When it comes to crystal chandeliers, most people will probably think of the big, earthy ceiling lamp in their parents’ living room.
When choosing lamps for their new home decoration, 90% of people will make a cross in their minds about crystal chandeliers.
Today, we must correct the name of the crystal chandelier. It’s not that the crystal chandelier is too ugly or expensive, but that you didn’t choose the right one!
Crystal chandeliers are very commonly used in Nordic homes. They do not necessarily have to be paired with intricately designed carved plaster lines, heavy furniture and wallpapers.
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.
In local lighting stores, the price of crystal lamps is generally around 8,000 to 10,000 yuan. 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.
If you want your home to look noble and classy, this treasured piece of furniture is definitely worth owning.
Ugly and rustic? Only nobles can have it
Crystal lamp is actually a type of chandelier. The earliest chandelier originated in the European Middle Ages. The design at that time was very simple: two wooden beams were used to make a cross shape, with spikes at the ends to fix candles.
Medieval 1460 illustration of a chandelier from King René’s Tournament Book
With the development of production technology, more complex gold-plated chandeliers had appeared by the 15th century. 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 candles
Chandelier from the work of 15th-century painter Jan van Eyck
And people made more expensive and more exquisite crystal chandeliers, which first appeared in castles and palaces in the 17th century.
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. The production cost was greatly reduced, and crystal lamps began to spread into ordinary people’s homes, becoming more popular.
Crystal lighting in China only began to develop after 2002. It was first used in formal occasions such as the Great Hall of the People and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. After the reform and opening up, many crystal lamps entered homes and villas.
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.
They are “ceiling crystal lamps” that have been localized after being imported to China, and some modern crystal lamps with spherical and thick branch elements.
The design level of these new crystal chandelier lamps is mixed, and the proportions of the shapes are much worse than the original classic designs. The materials have also been replaced with cheaper acrylic or plastic, and the texture is very poor.
It’s no wonder that young people think crystal lamps that are randomly piled with elements are earthy, tacky, and expensive. In fact, the problem is not the crystal lamp itself, but the wrong style. The classic crystal lamp design is elegant and grand.
Cleaning the crystal chandelier is no trouble at all!
In addition to style, many people are also afraid of crystal lamps because they are worried about the trouble of cleaning.
But in fact, crystal lamps suitable for most families can be cleaned daily with a duster. It is not troublesome at all. Just like other furniture at home, it can be cleaned once every six months.
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. Slender wool can reach them.
It has strong dust cleaning ability. 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. It is so convenient to clean the crystal lamp!
If you only pursue absolute cleanliness in your home, then crystal lamps are really not suitable for you.
But as long as you spend a little more effort, an exquisite crystal lamp can help you achieve a life of quality and style, just like ironing your clothes and cleaning your shoes will make you look more energetic.
Crystal lamp should be chosen like this
I have decided to buy a crystal lamp, but the crystal lamps on the market are so confusing. How do I choose one without being overstepped?
When buying styles that have existed in history, you can’t go wrong by following the classic style. 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.
Common crystal lamp styles include Louis, Eugene, Maria Theresa, Empire, Waterfall, etc.
Louis style (Louis)
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.
Louis style has a thick spindle-shaped trunk, and the curve of the brass lamp branch is relatively gentle, extending into the flat space. 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.
In addition to the classic glass arm shape, the biggest feature of the Eugene style is the simplicity of the trunk shape, the steep curve of the lamp branch, and the lack of unnecessary decoration on the candlestick part. 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, there were designs that retained the simple and smooth shape of Eugene’s style, and the material was changed from glass to 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. If Baroque expresses the world of men, then the feminine characteristics of Rococo style are more obvious.
The main trunk likes to use arcs and S-shaped shapes, which are full of feminine temperament. Metal is paired with sparkling crystals. 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. They are often arranged in geometric shapes, and the structures are hidden and wrapped in shadows.
It consists of two parts, the upper part is conical, and the lower part is a bowl-shaped arc, which looks like a large 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 lamps also directly removed the candlesticks and retained only the main part of the design. They looked more simple and modern, and were suitable for decoration in modern homes.
Waterfall style
The waterfall-style crystal lamp can be regarded as a modern improvement of the Imperial style. It retains the lower part of the Imperial style. The crystal hangs down naturally. There are many shapes for the base, and you can choose from round or square.
The inverted triangle shape is less oppressive than the previous spherical styles. It is friendly to small apartments and families with low floor heights. It is also more suitable for modern and simple room atmosphere.
Among these five styles, the most recommended ones for everyone to buy are the imperial style and the waterfall style. They have simple shapes, fewer metal frames, and long streamlined styles that will not look bloated visually and are more versatile.
Louis style, Eugene style and Maria Theresa style are too obvious in style and have a strong sense of age. They are more suitable for palaces, high-end hotels, or homes with heavy colors. Ordinary people just can’t hold them.
If you really like the traditional style, the simple Eugene style will match better. As shown in the picture below, try to choose a style with fewer branches and layers. The decorative elements of the room should also be simple, so that it is not easy to be confused.
Look at the material
Crystal lamps are mainly made of metal arms and glass arms. Do not buy crystal lamps with thick branches. They tend to be rustic if they are thick. Do not have too many carvings. Golden metal arms with thin branches are the most versatile.
The glass material looks lighter, but compared to the glass material, the golden metal arm looks more delicate.
Look at the size
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. Imperial style and waterfall style crystal lamps are friendly 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.
If the floor height of your home is more than 2.8m, you don’t have to worry about the floor height at all. The small crystal chandelier is prominent enough without being too flashy. It can be installed in the living room, dining room, entrance hall, or even 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 diameter of the crystal lamp mainly depends on the volume of the crystal lamp. 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.
Like the earlier traditional chandeliers, the branches develop horizontally. For use in large living rooms, the diameter of 50~60cm is most suitable. 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.
If the tabletop is relatively long, you can consider two or three small crystal chandeliers with a diameter of 1/3 of the table.
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 style and waterfall style light bulbs are designed horizontally and downwards. Both E14 and E27 light bulbs have large lamp mouths, and most use spherical light bulbs.
Installed directly on the ceiling, eliminating the need for light lines, it not only has a strong decorative effect, but also ensures the brightness of the vertical 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.
Inexpensive but expensive, super cost-effective!
Crystal chandeliers on the market all start at a thousand 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.
If you just like the shape of the crystal lamp, you don’t necessarily have to pursue the high-end texture of Swarovski crystal. 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. Most of the crystal lamps listed below are also produced in these places.
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.
Small-sized waterfall-style chandeliers and wall lamps are more suitable for small apartments. The combination of crystal and brass is classic and eye-catching. Installed next to the bedside in the bedroom, it is full of romance.
Imperial style crystal lamps are difficult to find on Taobao, but there are still a few good ones that we can recommend.
There are candlestick styles that complement warm light bulbs. You can choose a corresponding number of arms according to the size of the installation space.
Four heads are suitable for a space of 5~15㎡; six heads are suitable for a space of 15~25㎡; eight heads are suitable for a space of 25~35㎡.
If you like more crystals, you can check out this one. The retro and elegant hanging shape stretches the space without looking bulky and depressing. When paired with American, Nordic and light luxury styles, it looks grand and romantic.
The style without candlesticks is visually more concise, and the classical and romantic brass lamp ring shape is exquisite enough to attract the eye. It is very suitable for homes that like romantic and light luxury style.
This store has 10 years of experience in producing copper lamps. It has an offline physical store, and you can also consult customer service to design crystal lamps for the whole house.
After all, crystal lamps are European products. Only by completely copying domestic designs can they be made to look good. In addition, there are relatively few styles, so it is indeed difficult to buy them in China.
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:
There will be no problem if the crystal chandelier is installed directly on the cement floor;
If you want to install lamp panels and crystal lamps in the suspended ceiling area, it is safest to penetrate them and install them directly on the cement floor.
The reason why classics crystal chandelier are classics is that unlike Internet celebrity models that become obsolete and eliminated after a few years, classic designs will still have vitality in modern times after thousands of years of updating and upgrading of aesthetic trends.