystal lamp, but rather the style. The classic design of the crystal lamp is elegant and grand.

It is easy to clean the crystal chandelier!

In addition to style, many people are also afraid of crystal lamps because they are worried about the trouble of cleaning.

In fact, you can clean crystal lamps that are suitable for the majority of families with a duster every day. It is not troublesome at all. It can be cleaned every six months, just like any other home furniture.

A wool duster is also very useful. It can reach some tiny places that cannot be cleaned with ordinary methods, such as the gaps between lamp stands, gaps in cabinets at home, and plant petals. They can be reached by using thin wool.

It is a powerful dust cleaner. After absorbing the dust, you only need to turn it around and shake it, and all the dust will be dusted off. It can be cleaned directly without washing. The crystal lamp can be cleaned so easily!

Crystal lamps are not for those who only want to keep their home clean.

If you are willing to put in a little extra effort, a beautiful crystal lamp will help you live a life full of style and quality, just as ironing your clothing and cleaning your shoes can make you appear more energetic.

Choose crystal lamps in this way

The crystal lamps available on the market make me so confused. How do I choose one without being overstepped?

Classic styles are timeless and you cannot go wrong when buying them. The most important thing is to look at the thickness, shape and material of the lamp stand.

Lamp stand

In Europe, the shapes of crystal lamps are modified and designed based on the original ones in palaces and castles.

Crystal lamp styles include Louise, Eugene Maria Theresa Empire, Waterfall etc.

Louis style (Louise)

Influenced by the Baroque style of the Louis XIV period, the palace buildings at that time were all extremely magnificent, so the selection of indoor furniture also deliberately emphasized exquisite skills and pursued the luxury of large spaces.

In addition, the craftsmanship of casting brass became more sophisticated in the 18th century, and Louis-style crystal lamps made extensive use of brass materials, which became a symbol of power and status in the upper class.

The Louis style lamp has a spindle-shaped thick trunk. The brass lamp branch curve is fairly gentle and extends into the flat area. The curved outline and textured luster are still fascinating to this day.

Eugene style (Eugene)

After the European Wars in the 17th century, metals became rare, and glass became a substitute for metals because of its ability to reflect light.

It was at this time that Josef Palme completed the Eugene-style chandelier in 1724 – the first chandelier with a complete glass chandelier in the history of Bohemia, lighting up the Austrian capital. The castle of the Golden Prince.

The Eugene style, in addition to its classic glass arm, is characterized by the simplicity of its trunk, the steep curvature of the lamp branch and the absence of any unnecessary decorations on the candlestick. On the contrary, it is eye-catching and reveals eternal elegance and grace.

The transparent trunk gives the chandelier a sense of lightness as a whole. Later designs retained Eugene’s simple, smooth style but the material changed from glass into metal.

Maria Theresa style

The Maria Theresa style was the most opulent of the styles, and this chandelier illuminated the coronation of Maria Theresa, Queen of Bohemia, in 1743.

The Maria Theresa-style crystal chandelier is also a typical Rococo style, bright and complicated. Rococo is more feminine than Baroque, which reflects the world of the men.

The main trunk likes to use arcs and S-shaped shapes, which are full of feminine temperament. Metal and sparkling crystals are paired together. The hanging ceiling and wall are sometimes connected by arcs or ceiling-wide murals. The overall decoration is romantic, luxurious and Leisure.

Empire style

At the end of the 18th century, the Maria Theresa style with its overly pretentious curves and gorgeous decorations was abandoned in favor of simple forms, and the decorative styles were unified to those of ancient Rome and Greece.

Until the early 19th century, Napoleon followed the example of the ancient Roman Empire to unify Europe. The resulting imperial style also affected interior decoration and furniture design, emphasizing clarity, symmetry, moderation and elegance.

Imperial style crystal lamps are more stable and full in style, and the material structure is stronger. The structures are usually hidden in the shadows and are arranged in geometrical shapes.

The upper part of the ring is conical and the lower part has a bowl shape arc that looks like a big water drop.

After the 19th century, people began to use natural gas lamps and electric lamps. Candle-shaped human lighting sources replaced real candles, which not only reduced the risk of house fires, did not produce wax tears, but also saved the trouble of replacement.

Imperial-style crystal lamp designs also remove the candlesticks, leaving only the main design. They looked more simple and modern, and were suitable for decoration in modern homes.

Waterfall style

It is possible to consider the waterfall-styled crystal lamp as an improvement on the Imperial style. It retains the lower part of the Imperial style. The crystal hangs down naturally. You can choose between round or square bases.

The inverted triangular shape is more comfortable than previous spherical designs. It is friendly to small apartments and families with low floor heights. It is also more suitable for modern and simple room atmosphere.

The imperial and waterfall styles are the two most popular among these five styles. These styles are characterized by simple shapes, less metal frames and long, streamlined designs that do not appear bloated and are more versatile.

Louis style, Eugene style and Maria Theresa style are too obvious in style and have a strong sense of age. These are better suited for palaces, luxury hotels or homes that have a lot of color. Ordinary people just can’t hold them.

If you really like the traditional style, the simple Eugene style will match better. Try to select a style that has fewer layers and branches, as shown in the image below. The decorative elements of the room should also be simple, so that it is not easy to be confused.

Look at the material

The main components of crystal lamps are metal arms and arms made from glass. Do not buy crystal lamps with thick branches. If they are thick, they tend to look rustic. Do not have too many carvings. The most versatile are golden metal arms with thin branches.

The golden metal arm appears more delicate than the glass.

Size matters

The height of most domestic residential buildings is 2.5~2.8m, which inevitably makes many people worry that crystal lamps are not suitable and can easily appear high, crowded and depressing.

In fact, there is no need to exclude crystal lamps. Crystal lamps in the imperial style or waterfall style are good choices. Crystal chandeliers of several other styles usually hang down from the ceiling. The height of the ceiling must be at least 3m.

As shown in the picture below, you can see from the door frame that the floor height of the room is about 2.5m.

The transparent frame of the crystal lamp above the dining table does not have a heavy sense of oppression. Instead, it lowers our attention and ignores the ceiling, which is very effective in increasing the distance between people and the ceiling.

You don’t need to worry about floor height if the height of the home is greater than 2.8m. It is not too flashy, but it’s still prominent. The crystal chandelier can be placed in the dining room, living room, hallway, or bathroom.

The size of the crystal lamp mainly depends on the height from the ground. If it is installed as the main light in the living room, it will not touch the head. The bottom is at least 2~2.1m from the ground.

Hanging directly above the dining table, not directly above the restaurant, the bottom of the crystal chandelier should be 75~90cm away from the tabletop.

The volume of the lamp is the main factor that determines the diameter. Taking the living room as an example, the imperial style crystal lamp as the main light should not be less than 40cm. The core reason why you buy it is for decoration, and the lower effect will be more beautiful.

The branches are horizontally arranged, just like the traditional chandeliers. The diameter of 5060cm works best in large living areas. When installed, it is the focus of the room.

For a crystal chandelier in a restaurant, the diameter should be 2/3 or 3/4 of the tabletop. A more complex design will look larger than it actually is, so the width needs to be slightly reduced.

You can use two or three crystal chandeliers that are 1/3 the size of the table if the tabletop is long.

Lighting method

Louis style, Eugene style and Maria Theresa style crystal lamps, the bulbs are in the shape of upward candles. E14 LED bulbs are generally used, and the light floats upward;

Imperial and waterfall light bulbs are designed with downward and horizontal orientation. Both E14 and E27 light bulbs have large lamp mouths, and most use spherical light bulbs.

It is installed directly on the ceiling and does not require light lines. This has a decorative effect but also brightens the space below.

In addition to the bedroom, if a crystal lamp is used as the main light in other spaces, other light sources are needed to assist with lighting. Otherwise, the light will not be enough and the light texture will be too monotonous.

Cost-effective but not cheap!

All crystal chandeliers available on the market start at 1,000 yuan. The origin and purity of the crystal determine the price difference. Crystals with better crispness and transparency are of better quality and more expensive.

You don’t have to go for Swarovski crystal if you like the shape. The production cost of Chinese crystal is low, and we can buy a good-looking crystal lamp at a lower price, which is very cost-effective.

Most of China’s crystal lamps use K9 material, which has higher light transmittance, refractive effect, hardness and texture than resin materials.

This kind of artificial crystal is about 15% lighter than natural crystal, so you don’t have to worry too much about load-bearing when installed on the ceiling.

China’s crystal lamp manufacturers are mainly concentrated in Zhongshan, Guangzhou, Dongguan and other places. The majority of crystal lamps on this list are also made in these locations.

After shopping around for crystal lamps in China, j@s lighting has the majority of products, mainly chandeliers, which are transparent and exquisite and suitable for use on balconies and restaurants. Each model has different models of large, medium and small to choose from.

For small apartments, smaller-sized chandeliers or wall lamps in the waterfall style are more suitable. It is a classic combination to combine crystal with brass. Installed next to the bedside in the bedroom, it is full of romance.

Taobao is not a good place to buy Imperial style crystal lamps, but we do have a few that are worth recommending.

Candlesticks are available in styles to complement warm light bulbs. The number of arms can be chosen according to the size and shape of the installation area.

Six heads will fit a 1525m2 space; eight heads will fit a 2535m2 space.

This one is also a good choice if you want more crystals. The elegant and retro hanging shape expands the space without making it look bulky or depressing. It looks romantic and grand when paired with American and Nordic styles.

The brass lamp rings are a classic and romantic shape that is sure to catch the eye. It is very suitable for homes that like romantic and light luxury style.

The store has a 10 year experience in manufacturing copper lamps. It has an offline physical store, and you can also consult customer service to design crystal lamps for the whole house.

Crystal lamps are European made. Only by completely copying domestic designs can they be made to look good. There are also relatively few styles in China, making it difficult to purchase them.

The best way is to look at salted fish and go shopping for original, retro and second-hand crystal lamps from abroad. The price will be a little more expensive. When purchasing, you should check whether the crystal has cracks, bubbles, water ripples and Impurities.

A summary of some tips:

The crystal chandelier can be installed directly on a cement floor.

It is safer to install crystal and lamp panels in the suspended area by drilling them through the floor and installing them there.

Classic crystal chandeliers are considered classics because, unlike Internet celebrity designs that have become outdated and discarded after a few short years, they will remain relevant in the modern age after thousands of updates and upgrades of aesthetic trends.