Layered Lighting Starts with the Right Floor Lamp
Overhead light alone flattens a room. A well-placed floor lamp adds the middle layer that makes a space comfortable after dark.
Three layers of light
Designers talk about three layers: ambient light that fills the room, task light for reading or working, and accent light that picks out art, plants or texture. Most rooms have the first and miss the other two. A floor lamp can supply either.
Pick the type for the job
- Arc and adjustable lamps reach over a sofa or chair, putting light where you read without a side table.
- Torchieres throw light at the ceiling for soft, even ambient light.
- Tripod and shaded lamps give a warm glow at eye level and work well in corners.
Placement
Place a reading lamp slightly behind and to the side of the chair, with the bottom of the shade around shoulder height when you are seated. Keep cords along walls or under rugs, never across a walkway.
Bulbs matter
Choose warm white bulbs, around 2700K, for living spaces and a slightly cooler 3000K for task light. A dimmer, or a lamp with one built in, lets one fixture cover both bright afternoons and quiet evenings.
