This: photo, what is a floor lamp, features, varieties

For local lighting, compact table lamps and pendant sconces are often used. However, you should not be limited only to them. Try reading in the evening under a floor lamp - and you won't want to go back to the old options.

What is a floor lamp?

A floor lamp is a floor lamp, the classic version of which consists of a base, a column and a lampshade. In modern interpretations, the function of the base and the leg is sometimes performed by the same element, and the plafond, in general, may be absent.

Key features

The key differences from other lighting fixtures are the installation method and the presence of a light-diffusing lampshade. Eyes don't get tired of him. This property is appreciated by book lovers: they put floor lamps next to sofas and armchairs, where they usually spend their leisure time.

Also, with the help of such a lamp, it is easy to zone a room; you can find a lot of photos on this topic.

It will light up the work area and place to rest. Some people use paired floor lamps to highlight the exit from the room, but this is not quite the right approach. A tall floor-standing light source is not stable enough for this kind of operation.

IMPORTANT. It is generally accepted that a floor lamp must be tall. Now this myth is being diligently dispelled. Along with the classic 1.5-meter devices, 60-70 cm devices are produced. And they are not always placed on the floor. Sometimes they are placed on the table.

An additional function of the luminaire is decorative. It can become the main decoration in a room, a bright spot due to an unusual column, ornate or stylized lampshade.

Varieties

Floor lamps are divided according to the following principles:

• floor lamp, base and column material;
• dimensions (height, massiveness);
• installation method (on the floor or on a horizontal surface);
• the presence of additional elements (for example, shelves);
• control method (presence and location of power buttons, possibility of remote activation and settings);
• the ability to adjust the power of the luminous flux (this allows the drimmer);
• leg shape (straight, curved, flexible, articulated, tripod);
• the presence and number of lampshades;
• type of lighting (accent, background, main).

There are also models with directional, reflected and diffused light. The classic version of floor lamps is a source of scattered rays. If the rotation and tilt of the lamp can be changed, then we are talking about a directional type. In the case of a reflected view, it is imperative to include walls, ceiling, floor or other interior items: with their help, the rays spread, refract and reflect.

Devices are produced that are characterized by 2 or even 3 lighting methods at once. Usually, such an opportunity opens up in the presence of additional shades: the central one sends scattered or reflected rays, the lateral one - directional ones. This design is often wobbly, but it is convenient to read and do handicrafts with it.

Manufacturing material

Material is closely related to style. The classic trend is characterized by the use of fabric and paper in the manufacture of lampshades, for country - wood and metals, for Provence - fabric (usually richly embroidered or decorated with ribbons), for high-tech - metal and glass. Glass and crystal mosaic shades often hint at Tiffany, and created from twigs and branches refer to eco-style and oriental traditions. Japanese and Chinese styles are also visible in terms of decor. These trends are characterized by minimalism. The base is very often made of wood (classic, oriental, eco-style, country), stone, metal (high-tech, art deco), clay. Columns are made from clay, willow rods, metal, glass, plastic, rattan.

Dimensions (edit)

Helpful Notes About Sizing:

• a high floor lamp is not suitable for a small room with a low ceiling (it will begin to perform the function of central lighting, but the room will not be flooded with light as evenly as from a chandelier);
• a low floor lamp will be lost among massive furniture;
• in spacious rooms with really high ceilings, floor lamps with a height of over 1.5 m are installed;
• one and a half meter and slightly lower ones are suitable for the area next to the chair, table, bed;
• small models - about a meter or less in height - have a decorative function (they are not suitable for work or reading, in these cases additional sources of lighting must be used).

Also, you need to be careful when buying a high floor lamp, in which a very flexible and thin column ends with 1 large lampshade or many small ones. Such a design is too wobbly, its leg, which changes direction, will begin to hold the shades worse over time (it will bend under their weight).

Modern solutions

Devices in which light sources are hidden look interesting. Until you turn on such a floor lamp, it will look like a sculpture or a monument. Stylized lamps are also worthy of attention. From them you can immediately see which style direction they belong to. Due to the presence of such products on the market, it is difficult to make a mistake and buy a model that does not harmonize with the situation. Another merit of modern designers: their departure from classical norms allowed to solve the problem of precariousness. Now you can find a very stable floor lamp not on one thin leg, but on a thick one or on several at once. In contrast to such reliable and safe options, fire hazardous ones are also implemented. These include models in which an elongated glass column is the source of light. At the first drop, such a lamp will break and, most likely, become a source of ignition.

IMPORTANT. Lampshade is not an easy beautiful detail typical for floor lamps. If it is made of unbreakable material - leather, fabric, plastic or metal - it can be regarded as additional protection for the light bulb.

How to choose

To begin with, it is worth determining exactly where and how the floor lamp will be used. Based on this point, it is easy to find out:

• the required level of protection against moisture and dust (marking: IP);
• power;
• weight and size.

A stable structure made of moisture-resistant materials is suitable for a nursery (IP must be above 20). For the kitchen, buy a lighting fixture with an IP54 rating, for a bathroom - a floor lamp with an IP65 rating. For a typical living room, look for an IP20 lighting fixture.

IMPORTANT. The indicated values ​​are valid only for dry apartments and private houses. If the room is damp, moisture seeps out from the roof or basement, then you should choose a floor lamp with a reinforced moisture protection system.

The permissible limits of weight and dimensions can also be calculated, taking into account the method and place of operation. If the device is purchased not for a specific room and not for a specific place in it, then it will be moved and rearranged. Therefore, it should not weigh much and be too tall (this will affect stability). Unusual proportions can also affect stability - it is difficult to balance a floor lamp, which the column bends, has a slope, or, in addition to the central plafond, there is another one, located on the side. In the latter case, the second lampshade will outweigh, unless the manufacturer can figure out how to balance the structure. Because of this, the luminaire will often fall, which, in turn, is fraught with fire. An even greater threat is posed by lighting devices, in the design of which, in general, there is no lampshade. The place for them is selected taking into account the high risk of fire. They should definitely not be used in rooms with a large flow of people, in children's rooms, in living rooms, in the kitchen, in the corridor and in toilets. But they will fit well into the interior of a bachelor's home, a home study and a room for needlework - wherever an adult is in solitude and away from sources of moisture, as well as where there is no access to animals and children.

In terms of power, you can rely on the following notes:

• for an analogue of a night light, 50 W is enough;
• background and dim lighting is created using 100 W floor lamps;
• install an appliance with a power of 150 W next to the chair;
• luminaires in which 200 W lamps can be installed will replace central lighting;
• 500 W is already an option for industrial premises or for spacious halls in mansions.

In no case should the manufacturer's instructions regarding the power of the bulbs be ignored. This can cause damage to the luminaire and cause a fire.