You don't need us to tell you that lamps and lighting are essential to the design of your living room. Designer floor lamps, or standing lamps, serve a double purpose: they can be gorgeous objects in themselves, and the light they make can determine the whole mood of the room. So buying the right floor lamp requires a bit of thought.
How to choose a floor lamp, in brief: decide whether you want a showpiece or a quiet supporting act, check the height against your ceiling and seating (most floor lamps stand between about 58 and 65 inches tall), pick a shade for the kind of light you need (translucent for a soft ambient glow, opaque for accent light), and choose a base that suits your decor. Then think about how it will work alongside your other lamps.
Here's Pooky's complete guide to choosing a floor lamp for your living room, starting with five key questions to ask yourself when selecting a style, a base and a shade…
1. Do you want your floor lamp to make a statement?
A striking floor lamp can be a living room feature in itself, adding height, color and character to a room, or it can be a more subtle addition, blending in with the furnishings and fittings.
Basically, do you want your visitors to go, 'Gosh, look at that lamp!' or do you think that lamps are like Wimbledon ball boys (at their best when you don't really notice them)?
Whether you decide to go for a showpiece floor lamp may well depend on the space you have available. A tripod floor lamp, for example, will work really well in a sizable empty corner, but may take up too much precious floor space in a smaller room.
Another option if you want the lamp to be a talking point is to go for a simple base, then splash out on a large, flamboyant shade that will add color and life at eye level.
A striking shade will look just as good in the daytime with the curtains open as it does when illuminating your after-dinner drinks.
2. How will the floor lamp fit with the scale of your living room?
When deciding on a floor lamp, you need to consider the scale of your living room, especially the height of the ceiling.
If you have a low ceiling, a very tall lamp can look out of proportion, while if you have a lot of overhead space, a floor lamp that's too short will also stand out for the wrong reasons, dazzling guests with its glare instead of filling the room with ambient light.
As a rule of thumb, most floor lamps stand between about 58 and 65 inches tall. In rooms with low ceilings, a slimmer, shorter design keeps things in proportion; in rooms with high ceilings, a taller lamp or a more generous shade stops it looking lost.
Mo floor lamp styled by Susie Atkinson. Image: Susie Atkinson
3. What kind of light do you want in your living room?
Standing lamps can be used for both task lighting and ambient lighting, so deciding which is the priority will help you choose the best floor lamp.
If you want your lamp next to a sofa or armchair to provide reading light, the bottom of the shade should sit at around eye level when you're seated, which usually means the top of the lamp will be around 60 inches from the floor. For a dedicated book nook, see our guide to what makes a good reading light.
Choosing the right shade is also important. A semi-translucent shade is ideal for softer ambient light, while if you want to highlight a wall or ceiling feature, go for an opaque shade, as these are better for decorative accent lighting. As a general guide, a floor lamp shade should be 18 inches or more across at its base; our guide to finding the right shade for a floor lamp goes into more detail.
4. How will the floor lamp work with the décor and design of your living room?
Floor lamp bases come in brass, wood, marble and a range of colors, while shades can be anything from understated linens to brightly colored ikat patterns on silk, so there is plenty of scope for matching your lamp to your living room's style, period and decor.
However, you can also use floor lamps to add character and new elements to your living room. Why not combine a standing lamp with a small armchair and side table to create a cozy reading nook?
Miami floor lamp in situ. Image: Artist Residence hotels
Floor lamps are also a great way to turn 'negative spaces' into positive design features. Those 'nothing' areas, like an empty bay window or the gap between your sofa and the wall, can be lit, adding depth and character and bringing the room to life. Choose a semi-translucent shade to give a soft, diffuse light and create a warming glow.
One more quick tip: when deciding where to place the floor lamp, take care not to obstruct the line of sight between seats. A splendid lamp is a fine thing, but you don't want guests to have to crane their necks making chit-chat around it.
5. Are you layering light with multiple lamps?
Interior design 101 says that in a living room, layering light with multiple lamps is much better than relying on a single overhead source. Having several lamps of different sizes means you can use different combinations for different moods and situations.
So if you are buying a floor lamp along with table lamps, desk lights and wall lights, there's lots of fun to be had in creating a lighting 'family'. They don't all have to match, mind: craftily mismatched shades and styles can add a lot of personality to a room.
There's also budget to consider, of course, which is where the Pooky range comes in: you can mix and match shades and bases to create your own look, and while our lamps might look expensive, they're designed to be affordable as well as distinctive…
Galore floor lamp styled by Emily Murray of The Pink House. Image: The Pink House
So there are a few of the key things to think about when choosing a floor lamp for a living room. But really, the most important thing is to go with a style and effect that you love. Take a leisurely look through our range of floor lamps here.
Where should you put a floor lamp in a living room?
The most useful spots are beside or just behind a sofa or armchair (for reading and conversation), in a dark corner (to push light into the edges of the room and make it feel bigger), and in those 'negative spaces' like a bay window or alcove. Keep the lamp near an outlet so cords don't cross walkways, or choose a cordless floor lamp and put it wherever the room needs it. Our guide to how to light a room with floor lamps covers placement in more detail.
So there are a few of the key things to think about when choosing a floor lamp for a living room. But really, the most important thing is to go with a style and effect that you love. Take a leisurely look through our range of floor lamps here.
FAQs about choosing a floor lamp
What type of floor lamp is best for a living room?
It depends on the job you want it to do. For general ambient light, choose a lamp with a translucent fabric shade. For reading, an adjustable or articulated floor lamp lets you direct light onto the page. For a dark corner, a tall lamp with a generous shade spreads light furthest. Many living rooms benefit from two: one for reading and one for atmosphere.
How far should a floor lamp be from a sofa?
Place a reading lamp beside or slightly behind the arm of the sofa or chair, close enough that the light falls over your shoulder onto your book, usually within arm's reach. A lamp that's there for ambient light can sit further back, behind the sofa or in a nearby corner.
How many floor lamps should a living room have?
One is plenty for a small living room, especially alongside table lamps and wall lights. Larger rooms often look best with two, placed in different corners or zones, so light is spread across the room rather than pooled in one spot. The aim is several light sources at different heights, not one very bright one.
Can a floor lamp be the main light in a room?
Yes. In a room without overhead lighting, a couple of floor lamps with translucent shades, supported by table lamps or wall lights, can light the space beautifully. See our guide to lighting a room with no overhead lights for ideas.
What bulb should I use in a floor lamp?
For a living room, a warm white LED bulb around 2700K gives a cozy, flattering glow. If you'd like to switch between reading and relaxing, choose a dimmable bulb and check your lamp is compatible with a dimmer. Our guide to choosing a lightbulb explains more.