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Floor lamps can be used for both functional and stylish purposes around the home. They're great when used for brightening up a dark corner, creating atmospheric lighting for a room, or for simple lighting purposes such as reading. As floor lamps are portable too, they're a useful addition to any home.
- When considering what type of floor lamp to buy, it is a good idea to consider first what its main purpose is. If it is for style, there are, as you would imagine, a great variety of styles out there (contemporary, tiffany, wrought iron). From art deco to traditional to modern, it's possible to find a lamp that is either a focal point for a room or one which blends in with the rest of the decor.
- While a floor lamp can of course be moved to any position, it's probably best to have an area in mind. Floor lamps can be a touch on the heavy side, so it is unlikely you would move it often. Also, the wires can cause a hazard for young children, so it is best to situate such lamps at the edges of rooms.
- If you have an area of your room that is generally gloomy, a floor lamp can provide a good alternative to a table lamp, which is a more specific form of lighting and illumination. You can also choose various different types of lamps to suit your purpose. An uplighter can display a treasured painting to perfection, while a lamp with a swing arm or bendy arm is perfect if you need light focused in different areas at different times.
- Tiffany/Mission (stained glass)
- contemporary/modern
- halogen
- antique
- Victorian
- Asian/Oriental lamps
- rustic
- traditional
- southwest
- tropical - styles include plam tree, bamboo, rattan
Floor lamps are also a great way of dimming the light in a room, if your overhead lighting fixtures are too bright or lacks a dimmer switch. They can throw a softer light into the room, which is midway between the brightness of an overhead lamp and the specific small light of a table lamp.
The best way to decide on a floor lamp is to visit a store and check them out for yourself. Either a specialist lighting shop or a more general furniture store will have a selection for you to choose from, whatever purpose you've decided on for your floor lamp. Also check out our buyers guide to find links to online merchants offering discount prices on all types of home lighting.
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