Torchiere Floor Lamps

The head of a torchiere is usually an open bowl or dish. The light does not reach the eye directly; it first hits the ceiling and spreads into the room from there. This indirect light can replace general light in living rooms without a chandelier or where you prefer to dim the ceiling light, and it makes the room look larger.

The effect of a torchiere depends on the colour and height of the ceiling: white and light ceilings reflect the light best. As a head too close to the ceiling can create a hot spot, keeping it at least 60–80 cm below the ceiling gives more balanced light. It is not enough on its own for reading; combine it with a reading floor lamp or a table lamp next to the chair.

Opal glass designs soften the light even further; metal and wooden bowls direct it only upwards. A dimmer turns a torchiere into warm ambient light in the evening. See our floor lamp guide for choosing, and our living room lighting guide for the whole room.