Types of Floor Lamps
The general setup of a floor lamp is simple: a sturdy base that stands steadily on the floor; a tall stem extending from the base; and well, a light that might be direct or diffused. While the bare bones remain the same, floor lamps come in a variety of styles, each with their own unique functional benefits.
Ambient Floor Lamps
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Shop George Nelson Lotus Bubble Floor Lamp – Cigar – Color: Silver / Satin Nickel – Size: Small – H762LFSBNS – Style: Mid-Century Modern and moreShop George Nelson Lotus Bubble Floor Lamp – Cigar – Color: Silver / Satin Nickel – Size: Small – H762LFSBNS – Style: Mid-Century Modern and more
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The most common type of floor lamps, ambient floor lamps are meant to provide general light to a space. They are topped with a traditional lamp shade, which diffuses the light for semi-direct illumination, making them great for a living room corner or next to a comfortable sofa or lounge chair. They typically provide enough light for reading nearby, though not as focused as the light from a reading lamp—but more on that later.
Reading Floor Lamps
A floor lamp meant for reading provides more direct, focused light than other types of floor lamps. If you’re looking for a lamp to brighten up your favorite nook, a desk or a place you do other daily tasks, a reading lamp will usually offer brighter illumination to the space directly below it. For added versatility, look for a reading lamp with a tilting shade, flexible arm or other adjustment capabilities so you can move the light exactly where you need it.
Uplight and Torchiere Floor Lamps
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Similar in structure to their traditional shaded counterparts, torchiere floor lamps are distinguished by their upward-pointing shades. The unique direction of this style of shade makes the light more of an accent than ambient or task lighting and can add dimension to corners and walls with its pop of uplighting.
Arc Floor Lamps
While standard floor lamps stay pretty stationary where you put them, an arc floor lamp can offer a bit more versatility. Combining a reading lamp and an ambient floor lamp, arc lamps have a stem that extend up and out. When the stem is adjustable, you can move the shade directly over the space to light it more directly, making it ideal for task lighting such as reading on a chair or working at a table. Other arc lamps can duplicate the effect of an overhead light, stretching way up and over a space so they can be used over a living room conversation spaces or even over a dining table.
Other Considerations for Choosing a Floor Lamp
Obviously, each floor lamp has its own unique aesthetic. It’s important to choose a floor lamp that not only looks good to you, but also matches the space you intend to put it in. Sometimes a floor lamp will look great in pictures, but it’s important to consider the scale and how the lamp will look in your particular space. Here’s what to keep in mind:
Cost
The cost of floor lamps can vary wildly from low-cost, purely functional models, to thousands of dollars for artistic or design pieces. Generally, the more intricate the aesthetic or desirable the name, the more expensive the piece will be. But the nature of a floor lamp often means a fantastic design can serve as a work of art for the room it’s in.
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Size
A common oversight is buying a lamp without first measuring the area it’s going in. Avoid buyer’s remorse and always measure first (with an actual tape measure – no eyeballing!) Measure the lamp’s height and circumference. Also consider weight —lighter is fine in less-traveled spots, heavier and more stable is better for areas with small children and high traffic.
Size can vary quite a bit as well. Shaded or torchiere lamps, while tall, take up a narrow amount of space due to their vertical orientation, making them easy to fit into the surrounding space. Meanwhile, arc floor lamps take up more space due to their horizontal extension. It’s crucial to know how much space you have to fit a floor lamp into, so you can be proactive about finding the right size.
If you’re looking at a lamp with a tripod base, make sure you have enough real estate on the floor and in the surrounding area so the lamp doesn’t feel cramped or is constantly being run into.
This is a major factor you need to consider depending on the size of your room and the height of your ceiling. A very tall lamp will definitely look just like a ceiling lighting and will cause disturbances with your ceiling. A very short one will not be sufficient for a large room. In the case of height, you can decide to go for an adjustable lamp. Depending on how large your room is, get a sizeable floor lamp.
Height
Height is another factor to take into account. The higher the light source, the wider spread of the light. This is great for ambient lighting, but may be less ideal for task lighting where you want the light closer and more focused but out of the way so you aren’t bonking your head when you’re sitting next to it.
Also consider the scale of everything else in the room—if you have a penchant for low, platform-style furniture, make sure the lamp you choose isn’t going to tower cartoonishly above it all. Some floor lamps come with adjustable heights, which can be handy if you’re prone to switching things up often.
Finally, choose a floor lamp that allows the light source to be concealed outside of your eye level to avoid an uncomfortable glare. So if you’re standing nearby, the light source of the lamp should be covered by the shade.
Their controls
The best control will depend on how much access you have to the lamp. Some have switches and others cords running along the pole for easier turn-off or on. Most of the contemporary floor lamps, are touch sensitive where you just need to touch and the light will go off. Others are wave sensitive; you just wave close to the lamp and it will go off or on.
Choose Your Layer of Floor Light
Perhaps most importantly, you should pick a floor lamp based on what type of lighting the room needs. Look to the three key layers of light to decide: Ambient, task and accent. Maybe you want warm ambient lighting, which an array of shaded floor lamps can provide. Or, maybe you just want some direct illumination to light up your reading chair with, in which case an arced reading lamp would be ideal. Or perhaps a torchiere just to brighten up a corner and add some accent lighting. The style of light that the floor lamp emits should affect its placement as well, so make sure you get the right piece for the space.
Style
Of course, you need a floor lamp that will complement your living room designs, crafts, colors, and wallpapers. Most of the contemporary floor lamps come in great styles charactered by their diverse colors. You need a lamp that will emit the right light color in your room. This will depend entirely on your taste and preferences.
Floor lamps comes in many shapes and styles. Lamps should fit with the style of your room and existing furniture. A Victorian floor lamp will look out of place next to minimalist or modern décor. Choose an oval or rectangular lamp shade to fit flush against the wall and save space.
The configuration
This is what will determine whether they are great for the living room, hanging on the top or great for task table. A light lamp in Torchiere style is very great when it comes to lighting when on the ceiling. Swing- arm lamps, can be great around the working table and other countertops. There are various styles and configuration that will help you get the right contemporary floor lamps that you want.
Consider the amount of light needed: Another important factor to consider when choosing a lamp shade is how much light you need the lamp to cast. Do you want to illuminate an entire room or provide light only for reading? If you need sufficient task lighting, a translucent shade is the best choice. However, if the lamp is strictly an accent piece, try an opaque shade for a dramatic look.
Shades with a tapered shape tend to blend well with classic decor. Blending an antique ceramic lamp with colorful Indian textiles and tapestries reveal a look that’s both worldly and classic. If you need to add color or texture to a room, a unique lampshade will add just the kick you are looking for. Look for a shade with a bold pattern, an interesting texture or flourishes like beads or tassels.
Balance your new lamps with the rest of the décor: Choosing the right lighting is similar to picking just the right accessories for your wardrobe. It completes the projected persona of your room. If you choose an oversized lamp with bursts of color or pattern, keep the rest of the room’s decor on the minimal side. Or, if you’ve got an already ornately decorated space consider going with a more subdued, modern and lamp with clean lines. In a nutshell, for a modern or contemporary look, think simple and streamlined when selecting lamps. Slim bases and drum-shaped shades can add height and drama to a space without overpowering the other decor.
Play with pattern, shape, and color: Since a large lamp or pair of lamps can steal the spotlight in a space, take advantage of their eye-catching ability and go with lamps that feature an avant-garde style or whimsical pattern. A large lamp can be great for setting the scheme of your entire room.
Decide the purpose
One of the primary questions that need to be answered when buying a floor lamp is the purpose behind it. Are you buying it to add a decorative touch? Or is it going to be a reading lamp? Narrowing down the uses of the floor lamp will enable you to decide the kind of lighting that you should be looking for.
If you are targeting enhancement of the ambience, then perhaps a soft glow would be perfect. Want to highlight a particular object? Then go for accent lighting where the object in question will be in focus. And if it’s for a reading nook, then a bright bulb with a semi-transparent lampshade might work best.
Safety is important too
Safety is an often overlooked feature when buying floor lamps. Depending on the height and weight a floor lamp can be potentially dangerous if not built well.
Pay particular attention to the base of the lamp. Choose something that is heavy, and well balanced in proportion to the overall weight of the lamp, especially if you are going in for a tall one.
Some floor lamps like the Halogen bulbs usually get very hot and if they tip and fall on the curtains, you can be sure the risk of electricity will be higher and unpreventable. You can avoid this by using contemporary floor lamps that have tripod stands and don’t use halogen. Others have an inbuilt safety guard that makes them safe even when they tip.
USB Floor Lamps – If you want an easy way to charge your electronic devices, look for a USB floor lamp. Many floor lamps come with a built-in USB port, allowing you to recharge your devices without using a traditional outlet.
Double Pull Chains – For the option of having two levels of light without the use of a dimmer, choose a floor lamp featuring double pull chains.
Built-In Dimmers – For the ability to lower or increase light levels, consider a floor lamp with a built-in dimmer. Some floor lamps come with a knob switch dimmer, or a line cord foot dimmer.
Floor Lamp Sets – For larger rooms consider floor lamp sets. They are an easy and quick way to visually unify the space.
Floor Lamps with Tables or Shelves – If you’re looking for a space-saving design, consider a floor lamp with a table or shelf built into the lamp. These floor lamps provide general lighting as well as a handy spot to place remote controls, drinks, and more.
Adjustable Features
If you want a floor lamp with adjustable features, look for a reading or task floor lamp. These lamps have adjustable poles, allowing you to lower or raise the height of the lamp to accommodate your needs.
Durability
Select a strong, good quality floor lamp and you will keep it for life. Yes, you may change the lamp shade from time to time, but as long as the base is finished well, and heavy enough not to fall over, your piece can be moved from room to room, painted, stained or waxed and never go out of style.