The decoration of window openings, flooring and furniture make up the ensemble of the interior, and every little thing plays its own unique part in this orchestra. But there is an element, without which no interior is possible. This is lighting. It is under the influence of light that the entire interior as a whole falls, and it is the light that makes the room look different every time. In addition, lighting is vital for the occupants of the premises. One of the possible options for organizing it in a room is floor lamps.
A bit of history
Since then, as a person first lit a torch and installed it on the wall of a cave, lighting devices have come a long way, and to this day they remain the most relevant subject of any room.
Actually, it was torches that became the progenitors of modern floor lamps. The name "floor lamp" comes from the French word "torche" - torch. Torches mounted on tall rods or tripods are found in historical documents from Ancient Greece and Rome. And already in the Middle Ages, torches were replaced by gas lanterns or candles and served people until the advent of electricity.
Until our time, floor lamps have come down almost unchanged in their design, with some exceptions for newfangled trends in decor.
Benefits
Floor lamps are still a popular product in the lighting market, as they are mobile, do not require additional installation and wiring. All that is required is to have an outlet no longer than a cord.
Floor lamps are more functional than table lamps, as they can illuminate not only the area on the table, but also the space below and above. They are an independent part of the design and are able to bring a certain charm to the interior of the room with their one look.
Floor lamps, due to their lighting function, serve as delimiters when zoning space. With their help, you can highlight a cozy seating area in a spacious living room by placing a floor lamp next to the chairs or illuminate a mirror and a table for keys in the corridor with it. In the bedroom, floor lamps serve as an alternative to bedside lamps and dressing tables. In the recreation area, a floor lamp will be appropriate next to armchairs for handicrafts or reading.
Features of the
By design, the classic floor lamps consist of a stable base and a tripod to which the light source is attached. These are basic elements that vary according to the design and functionality of the luminaire.
The tripod is usually quite large in height (from 1 to 2.5 m). It can be static or flexible. For example, modern models have a flexible design in the boom area, which allows you to regulate the flow of light. Also popular are models where the tripod is made in the form of an intricate figure or column, tripod or sculpture. It can even be a small narrow bookcase.
The structure is crowned with a light source fixed at the top of the tripod. It can be draped with a lampshade or remain an open lamp, depending on the design of the product and the style of the interior.
Some floor lamp models are equipped with tabletops or stands, as well as a different number of lamps.
Lampshades
A lampshade as an element of a lighting device serves two functions in the interior at once:
- scatters too bright light from a light bulb;
- is an interior decor.
The lighting provided by the floor lamp should fully suit your needs, so it is worth paying special attention to the light source itself. Lampshades made of light-transmitting materials (transparent plastic, textiles) pleasantly diffuse light, creating a cozy atmosphere. These lamps are suitable for bedrooms and nurseries as a night light. Typically, models have a closed dome lampshade.
A beam of light aimed at a wall or ceiling illuminates the entire space, and this is best facilitated by open-top lampshades on a flexible tripod. This option is perfect for a spacious living room.
For directional light, lampshades on movable stands are used; they perfectly replace table lamps for working at a table. For example, a directional floor lamp will not take up table space and will allow you to do work that requires maximum surface illumination.
They are also very convenient in the recreation area next to the armchairs for embroidery, knitting or reading. Most often, such lamps are equipped with stands or tables on which you can put the necessary little things, a newspaper, glasses or embroidery.
Combined floor lamps can create both diffused lighting and direct the beam to the desired area. The variety of options on the market will allow you to select the most original models, consisting of multiple tripod configurations of two or more lamps. For example, the original design of a floor lamp from two posts, one of which has a bowl-shaped shade and a light directed to the ceiling, and the other on a bendable tripod, allows you to direct the smaller shade to the desired lighting area.
Styles
A properly selected floor lamp can become both the main accent of the interior, and harmoniously dissolve in it, becoming an element of decor. Conversely, a poorly chosen floor lamp can destroy the harmony of design.
When choosing a luminaire, taking into account its dimensions, you should be especially careful to match its style with the style of the room. On the other hand, the modern style of premises can often experiment with different eras, move one into another, create new directions.
And here, too, it is important to guess not even the style of the lamp itself, but its role in the formation of the entire style of the room.
Classic. Luminaires in the style of classicism are, above all, symmetry and elegance. Antiquity, coupled with the severity of lines and forms, austere luxury
Classic-style floor lamps should overlap with the lines of furniture in the interior. For racks and tripods of such lamps, metal is most often used: bronze, brass, copper - classic decorative elements. Plafonds made of porcelain, glass, crystal in the form of horns, balls, cylinders will look beautiful in any classic interior.
Country. This style is characterized by national patterns of the chosen theme, therefore, the ideas for decorating floor lamps can be very diverse - from styling like a torch in a Russian hut to a torch laid out of twigs in an Indian wigwam. In this style, the main thing is to observe the original style vector
Provence. Light and graceful in its simplicity, the style of lavender fields and rural houses in France. Colorful bedspreads, upholstery of furniture in pastel soft colors will perfectly convey the atmosphere, and wooden elements of decor and furniture will complete the style
The Provence style floor lamp will certainly have a textile lampshade of delicate blue, turquoise, pink shades on a wooden tripod.
High tech. A style that appeared as a given to the latest technologies and inventions of mankind. Futuristic shapes, clear or smooth lines - the high-tech style represents an incomparable "space" environment of the future. Lamps in this style look somewhat office and strict, but they clearly fit in and support the interior decor. Metal and glass are characteristic and, perhaps, the only acceptable materials for this style. The range is black and white, shades of gray and silver. However, some bright modern accent will be appropriate here. For example, a red floor lamp, consisting of several stylish shades of futuristic design
Floristics. A relatively new direction in design, but it has already managed to win its own niche. As an element of style, floristry originated in the 19th century, but did not pour out into a separate direction
Today this style is characterized by gentle natural tones of the interior - light green, cream, pink, mother-of-pearl. Of the materials, the use of wood, stone and metal is encouraged. The objects are characterized by smooth lines, the use of natural decorative elements.
A floor lamp in this style can resemble a huge lotus with a woven tripod stem and a flower bowl in the lampshade decor. This is an isolated example, and in nature there is a huge selection of plant variants and color combinations.
Modern columns
For lovers of something extraordinary, we recommend floor lamps that vaguely resemble standard lamps. These can be columns with bubbles from floor to ceiling. They are made of glass or transparent durable plastic and are illuminated in various colors. They look very original in the semi-darkness of the room. It is customary to use them in the interior of bars, restaurants, and sometimes in offices.
But they will harmoniously fit into the modern style of a house or apartment, if you install them in the living room or in the hallway.
So, you can achieve the desired effect from purchasing a floor lamp by combining two aspects: the selection of a design corresponding to the interior and the correct installation location. With the second parameter, there will be no difficulty, because a floor lamp is a mobile structure.
You can find out how to make a floor lamp with your own hands from the video below.