Floor lamps are one of the unacknowledged lighting schemes in most houses. They always stand at attention, and they provide ample illumination to any rooms in the house without any fast installation. Floor lamps offer direct task lighting as well as widespread ambient lighting. They are versatile, and they can suit whatever mood you want in a space. However, finding the right floor lamp that will suit your needs can be quite a task. That’s why we are here to give you a guide on how to choose the right floor lamp that will perfectly light up your house.
Different Types of Floor Lamps
In general, a floor lamp has a sturdy base that helps it stands steadily on the floor, it has a tall stem that rises from the bottom, and a light that can be diffused or direct. While all there are bones are the same, floor lamps come in different styles and unique function benefits.
Reading Floor Lamps
This type of floor lamp is meant for reading because it offers you more focused and direct light compared to other floor lamp types. That’s why if you are looking for a lamp that can brighten up your desk or workplace, a reading lamp is the perfect one for you. If you want added versatility, you can look for a reading lamp that has a flexible arm, tilting shade, and adjustment capabilities. So that you can adjust its light and move it exactly where you need it.
Ambient Floor Lamps
This is the most common floor lamp type. The ambient floor lamp is more focused on providing general light to space. They are often topped with a traditional lampshade that diffuses light for semi-direct illumination. That’s why they are great on your living room corner or placed near a comfortable lounge chair or sofa. Ambient floor lamps give you enough light for reading near it, but it is not as focused compared to the reading floor lamps.
Arc Floor Lamps
While all standard floor lamps stay still where you put them, arc floor lamps give you more versatility. This type of floor lamp is a mix between an ambient floor lamp and a reading lamp because it has a stem that can extend up and out. That’s why you can move the shade directly over the space where you want more direct light. That’s why an arc floor lamp is ideal for task lighting, such as working on a table or reading on a chair. Some types of arc lamps can duplicate the effect of an overhead light. This means it can stretch out the light over a space so that you can use it over your dining table or your living room conversation place.
Torchiere or Uplight Floor Lamps
Just like their traditional shaded counterparts, the uplight or torchiere floor lamps are recognized by their upward-pointing shades. That’s why the direction of the style shade is more of an accent lighting than a task lighting. This type of lamp can add dimensions to walls and corners.
Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Floor Lamp
Every floor lamp has its own unique use and aesthetic. Aside from picking a floor lamp that can suit your lighting needs, it is also essential to choose a lamp that can complement the space that you intend to place it. Here are other factors that you should keep in mind when you’re looking for a floor lamp.
Cost
The cost of floor lamps can wildly vary from low-cost but purely functional models to thousands of dollars’ worth of artistic pieces. Basically, if a floor lamp comes from a reputable lamp manufacturer and if it has an intricate design, it means that it can be quite expensive. But whichever brand you go for or design you wanted, always choose a floor lamp that can give you its purpose and at the same time, serve as an art in the room where it’s in.
Height
The height of the floor lamp is also a factor that you should consider. This is because the higher the light is, the wider it spread. A tall floor lamp is perfect for ambient lighting, but it is less ideal if for task lighting. Plus, you should also consider the height of every furniture in the room. For example, if you have low, platform-style furniture, it is best to choose a lamp that’s not going to lower anything that’s surrounding it.
We suggest that you should go for a floor lamp that allows the light source to be covered outside of your eye level to evade any uncomfortable glare.
Size
The size of a floor lamp can vary, as well. For example, a torchiere or shaded lamp can take up a small amount of space because of its vertical orientation. This means that you can easily fit it into the surrounding place. On the other hand, arc floor lamps take up more space compared to the shaded or torchiere lamp because they have a horizontal extension. That’s why you need to know how much space you have on your floor to put your lamp into so you can find the right size. If you’re going to go for a lamp that has a tripod base, make sure that you have enough space on the floor and its surrounding area so that the lamp will not look cramped.
Perhaps the most important thing to remember when it comes to picking the right floor lamp is that you should base it on what type of light the room needs. Always remember to look for the three critical layers of light, it’s ambient, accent, and task. If you need more warm ambient lighting, go to a shaded floor lamp. If you want some direct illumination to light up your work table or reading chair, then go for an arc reading lamp. If you wish to brighten up a corner and add some accent lighting in the room, then go for a torchiere floor lamp.