Choosing a Crystal Chandelier

Criteria affecting the choice of chandelier:

- type of room

- dimensions of the room

- articulation of the room

- height of the ceiling

- furnishings and equipment of the interior

- intensity of light required by user

- weight of crystal chandelier

- degree of maintenance required

Type of room

A crystal chandelier can be placed anywhere. The most popular place to hang a crystal chandelier is definitely the living room, followed by the bedroom, hall and dining room. We have also encountered a crystal chandelier in a bathroom, however, it was a huge room with a perfect system of ventilation to take away humidity, which can influence the lifetime and functionality of the chandelier as well as the health of the user. Our chandeliers are shipped with IP code 20 (effective against insertion of fingers or similar objects but not insulated against any harmful ingress of water). A customer / user is fully liable for installing a chandelier in an environment contrary to the design parameters thereof, as well as for any damage to the chandelier caused by placing it in such an environment.

Size of the room

The size of the room is essential when choosing a chandelier. To illustrate, a multi-tiered chandelier is suitable for lounges with staircases which will then be dominated by the chandelier, no matter which side it is being viewed from. Conversely, small rooms should be fitted with single-tier chandeliers or a flush mount. In both cases chandeliers can be combined with wall, table or standing lamps.

Ceiling height

The fact that ceilings of rooms are not of the same height should not be forgotten. We ship our chandeliers with chains of 7 links, i.e. 30-50 cm long depending on the type of the chain. It is essential to consider what clearance under the chandelier is required, taking the height of the user into account. The usual distance between the bottom part of the chandelier and the floor is 2.1-2.2 meters. With regard to the fact that the height of chandeliers with a chain as stated in our catalogue does not include the length of the chain, the length of the chain and the hanger in a canopy, whose height is between 10 and 20 cm depending on the size of the chandelier, must be added to the height of the chandelier. In cases where the ceiling is not high enough, it is possible to shorten the chain. The chain can be shortened up to the length of one link which is necessary for joining the hanger and the body of the chandelier together. Should such a substantial shortening be insufficient, a different type of chandelier should be purchased.

If the chandelier has already been delivered and you need a longer chain, it has to be ordered in the required length along with the flex, which should be changed as well because its length is insufficient as well.

Articulation of the room

The articulation of the room significantly influences the placement of light fixtures. If the room is highly articulated then the use of one central chandelier is not suitable. Such a room should be fitted with wall lamps or another smaller chandelier. For halls with low ceilings it is convenient to use flush mounts.

Furnishings and equipment

The colour of the walls, furniture, metal accessories, carpets and style in which the room has been decorated, as well as the tastes of the user, influence the choice of chandeliers.

Light required by user

Light requirement is a feature of a user which is hard to predict. For example, if a sanitary standard says that the minimum light intensity recommended for a stay in a room is 200lx, there are always people who will require 500lx or more. What is more, the older a user is, the higher his light requirement is.

Various demands on the intensity of light can me met in various ways. A chandelier with a higher number of bulbs whose light intensity we want to decrease can serve as an example. Such a decrease in the light intensity can be reached by:

- installing a double switch (the chandelier will be only partially lit)

- installing a dimmer (the light intensity of all lit bulbs will be gradually regulated)

- exchanging current bulbs for ones with a lower power

We are often asked the question of how many arms a chandelier should have to light a particular room. The following guide should help you answer the question:

Multiply the width of the room by the length (both in meters) and again by 15. The number you get is just informative and should equal the Watt power (W) the main lighting of the room should have. Light requirement is above all dependent on the type of the room (living room, hall, dining room) which is either set out by a regulation or required by a user.

The weight of crystal chandelier

In case of large chandeliers, their weight plays an important part. It is important to find out where and to what ceiling construction the chandelier will be installed or otherwise attached. You should take into consideration that an 18-arm chandelier, for example, can weigh up to 17kilos, and such a weight will be attached to one point on your ceiling. In the case of some especially large chandeliers, the construction of the ceiling should be assessed by a structural engineer.

Maintenance

If you wish to clean the entire chandelier, it is not necessary nowadays to dismantle the whole chandelier, dust various parts in soapy water, dry them carefully and return back all the parts to their places. It is now possible to buy a special detergent to clean crystal chandeliers. The detergent need only be sprayed on the chandelier and all dirt will disappear and will drain away onto a mat placed beneath the chandelier. The work, which would otherwise take hours, is finished in a few minutes.