Floor Lamps

Where to put a floor lamp

• Beside a sofa or armchair, so the shade sits just behind your shoulder for reading.
• In an empty corner, where the light bounces off two walls and makes the room feel bigger.
• Next to a bed or in a bedroom corner, where a bedside table is too small for a lamp.
• Behind a desk or in a home office corner, as a softer alternative to overhead lighting.

Check the route to the nearest socket and the length of the cable before you settle on a spot, and keep cables out of walkways.

How tall should a floor lamp be?

Most floor lamps with shades stand between about 150cm and 165cm. Beside a sofa or reading chair, the bottom of the shade should sit roughly at shoulder or eye level when you are seated, so the bulb is hidden and the light falls onto your book. Taller lamps of around 160cm or more suit high-backed chairs, corners and rooms with higher ceilings.

Choosing a base and shade

Bases

Carved and whitewashed wood suits country and coastal rooms. Black metal and black and gold designs give a crisp, modern outline, while sculpted resin bases come in bold bottle and column shapes. Check the base width and weight on each listing: a heavier, wider base is more stable on a thick rug or in a busy room.

Shades

Linen shades give a soft, warm glow and hide the bulb well. Grey linen gives a slightly cooler, moodier light, while natural hessian adds texture. Tapered shades push more light downwards, and drum and cylinder shades spread it more evenly around the room.

Bulbs and switches

Most floor lamps in this collection take an E27 screw cap bulb, which is not included, and several state a maximum of 10W LED. Where a listing does not give the bulb fitting, check with us before you buy a bulb. A warm white LED bulb of around 2700K gives the cosy, relaxed light most people want from a floor lamp. Switch types vary, from an inline switch on the cable to a foot switch, and some lamps need a little assembly, so check each listing.

Floor lamps: your questions answered

Where should a floor lamp go in a living room?

The most useful spot is beside a sofa or armchair, slightly behind your shoulder, so it lights a book or phone. A floor lamp in an empty corner also helps, as the light bounces off two walls and makes the room feel larger and warmer in the evening.

What height should a floor lamp be?

Most floor lamps stand between about 150cm and 165cm. Beside a chair, aim for the bottom of the shade to sit at roughly seated eye level, so you see the glow rather than the bulb. Taller lamps suit high-backed chairs, corners and higher ceilings.

Do floor lamps come with bulbs?

Bulbs are not included with the floor lamps in this collection. Most take an E27 screw cap bulb, and several list a maximum of 10W LED. Check each listing for the fitting and maximum wattage before you buy a bulb, and ask us if a listing does not show it.

What bulb is best for a floor lamp?

A warm white LED bulb of around 2700K suits most living rooms and bedrooms, giving a soft, cosy light. Choose a bulb within the lamp's listed maximum wattage, and pick a frosted bulb if the shade is short enough that you might see the bulb itself.

Are floor lamps stable on carpet?

A floor lamp with a wide, heavy base is the most stable on carpet and thick rugs. Check the base width and weight on the listing, place the lamp on a flat spot, and keep the cable out of the way so it cannot be caught and pulled.

Layer your lighting with table lamps, browse the full lighting range, or find a side table to sit beside your lamp.