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Creating different layers of lighting is an easy way to make a space more beautiful and versatile.
Whether it is overhead lighting, task lighting or feature lighting it can help to transform the feeling within a space. When it comes to floor lamps for living rooms, incorporating a floor lamp can help to level up the space and give it a more unique design.
Table of Contents
What do you need to consider when choosing a new floor lamp for living room use?
• Aesthetics
• Function
• Size of the space
As well as economics, psychological aspects, and the occupants of the space may also play a factor in your decision-making process
Aesthetics
Keeping your style in mind is important to select a floor lamp that compliments or accents your existing space. Floor lamps come in a wide variety of designs that make them suitable for any space. Whether you are into sleek contemporary styles or decorative traditional pieces, there are options to suit your design.
Here are some tips of what to look for to match your floor lamp to your personal style:
Modern
If you are looking to keep your space modern focus on pieces with simple lines and minimal ornamental elements. Modern style often incorporates geometric shapes, and strong angles.
As far as materials there is a strong trend of incorporating metal elements such as aluminum, nickel, brass,
and blackened metals. These metals are paired with neutral colors to create the modern appearance.
This Modern LED Floor Lamp is a good example of a floor lamp that would suit a modern space. The sleek black pole is minimalist but is still able to make a beautiful design statement. The contrast of the tall angularity in the poles with the frosted glass globe of the light makes it a very balanced piece that could work in a variety of spaces.
Traditional
Traditional interior design focuses on decorative curving lines and symmetry to create a feeling of luxury and elegance. The focus on traditional style is all about detail, every piece works together to create a space rich with sophistication. Whether that is ornamental vases, a book collection, or the floor lamp in your space you can keep the design style consistent to make a cohesive room with a strong impact.
Often traditional spaces will incorporate deep rich tones, wooden elements, with pops of lighter muted or pastel tones. Shapes focus on curves and rounded contours that typically create symmetry within the
space. For floor lamps in a traditional living room, we tend to choose finishes in silver, brass, gold, or
bronze.
This floor lamp would work wonderfully in a traditional space, the warm colors help to create a homey
and inviting space. It incorporates the ornamental details that are popular for traditional pieces. It has a
symmetrical design that gives it an elegant appearance.
Transitional
Transitional Interiors are the blend of traditional and contemporary style. It offers the decorative aspects of traditional style with a lighter and fresher take. It typically utilises classic lines of the traditional style but with colors and finishes that are more modern.
The styling is offers soft lines with a lighter color palette. It offers a balance between timeless design that feels fresh and relevant. While balancing masculine and feminine design elements.
Elements that are often incorporated in transitional spaces are neutral colors such as taupe, cream and greys. Minimal accessories balance out the curved and decorative pieces to modernize the space.
The style creates layers through textures and fabrics. This means incorporating materials like chenille, suede, and leather with more modern pieces such as glass, mirrors, and metallic pieces.
This floor lamp offers a lovely decorative option for a transitional space. The glass and polished nickel finishes offer a contemporary look that work with the more decorative curves of the lamp base.
The champagne faux-silk shade with a chocolate brown interior. The lampshade offers a luxurious example of a tone-on-tone color palette.
Mid-Century Modern
Mid-century modern has made an increase in popularity in the past few years and is continuing to do so. For a living room designed in a mid-century modern style you will want to add a lamp in this style.
The style originated in the mid-1930 to mid 1960’s and focuses on clean lines and organic curves. Features that are popular for the mid-century modern style is sleek lines and natural curves, with
uncluttered minimal ornamentation. Materials can range from traditional woods, glass and metals to plexi-glass, and plastic elements. Color palettes can also be vary diverse. Ranging from neutrals to bold and graphic tones.
The key design element of mid-century modern is the idea of function over form.
An example of a mid-century modern lamp is the tripod floor lamp. Its wooden base creates a strong and stable lighting element. The timeless design creates a sculptural element in your space as well as
provides an excellent light source.
Function of floor lamps for living room use
Consider what function your floor lamp will provide. Is the floor lamp intended to provide a layer of overall ambience or provide light for a specific task?
If you enjoy sitting on your sofa, enjoying a nice book. You may want to consider creating a cozy reading spot with the perfect lighting. A floor lamp that is around 4 feet tall beside your sofa or accent chair can provide the ideal light to illuminate right over your shoulder. Giving you the perfect amount of light to read long into the evening.
If you are looking for floor lamps for living room reading that is more versatile and offers a bit more style than a typical reading lamp. you may want to look at a floor lamp that offers adjustable positioning or angled head to provide direct light for your reading.
Something like this Modern Arc Floor Lamp that offers an adjustable arm and pole height gives you the ability to move it to suit your needs however they may change. This allows for you to use it as ambient light or for task lighting as required.
Alternatively, ambient light floor lamps for living room use are only used to provide overall light to the space. This can come in the form of a shaded floor lamp that diffuses the light through a greater area of the space.
The final layer of light is an accent light. An accent light can be used to create a focus point in the room, by focusing light directly on them. Accent lighting is used to draw focus to things like artwork, pottery, or a piece of furniture.
Size of Space
When selecting any furniture piece for your space it is very important to keep in mind the space you plan to put it in. will it allow you to have enough space to navigate the room and leave a clear path in the space. It is also important to leave extra space around furniture pieces to allow them breathing space.
Traditionally it is a safe choice to place your floor lamps for living room placement beside a couch or a chair. This does not mean that that is your only option though. As with any design element you are able to do what ever you want and not locked into a set of rules.
The only constraints to where you place your lamp is that it is in close enough proximity to an outlet. Making sure that the cord does not cross over a pathway to create a tripping hazard. Cords can also be an eye sore if they are out in the open. This means that it is better to arrange your furniture so that the cord is close to the outlet or that it can run under other furniture to reach it.
Is it okay to place a floor lamp near a TV?
When placing your lamp, you want to consider if it is going to create glare on your TV or computer. You either want to strategically place the light so that it does not interfere with the screen or make sure it is a light that you would not have on while you are watching the TV. Lighting that is on the adjacent side of the room can cause glare or if it is placed too close to the screen.
While you must make sure you do not place the lamp in a place that interferes with the TV, it is nice to have a layer of ambient light in a TV room. It is difficult for the eye to adjust to watching TV in total darkness, which can lead to eye strain. Because of this it is beneficial to have an ambient light such as a floor lamp in the space to lessen the need for the eyes pupil to contract to adjust to lighting changes.
What are the best floor lamps for smaller rooms?
A great option for a smaller space would be a floor lamp with a thin base. This gold globe floor lamp is a great example of this. The sleek design is minimal and can fit snuggly between a sofa and side table.
Choosing a light fixture with a small frame will help to leave visual space between furniture and let the room breathe.
What are the best floor lamps for larger rooms?
In a larger space, you can feel more confident with your decision to go with a larger, statement floor lamp, that may take up more visual space in the room and even create an element of visual weight. You can do this to create an anchor in the space and balance out other smaller furniture pieces to create a balance of furniture with and without visual weight.
An example you may like if you have a large room is the Brightech Parker Tower lamp. Its cylindrical base creates a larger floor print, but it allows it to create a larger impact on the rooms design.
In either a large or small living room you should feel comfortable to experiment with a variety of scale for your floor lamp. Don’t feel that you need to stick with traditional sizing. You may want to play with scale to create a statement. Taking risks with your space design can lead to the greatest rewards. Leading to unexpected visuals.
Accessibility also plays a factor to the sizing considerations of a floor lamp. Will it be placed in a position where the switch is within reach of someone sitting? Or are you comfortable having it placed in a way that it is accessed by standing. Make sure that it is in reach of all people within the household to resolve any issues with using the light.
More and more commonly people are utilizing “smart” switches for their lighting. To remove any problems with reaching the switch you may want to use Wi-Fi enabled lighting that will allow you to effortlessly access it from a remote or smart phone.
Economical
It is important to take time to consider the task or function of the light in your living space. Will you select a product that is more minimal and will be able to transition through design changes in the space or will it be a trendy statement piece that you rotate out frequently.
One of the perks of choosing a floor lamp to change up your space is that it requires no installation. The only requirement is floor space near an electrical outlet, and you are all set! Compared to a wall-mounted lighting you are saving installation, clean up and money.
Psychological
The angle and color of the light can dramatically change the mood and emotion that the space invokes. Adding a new floor lamp can completely change the feeling of the room.
Blue and white light can make you feel more energetic, while amber and more warmer lights have less of an impact on the internal clock and because of this can be a better option for psychological wellbeing.
The angle of lighting can also be a factor of mood. A floor Lamp that is above eye level can give the feeling of a more formal space while a lower light creates a more informal atmosphere. This means that for a living room a lower level of lighting around the perimeter of the room in warm tones may be the best option to create a relaxed space.
