Floor Lamps

At Universal Lighting, we understand the importance of task and accent lighting. Floor lamps play an important part in any home decor scheme, as they light up gloomy corners in any living room or hallway. Placed near a table, a lovely floor standard lamp can give you light to read by comfortably without shadows.

Nothing beats a floor lamp for bringing extra controllable illumination into your room. They are convenient and can be placed wherever you want. Some are bright enough to light a whole room, and others can light up a dark corner. Existing traditional lamp standards can be given a quick makeover by replacing the lampshade to transform it and match your accent colours.

Choosing the Most Suitable Floor Lamps

Do you need a floor lamp for reading, sewing or other tasks? If so, then a mother and child or reading lamp may be the answer. Mother and child lamps have two functions, one lamp illuminates upwards and spreads across the ceiling filling the room with reflected light, whilst the smaller flexible lamp can be adjusted to position as a reading lamp.

If you need a floor lamp to light a room then a torchère, up lighter or powerful mother and child lamp could be the answer. This type of floor lamp shines bright light off the ceiling and back into the room and can effectively light the whole space.

Floor lamps are perfectly safe to use in a nursery by following a few basic safety measures.

• Never place a floor lamp so that the cable or lamp stem are within reach of a toddler to prevent it being pulled into the cot.
• Always use an LED light bulb, as they run very cool and will not burn the skin if touched.
• Consider using a safety strap attached to the stem and secured to the wall to prevent it being tipped over.
• Make sure you use an LED mother and child floor lamp if this is the type you choose.
• Never use halogen bulbs in a nursery, as they run very hot and can cause a nasty burn if touched.

Floor lighting is available in various heights ranging from 1200 – 1800mm, so remember to choose one that is suitable for the height of your ceiling. You will also need to consider the overall height of the lamp from the floor, and how the light source is diffused in relation to where you will sit.

Remember, it’s not good for you to look at bare bulbs, so any shade should reach down far enough to stop this happening. If you have a large room, then a large lamp can be placed centrally on the floor and become a feature in itself. If you have limited space, they can be placed in the corner of a room where that space is normally unused. Remember, everything within a room should be in proportion.

The most traditional type and perhaps the most recognisable is the floor standard lamp or console. This normally has a sturdy central pole set on a heavy base, with a fabric shade surrounding the light bulb. Even though this is a traditional style, there are many modern themes using crystal or chrome stems. The advantage of this style of floor lamp is that the look can be easily changed simply by replacing the shade.

Some are already fitted with a dimmer module, and most can be easily retrofitted with a dimmer module in place of the inline switch. The type of dimmer module will vary depending on the type of bulbs used and if you want a hand or foot operated module. Please contact us or call us on 0151 650 2138 for further advice on this option.

Torchère style lamps have been around for thousands of years. Originally, they would have been an upward facing stone dish filled with lamp oil and lit. The 1600s saw this change to more ornate stands, usually made from wood or metal with a candle or candelabra mounted on top. This additional light was a revelation in the large stone structures.

Today, they have a central stem and upward facing glass or metal dish with a light bulb set inside it. Floor up lighters like this are excellent for providing ambient lighting, as the light is focused onto the ceiling and bounced back into the room.

Modern floor lighting lamps include the arc floor lamp that is a piece of art in itself. It features a large downward facing head on a graceful curved pole set into a heavy base. The arc lamp requires more space than a traditional lamp or torchère but has a modern graceful beauty of its own.

If you require any further help or advice on selecting your floor lamp, please contact us or call us on 0151 650 2138 and one of our lighting specialists will be happy to answer your questions.

Floor Lamps FAQ’s

Q) How tall should a floor lamp be?

A) Floor lamps are commonly between 1200 – 1800mm tall. You need to choose one that is suitable for the height of your ceiling and consider the overall height of the lamp from the floor. Everything within a room should be in proportion, so a very large lamp in a small room may not be appropriate.

Q) Can a floor lamp light a room?

A) Yes, a torchère, up lighter or powerful mother and child lamp could be the answer. This type of floor lamp shines bright light off the ceiling and back into the room and can effectively light the whole space.

Q) What are floor lamps used for?

A) Floor lamps are used to light up any part of your home. Placed near a table, a floor lamp can give you light to read by comfortably. Floor lamps bring extra controllable illumination into your room. Some light a whole room and others a dark corner. Using traditional lamp standard shades can transform a room and match your accent colours.

Q) Can floor lamps be dimmed?

A) Yes, some are already fitted with a dimmer and most can be easily retrofitted with a dimmer module in place of the inline switch. The type of dimmer module will vary depending on the type of bulbs used and if you want a hand or foot operated module. Please contact us or call us on 0151 650 2138 for further advice on this option.

Q) Are floor lamps safe for a nursery?

A) Yes, floor lamps are perfectly safe to use in a nursery by following a few basic safety measures.

• Never place a floor lamp so that the cable or lamp stem are within reach of a toddler to prevent it being pulled into the cot.
• Always use an LED light bulb, as they run very cool and will not burn the skin if touched.
• Consider using a safety strap attached to the stem and secured to the wall to prevent it being tipped over.
• Always use an LED mother and child floor lamp if this is the type you choose.
• Never use halogen bulbs in a nursery, as they run very hot and can cause a nasty burn if touched.