Living rooms serve to be designed with elegant, appropriately chosen floor lighting. But, are there any rules about how tall a living room floor lamp should be? We researched how to choose and pair a floor lamp with a sofa, console table, or how height impacts a living room visually. Discover the ideal height for a floor lamp to achieve a balanced, illuminated space you'll adore spending time lounging in or getting together with others.
Floor lamps come in various styles and add an attractive source of light to a living room. Choose a floor lamp that stands between 58 to 64 inches in height. If applicable to the design, ensure that the lampshade is at eye level or slightly above eye level for personal comfort when seated. Some floor lamps stand at 60 to 72 inches in height, so make adjustments to any accent furniture and placement as needed.
Choose a well-thought-out floor lamp that completes the look of your living room and is stylish and visually appealing. Learn more in this article about the best lamp heights for furniture and creating a tasteful arrangement.
Floor Lamp Standards
Some average floor lamps can stand at a height between 60 to 72 inches. However, it is ideal to use a floor lamp in a living room that stands at the height of 58 to 64 inches. You can use risers or creative placement for your furniture so that the floor lighting will only positively amplify and not conflict or overshadow the pieces in your living room.
When deciding what type of floor lamp is best in your living room, consider various factors. You need to understand how the location, room size, aesthetic value, and lamp's height will work cohesively with your space and furnishings. You want to create visual harmony and balance between your floor lamp and other furniture and accents, in addition to having a pleasant level of light for your room.
Location
There is a place for everything, and everything should be in its place for a curated home with high aesthetic value. Consider where you choose to place a floor lamp so it adds the most visual value and lighting. Many people choose to place a floor lamp behind or at the side of a couch, flanking a television, or in a darker corner for interest.
When mixing table lamps and floor lamps, be mindful of similarities and sharp contrasts between the lamp's finish and style and the height of the lamp and shade. Strike for a balance, and choosing the corner window is always a nice choice.
Room Size
If you have a living room with higher ceilings, you can go bold with a larger floor lamp for dramatic appeal, even if the room is relatively small. Always keep proportion and balance in mind, so you don't make a living room feel more cramped or negatively emphasize its spaciousness. Consider choosing a floor lamp with a neutral shade color and is in an unobtrusive style and fits with your room seamlessly.
If the floor lamp will be the star of the living room, take visual risks and build around the lighting with a sofa. Emphasize a thoughtfully chosen floor lamp and frame it with windows, plants, or place it strategically in a corner. Embrace the power of visual illusions and design tricks using color, placement, and proportion of your room's elements to celebrate your room's size and the floor lighting.
Check out this energy-efficient, stylish floor lamp on Amazon.
Style
Having a floor lamp or two with massive style is vital to enjoying your living room and making the most of your home's aesthetic value. Create a minimalistic look that is chic and enviable using a mid-century or industrial-style floor lamp paired with a single structured leather couch and artful metal accent chairs. Choose a floor lamp for its multiple lighting points, capable of illuminating the living room with multiple, positionable bulbs.
Fall in love with a dramatically tall and wide vintage style floor lamp that hovers sweetly over a plush couch. Style points are huge, and a floor lamp is an excellent way to show off your personality, make a home look more expensive, and start a conversation.
Check out this mid-century style floor lamp on Amazon.
How Many Lamps Should You Have In A Living Room?
The average living room boasts a total of four lighting sources. So, if you choose to be more minimalist with a set of two lamps or stick to four lamps of varying styles, that is fine. Take caution if you go overboard with more than four lamps, as this can make a living room look cluttered and feel visually uneasy. Typically, living rooms combine two table lamps and two floor lamps for a balanced and pleasing aesthetic.
Do Lamps Need To Match In A Living Room?
The lighting in a living room certainly does not have to match. But, if you choose different types of lamps, they should share similar heights, aesthetic fine points and not overwhelm one another. Consider using similar style shades that are in the same color and size, balancing out the proportions between any table and floor lamps, and sticking to the same style for a cohesive look. Don't forget to keep the lighting level within the same range, so you don't have one glaringly bright light paired with dimmer lights.
Read More: Should Light Fixtures Match Throughout House?
Can You Put A Floor Lamp Next To A TV?
Usually, a floor lamp that is placed opposite of or in the reflection of television can end up leaving an unwanted glare. However, placing a floor lamp adjacent to a TV is a better solution that allows you to light up a room and enjoy watching movies and television shows. Depending on your room and TV layout and arrangement, consider nestling a pair of floor lamps on either side of your TV for visual balance.
Can You Put A Floor Lamp Behind A Side Table?
You can create a chic look when you place a floor lamp behind or at the side of a side table. Do note that you will not want to overwhelm a side table that has or doesn't have a table lamp because of the standard height of most floor lamps. Ensure that a floor lamp has a shade with a height level and placement that aligns with any table lighting in a room. Play around with proportion. Also, choose a side table with similar design elements to the floor lamp to complement one another.
Can A Floor Lamp Light A Room?
Instead of relying on permanent light fixtures like a chandelier or wall sconces, consider using a single floor lamp to light a room dramatically. A small or medium-sized room can be adequately illuminated with a large floor lamp, especially if it is designed to hold multiple bulbs. Choose the placement of a grand floor lamp with high illumination in a corner, by an entryway, or in the center of a room between windows for a desirable effect.
Read More: What Type Of Floor Lamp Gives The Most Light?
In Closing
We hope you feel more confident in understanding how and why a floor lamp's height influences your living room. Embrace using floor lamps of different styles and heights to create a sense of drama and act as a desirable visual focal point. No matter if you place a floor lamp beside a television, behind a couch, or tuck in it a corner, an additional source of supplemental illumination that is artful and practical is an excellent decision.
Before you go, check out the following articles about floor lighting and living rooms.