All About Table and Floor Lamps
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011Table and floor lamps are one of the few light fixtures that people have no trouble picking out. You can find lamps at stores everywhere from big box stores to home improvement stores and even little boutiques or online retailers. That being said, there’s a lot more to lamps than choosing a pretty base and shade to match your decor. This guide will give you the low down on table and floor lamps.
Types of Lamps
There are several different types of table lamps available. Typically, lamps are referred to as “portables” because unlike hardwired light fixtures, lamps can be moved around freely to suit the needs of the homeowner. Anywhere there is an outlet, there can be a table lamp, and furthermore, an extension cord can allow even more versatility for these light fixtures.
Though the table lamp is perhaps the most well known, there are also desk lamps, buffet lamps, accent lamps and piano lamps.
Function of Table Lamps
Table lamps are a type of task lighting. They are meant for not only giving off general light in a room, such as the living room, but they are also great for reading, knitting, doing homework or working on various other tasks.
When placing table or buffet lamps, there are rules that are often ignored or simply just not known about. For example, ideally the bottom of the lampshade of the table lamp should sit at least 42 inches from the floor. This ensures the best use of the light. However, not all side tables create this. Furthermore, lamp bases come in a variety of shapes and sizes, adding to the difficulty of achieving this magic number.
Desk lamps, however, should sit at least 16 inches from the top of the work surface to ensure enough focused light is present.
Floor Lamps and Torchieres
Floor lamps are relatively self explanatory and sit on the floor where needed to provide additional light where necessary. Certain floor lamps can even be used as task lighting where space is tight.
For example, in a small studio apartment there may not be space for extra side tables. Floor lamps can be set in these spaces to take their place, thus providing the light needed without taking up too much additional space. Many floor lamps feature bases that can be slid partially under furniture to help reduce how much space they take up if necessary.
There are also torchieres, which are simply another version of the floor lamp. Torchieres, however, shine light upward whereas a standard floor lamp may direct the light anywhere. These can work great as living room light fixtures.
There is a lot more about table and floor lamps than meets the eye. Fortunately, knowing a few basics can help you get right on track to finding the right type of lamps for every room in your home. [ Images 1/ 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 ]
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