Floor lamps and standing lamps

The main types

• Standard lamps, a shade on a straight stem, give a soft, general light beside a sofa or in a corner.
• Reading lamps have an adjustable head or arm that points light onto a book or a piece of knitting.
• Arc lamps reach over a sofa or coffee table from the side, so light falls in the middle of the room without a ceiling point.
• Tripod lamps stand on three legs and suit a corner, where the legs take up less space.
• Uplighters throw light at the ceiling, which bounces back and spreads evenly, a good fix for rooms with low ceilings or no central light.

Height and position

Most floor lamps stand between 150 and 180 cm. For reading, the bottom of the shade or the head should sit just above your shoulder when you are seated, slightly behind you and on the side opposite the hand you turn pages with. Arc lamps need room to reach, often 1.5 to 2 metres, and a heavy base, usually marble or weighted metal, to stay stable. Check that clearance before you order an arc floor lamp.

Bulbs and brightness

A reading lamp needs 450 to 800 lumens close to the page. A standard lamp used for atmosphere can be softer. Warm white, around 2,700 K, suits living rooms. An uplighter lighting a whole room needs more, 1,500 lumens or above, ideally on a dimmer.

Cables and switches

Plan the route to the socket so the cable does not cross a walkway. A foot switch on the cable is easier to use than one at the top of a tall stem, and a dimmer lets one lamp work for reading and for watching a film.

Style and footprint

Measure the floor space as well as the height. A tripod or a wide marble base needs 40 to 60 cm of clear floor, while a slim stem with a small round base fits beside a tight armchair. In a small room, a single floor lamp with a fabric shade often does more than two table lamps, because it lights the room at sitting height without taking up a surface. If you have pets or young children, choose floor lamps with a heavy, low base that will not tip when they are brushed past.