Lighting · Explainer · 5 min ·
A floor lamp can be lovely and still annoy you if it sits in the wrong place. For a reading chair, the sweet spot is beside and a little behind you, roughly 30 to 50 cm out from the chair arm, so light falls over your shoulder onto the page.
Straight ahead gives glare, straight behind gives a head shadow, and too far away gives a dim page. Drag the lamp around an armchair plan, change its height, and watch the checks change. Then measure your socket and your space before you buy.
Affiliate links, marked sponsored. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Examples that match this guide, not tested reviews. Prices checked 8 Oct; every shop is on each product page.
A plain white floor lamp with a standard E27 socket, so you choose the bulb and can keep it warm white. Measure the cable against the distance to your socket before you order.
E27 fitting · White finish · Floor lamp
A softer metal finish with a standard E27 socket. Check the listed height against the 140–160 cm range for reading, and whether a bulb is included.
E27 fitting · Ø 35 cm · Matt gold / brass
A larger-diameter lamp in black and brass, with an E27 socket for any warm-white bulb. Measure the footprint beside your chair first, as a wider lamp needs more clear floor.
E27 fitting · Ø 38 cm · Black / brass
