How to Hang a Suncatcher So You Get the Most Rainbows
If you want the most rainbows, hang your suncatcher in a window that gets direct sun, as close to the glass as you can. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, that's usually a south-facing window. East windows give you morning rainbows and west windows give you afternoon ones.
Here are my tips for getting your suncatcher to put on a show.
Which window is best for a suncatcher?
The one the sun hits. A crystal needs direct sunlight to throw rainbows, and bright shade won't do much.
A quick guide for the Northern Hemisphere:
South-facing: the most direct sun through the day, especially in fall and winter
East-facing: morning rainbows
West-facing: afternoon and early evening rainbows
North-facing: very little direct sun, so the crystal will sparkle more than it sprays rainbows
Not sure which way your windows face? Open the compass on your phone, or just watch where the light lands at breakfast and at dinner.
How high should you hang it?
Hang it where the sun hits it for the most hours. Usually that's the top half of the window, since the top catches light earlier and later in the day. Keep it close to the glass so the frame and curtains don't block it.
A small suction cup hook or a curtain rod works for most of mine. If you rent, a removable adhesive hook at the top of the window frame works too.
Why do my rainbows move around?
The sun moves across the sky during the day, so the rainbows travel across your walls with it. The seasons change things too. In fall and winter the sun sits lower, so light comes in at a lower angle and can reach farther into the room. That means the same suncatcher can land rainbows in a totally different spot in November than in June.
I love this part. If you want to see it for yourself, try the Rainbow Hunt creative interruption and sketch where the light lands a few days in a row.
Can you hang a suncatcher in a room without much sun?
You can. You'll get fewer rainbows, but a crystal still catches whatever light is around and sparkles. AB coated crystals help here, because the coating adds purples and blues on the surface even in softer light. I wrote more about that in What Is AB Crystal?
A few quick tips
Clean the window. Smudges soften the rainbows.
Give it room to spin a little. Movement makes the rainbows dance.
Try two windows for a week before you pick a forever spot.
Hanging more than one? Stagger the heights so they don't block each other.
FAQ
Do suncatchers work in winter?
Yes. The lower winter sun can send rainbows deeper into the room, as long as the window gets direct sun.
What time of day do suncatchers make rainbows?
Whenever direct sun hits the crystal. That's morning for east windows, afternoon for west windows and most of the day for south windows.
Can a suncatcher start a fire?
Round glass, like a crystal ball, can focus sunlight, which is why you'll see warnings about those. With any crystal, it's smart to keep papers, fabric and anything else that could catch from sitting right up against it in strong sun.
If you're looking for one to start with, all of my suncatchers are handmade here in Dartmouth, Massachusetts. You can see them in the shop.
