Perfect Light Fixtures

This type of lighting fixtures can range from soaring torchieres to squat table lamps. Sometimes free-standing fixtures are stunning works of art in their own right. Basically, however, they can be used to address every lighting need, depending on the style and properties of the particular lamp. Torchieres are uplights, which can be used to create ambient light, while floor and table lamps usually sport shades that suit them for focal or task lighting. Freestanding fixtures have the flexibility to be moved wherever you need them and don’t have complex installation requirements; you merely plug them in. There are two basic types of freestanding lamps: uplights and lamps with shades. (The term lamp is usually used to refer to freestanding light fixtures but, technically, a lamp is the part of a bulb that emits light.)

Uplights work best in rooms with high ceilings, where they make an ideal source for general illumination. Uplights can use the ceiling as a giant reflector to create a softly diffused ambient light in a space, provided the ceiling is painted white or a light color (dark colors absorb light). The height of an uplight determines the intensity and quality of the light it yields as it reflects off the ceiling; those close to the ceiling produce a concentrated light, while those that are lower produce light that is softly diffused. In general, the greater the distance between the uplight and the ceiling, the greater the area illuminated.

Lamps usually consist of a base or stand that supports a socket, the bulb, and a shad. The power cord is concealed by the base, and the shade and substance of the shade determine the quality and quantity of light the lamp emits. The beauty and versatility of the lamps lie in this simple design, for the base and shade can be made of myriad materials, take virtually any form, and be rendered in any decorative style. Also, the shade can direct the light of the bulb in any direction, though most focus the light downward to create a softly diffused pool of illumination. The wider the shade, the broader the pool of illumination.

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