How to choose a floor lamp: what to consider

A floor lamp lights a place without taking a table. These are the things worth settling before you choose one. The numbers are common rules of thumb, not fixed rules.

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Height and reach

For reading in a chair, the light should fall over your shoulder onto the page, with the shade or head near eye level when you are seated.
Arc lamps reach out over a seat. Check the reach and the weight of the base so it can carry the arm without tipping.
Floor lamps are commonly about 140-180 cm tall. A taller lamp suits a high-ceilinged room or a corner.

Stability

A tall, slim lamp needs a wide or weighted base. Check the footprint, particularly around children, pets and busy walkways.

Light

Uplight spreads light on the ceiling for a soft general glow; a downlight or adjustable head gives a focused beam for reading.
Check the fitting, the maximum wattage, whether it can be dimmed, and whether a bulb is included. Warm white light (around 2700 K) is the usual choice for living rooms.

Switch and cable

Check where the switch or dimmer is: on the stem, on the cable or at the foot.
Plan where the cable will run. A cable across the floor is a trip hazard; the socket's position often decides where the lamp can go.

Materials and care

Fabric and paper shades collect dust and can fade in sun. Metal finishes can chip; raw metals change with age.
Check the weight if you will move it, and whether it comes apart for transport.

Longevity and repair

A lamp lasts longer if its parts can be replaced: the bulb or LED module, the switch, the cable. Slim, tall lamps are easier to ship when they come apart.

Questions worth asking the maker

Exact height, reach and base size? Where is the switch and how long is the cable? Which bulb fits, and is one included? Can it be dimmed? Are spare parts available? What are the delivery and return terms?

Sources and further reading

A label covers one aspect of a product, such as where the wood came from or which chemicals are in a textile, not its whole footprint. These pages explain what each covers; they are not endorsements, and Formground does not rate products.

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