GASCÓN Lighting Guide · updated September 2026
The short answer
- Decide what it's for first: reading, ambient lighting, or replacing the ceiling lamp. These are three different types of lamps.
- For reading: it must have an adjustable reading light. Without that, it is not suitable for reading.
- Height: the bottom edge of the shade should be above eye level when seated —about 1.20–1.50 m total height— so you don't see the bulb.
- Dimmable, if it's for the living room.
- 2,700–3,000 K for the living room and bedroom.
1. Three floor lamps that look nothing alike
They share the same name but solve different problems. Choosing wrongly here is the number one cause of "I bought a floor lamp and I never use it."
For reading. You need light directed at the page, not the room. This means a reading light: an articulated and adjustable arm, separate from the main light. It should be placed behind and to the side of the armchair, above the shoulder, never in front.
For ambient light. The shade is key here: textile, opal, or grid, which spreads soft light throughout the room. Place it in a corner, behind the sofa, or next to a plant. Don't expect to read with it.
To replace the ceiling lamp. These are usually tall lamps with indirect light that point toward the ceiling, using it as a reflector. Very useful in rented apartments where you cannot touch the electrical installation, and in living rooms with poorly positioned light points.
2. Height and placement
The rule that avoids 90% of problems: while seated, you should not see the bulb. If the light source peeks out from under the shade when you settle into the sofa, the lamp is too short or the armchair is too high.
In practice, most living room floor lamps are between 1.20 and 1.80 m tall. For a standard sofa, 1.40 to 1.60 m works well.
Placement:
- Next to the reading armchair: behind and to the side, on the opposite side of the hand holding the book.
- Behind the sofa: provides soft general light without taking up space on a table.
- In the corner that is always dark: the best use and the one people do the least.
And one boring check that saves a trip: look at where the outlet is and where the cord is going to run.
3. Dimmable?
In the living room, yes. The same lamp that accompanies a movie is the one that illuminates a conversation, and those are two different light levels. Many floor LED models now come with a push-button dimmer on the cord itself.
To give you an idea: we have 592 floor lamps in stock; the median is €207.50, one in ten is under €75.15, and one in ten is over €488.00. There are dimmable options starting from just over €60, so it is not an expensive feature.
4. What to buy
In stock as of September 4, 2026:
The best-selling and cheapest — Trio Glenn LED 3000 K 120 cm · €24.62 Integrated LED, warm light, 120 cm. For a corner or an occasional reading nook. Also available in matte white and ultimate grey.
Tripod, for those looking for furniture as well as light — MDC Tripod black 20W · €40.00 With shade. In white and wood 2,700 K for €49.99.
Dimmable, without reading light — Trio Specter white dimmable LED · €62.13 Dimmable general light for the living room.
The one for real reading — Trio Specter black dimmable with reading light · €63.99 Dimmable main light plus adjustable reading arm. This is the one we recommend if you are only going to buy one.
With reading light, a step above — MDC Sam with reading light 20W · €124.00 Better finish and better arm. The one we recommend most often for high-end living rooms.
Designer, indirect light — Mantra Vertical LED 3000 K dimmable white · €408.95 When the floor lamp is the centerpiece of the living room. In black.
Classic textile — EGLO Balnario steel and black textile · €400.00
All: floor lamps · floor lamps for living room.
5. Four frequent mistakes
- Buying "a floor lamp" without deciding what it's for. It ends up in a corner, turned off.
- Wanting to read with an ambient lamp. Without a reading light, there is no reading light.
- Shade below eye level. It dazzles you every time you sit down.
- Not checking the outlet. A cord crossing the walkway is the real reason why many floor lamps end up being stored away.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall should a living room floor lamp be?
Between 1.20 and 1.80 m; for a normal sofa, 1.40–1.60 m. A good reference is that you should not see the bulb while seated.
Where should a reading floor lamp be placed?
Behind and to the side of the armchair, above the shoulder, on the opposite side of the hand you use to hold the book.
Can a floor lamp replace a ceiling lamp?
Yes, if it has indirect light towards the ceiling and the room has a light-colored ceiling. It is the usual solution for rentals.
What is a floor lamp reading light?
A second adjustable arm, independent of the main light, designed to direct light to the page. This is what distinguishes a reading lamp from an ambient one.
How much does a floor lamp cost?
In our catalog, half of them are between €75 and €488, with the median at €207.50. Useful LED models are available starting from €24.62.
Tell us where you are going to put it and what for, and we will tell you which one you need. In Altea, you can test them turned on and sit under them, which is the only test that really works.
