In a hotel, the chandelier is rarely a matter of taste and almost always a matter of dimensions. It hangs above heads, it is heavy, and it must still be cleanable in five years. Those who clarify these three points before selection will get the piece that supports the room. Those who clarify them afterwards will have a problem with the ceiling.
Hanging height: the value that is most often incorrect
Above traffic areas, i.e., wherever guests walk through, the lower edge should be at least 2.20 meters above the finished floor. Above a seating group or a table, the light fixture may hang lower; there, around 2.00 meters is common, and above a dining table, about 70 to 90 centimeters above the tabletop. In halls with variable seating, the height is determined by the highest possible use, not by today's. In a stairwell, the chandelier hangs so that it is fully visible from the lowest and highest landings.
Size in relation to the room
A chandelier that is too small in a high hall looks like an oversight. As a rough guide, the sum of the room's length and width in meters, read as diameter in centimeters, serves: a room of six by eight meters can accommodate a diameter of about 140 centimeters. Above a table, the table width serves as the upper limit, so that no one bumps into it. In very high rooms, a group of several fixtures or an elongated model works better than a single round piece.
Weight and mounting
A large chandelier can quickly weigh several kilograms, at a single point. Before ordering, it must be clarified whether the ceiling at this point can bear the weight, whether a truss or a ceiling anchor is necessary, and who will carry out the installation. In old buildings with stucco or suspended ceilings, this is not a mere formality. Likewise, the question of how to get there must be clarified: scaffolding, a lifting platform, or a ladder determine the installation date and any subsequent maintenance.
Cleaning is an operating cost issue
What no one can reach will not be cleaned. A chandelier in a stairwell spanning four floors looks great in the first year and dusty in the third. Therefore, accessibility must be part of the decision: How does one get to it, how often does it need to be done, and is a retractable suspension sensible? Models with many small individual parts look magnificent and cost many times more to clean than smooth shapes. Both are justifiable, but it should be a decision and not a coincidence.
Where chandeliers are effective in hotels
The most prominent positions are the lobby, the stairwell, the ballroom, and the dining room. In guest rooms, smaller models are more sensible because the ceiling height is limited and the actual light is needed by the bed anyway. Suitable pieces can be found in the Chandelier collection, and for lower rooms in Ceiling Lights. How the ceiling level interacts with wall and table lights is explained under Hotel Lighting Concept.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high does a chandelier hang in a hotel?
Above traffic areas, at least 2.20 meters from the lower edge to the finished floor; above a seating group, around 2.00 meters; and above a dining table, about 70 to 90 centimeters above the tabletop.
What diameter should a chandelier have?
As a guide, the sum of the room's length and width in meters, read as diameter in centimeters, serves. Above a table, the table width forms the upper limit.
What needs to be checked before installing a chandelier?
The load-bearing capacity of the ceiling at the suspension point, the type of fastening, access for installation, and subsequent accessibility for cleaning. Where no one can reach, it will not be cleaned.
Personal advice
We advise you personally and online. Send us your room dimensions or a photo at info@casa-luxury.de and we will put together a suitable selection for you.
Models from the current collection
A selection of available models. Each image leads to the product page with dimensions, material, and delivery time.
Further in the guide: Hotel Equipment Overview · Lighting Concept in Hotels · Conference and Ballroom · Eichholtz Chandeliers