An acrylic lamp is a light whose shade is made of acrylic, a clear or coloured plastic (PMMA) that is also sold under brand names such as Lucite and Plexiglas. Acrylic can be moulded into thin petals, flared bells and glossy domes, and it lets light through evenly, which is why it is used for sculptural chandeliers and retro lamps. It is lighter than glass of the same size and less likely to shatter. Below you will find what acrylic does to the light, the real sizes of the acrylic lights we sell, and how to choose the right size for your room.
What acrylic does to the light
White acrylic diffuses. A matte or milky white shade spreads light softly, without showing the bulb. The Large Acrylic Chandelier uses layered shades with a soft matte white, organic texture for a gently diffused light.
Thin acrylic glows through. When the acrylic is thin, the light shines through it. On the Acrylic Flower Chandelier, the inner petals glow brightest and the ruffled outer edges catch a softer light.
Coloured acrylic tints the room. The Swirl Acrylic Bell Pendant lights up its orange and cream swirls from within, and the double-layer dome of the Amber Dome Arc Floor Lamp glows amber while the light falls downward.
Acrylic with wood. The Walnut Acrylic Flower Pendant wraps five sculpted white acrylic petals around a warm LED heart on a walnut-tone frame.
Acrylic vs glass
| Acrylic | Glass | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Lighter for the same size | Heavier |
| If it falls | Less likely to shatter | Can shatter |
| Shapes | Thin petals, bells, large domes | Globes, ribbed and fluted shades |
| Surface | Scratches more easily: dust with a soft cloth | Harder surface |
For glass shades, see our glass pendant lights guide.
Real sizes of our acrylic lights
All figures come from our product pages. The lighting area is the manufacturer's guide for the space one light covers on its own.
| Light | Type | Real size | Lighting area | Light options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic Flower Chandelier | Chandelier | Ø 40, 50, 60, 70 or 80 cm, 120 cm adjustable wire | 3–5 m² (Ø 40) to 20–25 m² (Ø 80) | Warm or cool white, not dimmable |
| Large Acrylic Chandelier | Chandelier, hardwired | Round D60, D80 or D100 cm, or L120 cm linear | 15–30 m² | 5 LED sources; warm, neutral, cold or 3-colour |
| Walnut Acrylic Flower Pendant | Pendant or ceiling light | Ø 45 cm | 10–15 m² | Tricolour, or stepless dimming by remote |
| Swirl Acrylic Bell Pendant | Pendant | Ø 46 × H 41 cm (tortoiseshell Ø 42 × H 28 cm) | 5–10 m² | Warm, natural or cool white |
| Amber Dome Arc Floor Lamp | Floor lamp | H 165 cm, reach 100 cm | 10–15 m² | Warm white or 3-colour, dimmable |
Which size? A guide with real figures
By room area. The Acrylic Flower Chandelier's product page gives one area per diameter: Ø 40 for about 3–5 m², Ø 50 for 5–10 m², Ø 60 for 10–15 m², Ø 70 for 15–20 m² and Ø 80 for 20–25 m². For a 12 m² bedroom, that points to the Ø 60; for a 22 m² living room, the Ø 80.
Over a table. A common working rule is a shade no wider than about two thirds of the table width. For a 90 cm wide table, that is 60 cm at most: the Acrylic Flower Chandelier Ø 50 or Ø 60, or the Large Acrylic Chandelier D60. For a long table, the linear L120 cm version works with about 15 cm of margin at each end, so a table of at least 150 cm. Our guide to dining table lights explains these rules.
Over a kitchen island. The Swirl Acrylic Bell (Ø 46 cm) is described on its page for hanging low over a kitchen island or a round dining table. See kitchen island lighting ideas for spacing.
Low ceiling. The Walnut Acrylic Flower Pendant also comes as a ceiling version, mounted close to the ceiling. Our guide to lighting for low ceilings has more options.
The two flower lights are compared with other petal shapes in our flower chandelier guide, the swirl bell and the amber dome with other retro styles in mid-century, Bauhaus and space age lamps, and the arc lamp with other floor lamps in types of floor lamps.
Choosing the main light for a specific room? See our guides to bedroom ceiling lights and living room ceiling lights, with a sizing rule and the headroom each fitting takes.
FAQ
Is acrylic the same as Lucite?
Lucite is a brand name for acrylic (PMMA), like Plexiglas. A "lucite lamp" is an acrylic lamp. Our lights are described as acrylic on their product pages.
How do I clean an acrylic light?
Dust it gently with a dry microfibre cloth, as the Walnut Acrylic Flower Pendant's product page advises. Acrylic scratches more easily than glass, so avoid rough cloths. More tips in how to clean lamp shades.
Which acrylic chandelier for a large living room?
The Large Acrylic Chandelier covers about 15–30 m², in D60, D80 or D100 cm. The Acrylic Flower Chandelier Ø 80 cm covers about 20–25 m².
See our chandeliers, flower pendant lights and chandeliers, pendant lights and vintage and mid-century lamps.
