Buying Floor Lamps

Wattage, style, and energy-efficiency tips

Any floor lamp can shine a little light, but it takes just the right floor lamp to brighten up a room - or protect the environment. If you're stuck with a lamp that seems like it belongs in an interrogation room rather than a living room, these buying tips will help you to choose a design that's both luminous and enlightened.

Wattage This may seem basic, but you'd be surprised how often a great floor lamp turns out to be a huge disappointment because its maximum wattage is either too low or too high. A 40-watt floor lamp would make a party seem more like a candle-lit wake, while a 300-watt lamp could throw a room's lighting scheme glaringly out of balance. Match the max wattage to your purpose or space, and remember that two floor lamps of slightly lesser wattage will likely provide a more pleasing effect than a single high-wattage lamp. If you do choose a high-wattage model, you may want to have a full-range dimmer or multiple brightness levels. Style Even when they're not on, floor lamps have a strong visual presence. Accordingly, you'll want a lamp design that complements a room's decor morning, noon, and night.

Most traditionally styled floor lamps are console lamps featuring a pole, a round base, and a lamp shade made from cloth or glass. Tiffany, Art Deco, and Mission are some of the classic floor lamp styles. Other types of traditional floor lamps include rustic or lodge and Victorian. A traditional floor lamp is more likely to feature details such as metal scrolling or leaf work; a fringed, pleated, paneled, or embroidered shade; or a classic brass, bronze, or wood finish.

Contemporary floor lamps are typically very sleek and thin. Multi-light arc floor lamps are a good example of a more modern floor lamp design. A chrome or nickel finish is common, though a contemporary floor lamp with a wood base would be a versatile choice for more eclectic decors. Contemporary floor lamp shades are often white or cream colored, and their forms range beyond the classic bell shape to include squares, rectangles, columns, and more.

Torchieres or torchiere lamps are more modern-looking (and typically higher-wattage) floor lamps that feature a bowl-shaped glass or metal shade and usually a long, slender metal pole without any decorative embellishments. Variations on the torchiere design include reading lamps, which feature a small arm light midway up the pole, and tree floor lamps, which feature multiple arm lights alternating on either side of the pole rather than a central light at the top.

Asian floor lamps are also very popular. These often feature a columnar design and a shade made from pressed pulp rice paper.

Other design features to consider include shelves or trays built into the lamp support (these are known as etagere lamps), and swing arm or height adjustable lamps.

Energy Efficiency

For eco-conscious shoppers, energy efficiency is often the most important consideration when shopping for floor lamps. Manufacturers have responded by producing energy-efficient floor lamps that provide more natural lighting while using less energy than traditional incandescent light bulbs. (The CFL, or compact fluorescent lamp, is a common low-energy alternative.)

Besides checking a floor lamp's product details, a good way to judge its energy efficiency is the presence of an ENERGY STAR rating. Floor lamps that have earned this government rating use 25% less energy.