Reading Lamps

A reading lamp is the difference between a casual living-room lamp and a piece that lets you read for an hour without eye strain – directional, properly bright, and positioned to throw light onto the page rather than into your eyes. Our collection covers desk, floor and clip-on reading lamps from Anglepoise, Artemide and Heal's exclusives.

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    Directionality and brightness. Reading lamps are designed to focus light on a specific surface (a book, a desk) rather than diffuse it across a room. They typically use a deeper shade or articulated arm, deliver 800-1,500 lumens, and use cooler-temperature bulbs (3000K-3500K) than ambient lamps. Most regular table lamps don't read books well at all.

    Behind the chair on the side of your dominant hand, with the head of the lamp at roughly shoulder height when seated. Articulated-arm lamps work well here because you can angle the light precisely onto the page. Avoid lamps directly behind your head, which cast your own shadow on the page.

    Each suits a different setting. Floor-standing reading lamps are right for armchair reading – they don't compete for surface space and put the light at the right height. Desk and table reading lamps are right for working at a desk where the surface is the focus. Choose based on where the reading actually happens.

    Ideally yes – being able to dim a reading lamp lets it double as ambient light when you're not actively reading. Dimming also matters at night, when full brightness can be too harsh. LED dimmable bulbs in the 800-1,500 lumen range cover both functions effectively.

    • Lighting Buying Guide
      Lighting Buying Guide
      From mood to task lighting, decorative chandeliers to functional bathroom designs, at Heal's we know that good lighting is fundamental to your home's interior. Read our guide to choosing the best lighting for your home below.
    • Floor Lamps In 3 Looks
      Styling
      Floor Lamps In 3 Looks
      In need of a little “me time”? Whether it's for curling up with a good book or just setting the mood for your nightcap, transform your space into a place of sanctuary with these 3 different Floor lamp ideas. Set in stone Hitting the perfect note when it comes to the mixed-material trend in floor standing lighting, the Line Two Floor Lamp by NORR11 mixes a solid marble base, hand anodised shade and industrial elements to create a striking silhouette. Glamorous glow The mid-century Gilda Armchair by Zanotta deserves an equally glamorous lighting concept. We've paired with two very different designs - the beautifully crafted Skipper Floor Light by Tom Raffield for a modern floor lamp look and Petite Friture's resplendent Mediterranea Floor Lamp - to show the effect mixing up your floor standing lighting can have on a room setting. Spotlight style These two unique takes on spotlighting are certain to provide a statement to your floor standing lighting. The first is an original industrial spotlight used on the aeroplane runaways of American military bases that has been reconditioned by Skinflint and is available at Heal's Tottenham Court Road store. This is followed by TedWood's Hang Up Leather Plug-In Lamp, a multi-functional lighting design that can be hung, draped and placed around the home. Shop Floor Lamps Back to top
    • Top 10 Unusual Floor Lamps
      Products
      Top 10 Unusual Floor Lamps
      One of these unusual floor lamps will help your décor stand out from the crowd. These unique designs boast an added design flourish to really make a statement. To help you find the perfect light for your bedroom, living space or dining room, we’ve shone the spotlight on our favourite unusual floor lamps. Like what you see? Simply click on the image to find it online. Melt Floor Lamp Chandelier By Tom Dixon Whilst Tom Dixon’s entire Melt collection packs a punch, it’s the Melt Floor Lamp Chandelier that makes the biggest statement. Designed in collaboration with Swedish design collective FRONT, the lamp features seven otherworldly diffusers. Each one features a striking molten silhouette that’s achieved using vacuum metallisation and moulding. The orbs only become translucent when lit, meaning it makes a statement even when not in use. Noctambule Floor Lamp By Konstantin Grcic for Flos Named after the French word for ‘night owl’, Konstantin Grcic’s Noctambule Floor Lamp comes into its own after dark. By day the light is almost transparent and invisible, by night it transforms into a sculptural illumination. Want to know more about the Noctambule Floor Lamp? Read Behind the Design: Noctambule. Akari Bb3-33S Floor Lamp By Isamu Noguchi for Vitra The Akari Bb3-33S Floor Lamp is part of a collection of unusual floor lamps designed by Isamu Noguchi in 1951. The Akari Light Sculptures are named after the Japanese word for ‘light’ in reference to their physical lightness and illumination. The inspiration behind the collection came from paper lanterns Noguchi observed at the Japanese town of Gifu. Today, each one is crafted by hand in the Ozeki workshop, a family-run crafters based in Gifu. Gravity XL Floor Lamp By Space Copenhagen for Gubi Designed by Space Copenhagen for Gubi, the Gravity Floor Lamp offers a traditional silhouette, scaled up for a modern touch. Each light in this collection of unusual floor lamps is remarkably sculptural thanks to an abundance of solid marble bases. When illuminated, the lamp casts an atmospheric glow through the traditional fabric shade. Birdie Floor Lamp By Ludovica and Roberto Polomba for Foscarini To create the Birdie Floor Lamp, Ludovica and Roberto Polomba took the classic lampshade-lamp and gave it a contemporary twist. The modern floor lamp is crafted using metallized polycarbonate, a cutting-edge finish that completes its playful aesthetic. Its touch-dimmer switch is cleverly disguised as a branch, like one a bird may roost on. This gives the light its name, Birdie. Type 75 Giant Floor Lamp By Sir Kenneth Grange for Anglepoise Three times the size of the classic Type 75 Desk Lamp, this oversized Anglepoise floor lamp is ideal for modern spaces. It’s crafted using precision-machined components and even boasts a rotating shade, making it just as functional as its Lilliputian inspiration. Even better, this unusual floor lamp really makes a statement and looks incredible in large living spaces. Superloon Floor Lamp By Jasper Morrison for Flos Modern spaces will come into their own thanks to this incredibly contemporary Superloon Floor Lamp. Taking advantage of all the creative benefits LED lighting offers, the impressively flat light source rests on a tripod base. Furthermore, it rotates up to 360° and has various levels of intensity so you can adjust the glow to suit. This truly unusual floor lamp deserves to take centre stage in your space. Toobe Floor Lamp By Ferruccio Laviani for Kartell This futuristic floor lamp from Kartell offers colour as well as illumination. Available in a selection of vibrant colours, these unusual floor lamps look great even when not in use. When illuminated, the lights cast a vibrant glow throughout the room with the hue dependent on the lamp’s colour. Charlie Floor Lamp By Heal’s Design Studio Impressively industrial and as timeless as it is contemporary, the Charlie Floor Lamp is inspired by both the past and present. Its antique brass detailing and modern tripod base wouldn’t look out of place in any space. When illuminated, the lamp casts subtle shadows thanks to the fretwork diffuser. Plus, the versatile lamp can be used as an uplight or directed downwards for a softer lighting option. Crystal Floor Lamp By Timothy Oulton Timothy Oulton’s Crystal Floor Lamp takes inspiration from late Georgian-era lights, transferring the traditional chandelier silhouette to a floor lamp. Part of a collection of unusual floor lamps, the design features all the usual hallmarks of a chandelier. This includes precision-cut crystals, candle lights and bobèche dishes, all contrasted with Timothy Oulton’s signature rustic aged metal patina.