Reading Floor Lamps
(13)Floor lamps built for task light, with adjustable arms, swivel heads and arc shades that reach over a chair or sofa so a book stays lit without the whole room being lit.
Reading Floor Lamps
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About Reading Floor Lamps
Reading Floor Lamps That Keep the Light on Your Page
A good reading lamp puts light on the page and not in your eyes. It spares you from squinting under a dim ceiling fixture, and it lets a partner watch television nearby without glare. Our reading floor lamps are built around adjustable light: swing arms, arcs that reach over a chair, pivoting and rotating heads, telescopic poles, dome shades that aim downward, and task lamps with three or five heads for crafts and hobbies. They suit armchairs, window seats and the end of a sofa, wherever a novel, a crossword or a knitting project comes out most evenings.
Features That Make Reading Easier
- Adjustability: A swing arm or pivoting head lets you move the light as you shift position. Fixed shades work too, but only if the height is right for your chair.
- Shade height: Aim for the bottom of the shade to sit just under eye level when you are seated. Set any higher, and you end up looking straight at the light source.
- Light color: Neutral white, around 3500K to 4000K, keeps text crisp. Our color temperature guide explains the tradeoffs.
- Dimming: Many of these lamps dim, or step between warm, neutral and cool white. Turn it down for a late chapter so the rest of the room can stay dark.
Placement tip: If you write notes or turn pages with your right hand, stand the lamp on your left, and the reverse for lefties, so your hand never shades the book. Keep the base close enough that you can reach the switch from the seat.
For measurements and chair pairings, read how to choose a floor lamp for reading.
Common Questions About Reading Floor Lamps
An adjustable lamp with a directional head, such as a swing arm, arc or pivoting task lamp, is the most practical choice. It lets you aim light at the page and move it as you shift. Torchieres are better for general glow unless they have a separate downward light.
Close enough that the head reaches over your shoulder or lap, usually beside or slightly behind the chair arm. An arc lamp can stand farther back because its arm does the reaching. Test the position before you decide where to run the cord.
Neutral white is a comfortable middle ground for most readers because it shows text clearly without feeling harsh. Very warm light is cozy but can look dim on the page, while very cool light can feel clinical at night. A lamp with adjustable color temperature lets you decide by the hour.
Around 400 to 800 lumens aimed at the page suits most readers, which is roughly a 40 to 60 watt incandescent equivalent. A dimmable lamp is worth having, since comfortable brightness changes with the time of day and how tired your eyes are.
