Floor Lamps

How to choose the right floor lamp

Where should I put a floor lamp?

Use a floor lamp to fix the lighting overhead fixtures miss. Place one beside a sofa or armchair for a reading nook, angle a standing lamp into a dark corner to lift the whole room, or set one behind a chair to wash light up the wall. Reach for a floor lamp whenever you want to add height and a light source without rewiring or giving up surface space.

Reading light or ambient glow, which floor lamp?

Match the shape to the job. For focused reading, choose a downward arc or task lamp over a chair. For soft, room-filling light, pick an upward torchière that bounces off the ceiling. For a sculptural accent, go with a tripod or column style. Our stylists favour Bouclair's glass-and-metal and metal floor lamps in white, black, natural, and amber tones.

How tall should a floor lamp be?

Aim for a floor lamp around 58 to 64 inches, tall enough to cast light across a seating area without the bulb glaring. For a reading lamp beside a chair, set the bottom of the shade near shoulder height when you are seated so light falls on the page. In a corner meant to brighten a whole room, go taller and aim the light upward.

How many light sources does a room need?

Light a room in layers, and make the floor lamp the tallest of them. Use at least three sources in a living room (overhead, mid-height, and floor level) so you can shift from bright and functional to low and intimate. Put a floor lamp on a dimmer to cover two of those moods at once, or shop a curated collection where the lighting is already layered for you.