What height floor lamp do I need?

Most floor lamps are 58 to 72 inches tall. For a reading lamp positioned beside a chair or sofa, the bottom of the lampshade should sit at roughly eye level when seated -- approximately 38 to 42 inches from the floor. This directs light downward onto the reading material without shining into your eyes. Arc floor lamps are positioned behind or beside the sofa with the arc extending over the seat, and are typically 70 to 78 inches tall.

What is an arc floor lamp?

An arc floor lamp has a long curved arm that extends from the base out over the seating area, suspending the lampshade above the sofa or chair rather than beside it. This provides overhead-style lighting from a floor lamp without requiring a ceiling fixture. The base is typically weighted to balance the extended arm. Arc lamps are popular in contemporary living rooms and reading areas where a ceiling light directly above the seating position is not available.

Where should a floor lamp go in a living room?

Floor lamps work best beside or behind seating, positioned so the lampshade is at or slightly above eye level when you're seated. Common positions: beside one end of the sofa, behind a reading chair, or in a corner beside the TV stand to balance room lighting. Avoid placing floor lamps where the cord will cross a walking path -- run the cord along the wall or use a cord cover where needed.

Floor Lamps | Quality Home Furniture

Floor lamps add ambient light at eye level, fill corners, and add height to a room without requiring a table. They work best next to chairs and at the ends of a sofa where a reading light at seated height is most useful. Torchiere floor lamps direct light upward for broad, diffuse room illumination; arched lamps extend over a seating area for task lighting; tripod and pharmacy lamps are more directional. Dimmable bulbs are worth using in floor lamps used in living rooms and bedrooms -- the ability to adjust from bright task light to a dim ambient glow is a significant quality-of-life upgrade.

How to Arrange Living Room Furniture: A Room-by-Room Guide -- floor lamps in a living room -- placement for task lighting and ambient light.

Quality Home Furniture has served the Dallas-Fort Worth area from our Mesquite showroom since 1975. We're a family-owned business at 227 US HWY 80 E, Mesquite TX -- open Monday through Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 1pm to 6pm. Call (972) 288-9322.

Read our guide to choosing floor lamps and table lamps -- placement, sizing, and how to layer lighting in a room.