They're versatile, practical and can do something that nothing else can. We think it's time to see floor lamps for what they really are: an invaluable weapon in the interior designer's armory. Here are seven reasons why…
In short: a floor lamp is one of the most versatile lights you can own. It can provide ambient, task and accent light; move from room to room; add height to a small space; act as a showpiece or blend quietly into the background; and be completely restyled with a new shade. Cordless designs will even go where the wiring doesn't.
When planning a room, interior designers start with the big elements of the overall scheme: the general theme, the colors of the walls, ceiling and floors, the materials, the major items of furniture, and the lighting design. And rightly so. Fixtures, ornaments, artworks and decorations tend to come later, and are chosen to fit in with the larger picture. But floor lamps have a unique role. First, they're usually the largest thing that counts as a 'fixture', so they can make a real impact on the 'scenery' of a room. But they also come into their own in those inbetweeny periods when you fancy a bit of a change, but aren't ready to spend the time (and money) on overhauling your entire scheme.
7 reasons floor lamps are the stylist's secret weapon
1) They can be used for all three kinds of lighting
As you'll know if you've read our guide to getting started with home lighting design, there are three main kinds of lighting to think about when designing a room: ambient lighting (the general light), task lighting (for doing things) and accent lighting (for drawing attention to room features, like interesting corners or artworks). Floor lamps can do all three, separately or simultaneously. Having a couple of tall standing lamps lets you create different moods of ambient light. You can position one craftily in a reading nook for task light (see our guide to stylish reading lamps). And if you have an interesting architectural feature to highlight, a floor lamp with an opaque shade can provide suitable accent light. The more floor lamps you have, the more options you have.
2) They’re eminently portable
It's not practical to repaint your walls every few months, and unless you have a very large home there are only so many ways you can rearrange your sofas, cabinets or dining table. Floor lamps, on the other hand, are substantial items of furniture, large enough to make a real impact on the look and feel of a space, that are also easy to move around, from place to place or room to room. And moving their pools of light into new corners can give a totally new mood (our guide to lighting a room with floor lamps has some clever placement ideas). They can even look good in hallways.
3) They add height and elegance
One of the classic interior design tricks for making a small space look bigger is to use the verticals and make the most of height (long striped curtains, tall narrow bookshelves and so on). Tall, slim floor lamps are ideal for adding height and elegance to a room while using a minimum of floor space. Our guide to lighting for small spaces has more ideas.
Bamboozle in antique brass
4) They can make a statement…
Floor lamps can be a principal feature of a room, either complementing or deliberately clashing with your theme. For example, you can make a statement with a midcentury-style angled standing light, an unusual resin floor lamp or a traditional base with a big, striking shade.
5) …or just surreptitiously contribute useful light
If you don't want to make a statement but just need subtle elegance and a little ambient light, go for a simple brass floor lamp. Tip: use a square shade and you can position a floor lamp flush against a wall or in an alcove.
Wrappling in antique brass
6) You can dress and re-dress them with designer lampshades
Keeping your floor lamp and changing your lampshade is a simple, cost-effective way to introduce novelty into your interior design. Try different materials for different themes (from block-color rolled silk to vibrant marbled paper), use shades for accent color, or make a statement with an ikat pattern; our guide to lampshade fabrics walks through the options. Try it: you'll be surprised at what a difference a change of shade can make to a room. Floor lamps usually need a generous shade, 18 inches or more across, so our large lamp shades are the place to start.
7) They go where the wiring doesn't
A cordless floor lamp frees you from hunting for outlets or running cords across the floor, so you can put light exactly where the room needs it: beside a reading chair in the middle of the room, next to the dining table for dinner, or in a gloomy hallway corner. Charge it, switch it on, and move it wherever the evening takes you. Browse our cordless lighting to see the range.
![Cranling articulated standing lamp [or if EOL: Articulated standing lamp beside an armchair]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0550/1075/4765/files/cranling.jpg)
How to choose the right floor lamp for your room
Once you're convinced (and we rather hope you are), the practical questions are height, shade and placement. Measure your ceiling height and the seat height of nearby chairs, choose a translucent shade for ambient light or an opaque one for accent light, and place the lamp where it won't block sightlines between seats. Our guide on how to choose a floor lamp for your living room walks through it step by step, and our guide to finding the right shade for a floor lamp covers the shade side of things.
Browse our complete range of floor lamps here.
FAQs about floor lamps
What is a floor lamp used for?
A floor lamp is a freestanding lamp, usually around 58 to 65 inches tall, used to add light at or above eye level without taking up table space. It can provide general ambient light, focused task light for reading, or accent light to highlight a corner or artwork, and because it stands on its own, you can move it wherever it's needed.
What's the difference between a floor lamp and a standing lamp?
There isn't one: they're the same thing. "Floor lamp" is the usual term in the US, while "standing lamp" and "standard lamp" are common in the UK. An uplighter, or torchiere, is a type of floor lamp that directs its light up toward the ceiling.
Are floor lamps good for small rooms?
Yes, if you choose the right shape. A slim base with a compact footprint adds light and height without eating into floor space, which can make a small room feel taller and more open. Tripod and arc designs take up more room, so save those for larger spaces.
Where should you not put a floor lamp?
Avoid placing floor lamps where they block walkways or sightlines between seats, where cords would trail across a path, or directly in front of a TV, where the light will reflect off the screen. Beside or slightly behind furniture usually works best.
Do floor lamps need to match table lamps?
No. Floor and table lamps work best as a family rather than a matching set. Repeating one element, such as a metal finish or a shade color, ties them together while letting each lamp keep its own character.