A floor lamp is a lamp that stands on the floor on its own base, usually between 120 and 180 cm tall, and plugs into a wall socket. It is the easiest way to add light to a room without wiring: no ceiling point, no electrician. The main types are the arc lamp, the tripod lamp, the globe lamp, the column lamp and the classic shade-on-a-stand. Each one throws light in a different direction, which is what really decides where it belongs. Below, each type is explained with the real sizes of the floor lamps we sell.
The five main types of floor lamps
Arc floor lamp. A long curved arm carries the shade away from the base, so the light falls over a sofa or an armchair while the base stays behind it. Our Amber Dome Arc Floor Lamp is 165 cm high with a reach of 100 cm, and its amber acrylic dome sends the light downward.
Tripod floor lamp. Three legs give a wide, stable footprint and a slightly rustic or mid-century look. The Cowhide Tube Floor Lamp stands on a solid wood tripod; its Ø 20 cm hide tube glows all over, like a lantern.
Globe floor lamp. One or several glowing spheres, which spread a soft light all around rather than in one direction. The Space Age Chrome Globe Floor Lamp uses Ø 35 cm white acrylic spheres in chrome loops, in seven models from a low 80 cm frame to a 250–280 cm floor-to-ceiling pole.
Column floor lamp. A tall, slim column with a shade at the top that works like a piece of sculpture. The Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade Floor Lamp is 173 cm high with a Ø 30 cm slanted fabric shade and a foot switch.
Classic shade floor lamp. A shade on a slim stand, open at the top and bottom, so light goes both up and down. The Tasselled Velvet Floor Lamp is 158 cm high with a caramel velvet shade and tassel trim.
Floor lamp sizes compared
All figures come from our product pages. The lighting area is the manufacturer's guide for the space one lamp can light on its own.
| Floor lamp | Type | Height | Shade | Light direction | Lighting area | Dimmable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amber Dome Arc | Arc | 165 cm (65 in) | Dome, reach 100 cm | Down | 10–15 m² | Yes |
| Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade | Column | 173 cm (68.1 in) | Ø 30 cm | Down | 10–15 m² | Remote dimming option |
| Tasselled Velvet | Classic shade | 158 cm (62.2 in) | Not stated | Up and down | 3–5 m² | No |
| Cowhide Tube | Tripod | 130 cm (51.2 in) | Tube Ø 20 cm | All around, diffused | 5–10 m² | Not stated |
| Space Age Chrome Globe (model A) | Globe | 120 cm (47.2 in) | Sphere Ø 35 cm | All around | 5–10 m² | Not stated |
| Space Age Chrome Globe (model F) | Globe, floor-to-ceiling | 250–280 cm adjustable | Sphere Ø 35 cm | All around | 5–10 m² | Not stated |
Which type for which job
Reading in a chair or on a sofa: you want light falling onto the page, so pick a lamp that sends light down. The arc lamp is the most practical here because the shade can sit above the seat. The column lamp works too if it stands right beside the armchair.
Filling a dark corner: pick a lamp that glows all around, such as a globe or a tripod tube. They light the walls and the corner itself, which makes a room feel larger in the evening.
Mood light in a bedroom: a low-output lamp like the Tasselled Velvet (3–5 m²) gives a warm glow without lighting the whole room. The Cowhide Tube also works as a tall bedside light.
A room with no ceiling light: combine two floor lamps with different light directions. Our guide to lighting for low ceilings covers rooms without an overhead point in more detail.
A worked example: how many floor lamps for your living room
Add up the lighting areas from the table and compare them with your room. For a 20 m² living room with no ceiling light, one Amber Dome Arc (10–15 m²) plus one Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade (10–15 m²) gives 20–30 m² of rated coverage, enough on their own. In a 12 m² bedroom, one Cowhide Tube (5–10 m²) plus a bedside lamp is usually enough. If the room already has a ceiling light, one floor lamp is plenty, chosen for the job rather than the coverage.
For the arc lamp, check the reach against your sofa. With a reach of 100 cm, the dome sits about 100 cm in front of the base: if the base stands just behind or beside a sofa that is less than 100 cm deep, the light falls over the seat. For more ways to combine lamps, see our living room lighting ideas.
Plugs, switches and light colour
The Amber Dome Arc, Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade and Cowhide Tube are offered with EU, UK, US or AU plugs; the Space Age Chrome Globe with EU, UK or US. Switches differ: a foot switch on the Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade, a knob on the Space Age Chrome Globe and a push button on the others. Most offer warm white or 3-colour light; see warm white vs cool white to choose.
For two looks built around floor lamps, see our guides to boho lighting, with the Cowhide Tube and the Tasselled Velvet, and to brass lamps and lights, which compares brass, gold, bronze and copper finishes.
The Cowhide Tube and its wooden tripod also appear in our guide to rustic and wood lamps, and the acrylic dome of the Amber Dome Arc in our guide to acrylic lamps and chandeliers.
The Space Age spheres are compared with our glass and silk globe pendants in globe lamps and globe pendants, and the slim Wabi-Sabi column appears with other pared-back lights in minimalist lighting.
The chrome loops of the Space Age Chrome Globe are compared with other silver finishes in chrome and silver lamps, and the Tasselled Velvet appears with mushroom and flower lamps in cottagecore lighting.
Two floor lamps above also appear in our style guides: the fringed velvet lamp in Victorian lamps and the slanted-shade lamp in sculptural lamps.
Comparing other kinds of lighting? Our guides to the types of table lamps, from stained glass to bankers and dome lamps, and to the types of chandeliers, from flower to linear and fabric fittings, give real sizes in the same way.
FAQ
What is the best type of floor lamp for reading?
A lamp that sends light downward onto the page, ideally an arc lamp whose shade sits above the seat. Our Amber Dome Arc has a 100 cm reach, is dimmable and lights about 10–15 m².
How tall is a floor lamp?
Most of ours are between 130 and 173 cm: Cowhide Tube 130 cm, Tasselled Velvet 158 cm, Amber Dome Arc 165 cm, Wabi-Sabi Slanted Shade 173 cm. The Space Age Chrome Globe ranges from 80 cm to a 250–280 cm floor-to-ceiling pole.
Is a tripod floor lamp stable?
Three legs spread the weight over a wider footprint than a single stem. Our Cowhide Tube Floor Lamp stands on a solid wood tripod and is 130 cm high, one of our shorter floor lamps.
See all our floor lamps, and for a style overview read Mid-Century, Bauhaus and Space Age lamps.
