Swing Arm Floor Lamps

Swing arm floor lamps: How do they work?

There are many different types of lights: ceiling lights, standard lamps, wall lamps… Each type of light fills a different purpose.  The swing arm floor lamp has features which make it a very practical choice, and it is particularly suited to rooms such as the office or living room.  Find out how a swing arm floor lamp works and how to choose the right one. 

What is a swing arm floor lamp?

A swing arm floor lamp is a floor lamp whose arm can be articulated into several positions. Some floor lamps have multiple articulated arms, allowing you to illuminate more than one area at the same time.

How does a swing arm floor lamp work?

A swing arm floor lamp has a base, a pole, one or more articulated arms, and a lampshade, along with a power cable.  The switch is usually located along the cable, but sometimes it can be found on the base or the pole.  The swing arm floor lamp plugs into a conventional electrical outlet.  You can find versions in several materials, most commonly metal, wood, and fabric (the lampshade).  The articulated arms are designed to move flexibly to direct light to a specific area for an activity requiring good lighting, or it can be rotated towards the ceiling to scatter light throughout the room. 

Why choose a swing arm floor lamp?

In addition to being functional, the articulated arms are an elegant design component.  They bring modernity and allure to your décor without cutting back on practicalities.  The swing arm floor lamp is also very easy to install and use, as all you need is a conventional electrical outlet, instead of additional wiring in the wall cavity, which can be required for other types of lights.  You can move the lamp to as many different locations as you want without any issues.  You can also fold up the articulated arm to save space when it is not in use. 

What should you pay attention to before buying a swing arm floor lamp?

When you buy a floor lamp with an articulated arm, make sure that it goes with the design of your room: do the colours, materials, and shapes flow in the same direction as your existing furniture?  You could always choose to buy a swing arm floor lamp which contrasts your existing décor to add a touch of modernity to your stye but be careful!  If you are not sure, it is always safer to go for the sure bet.  As your lamp will last for many years, it would be a shame to buy one and then realize that it is not suitable for your needs. 

Serge Mouille floor lamp: the grandfather of designer swing arm floor lamps

The Spider floor lamp is a huge success story in the world of designer floor lamps.  Created by the famous designer of the same name, it is an industrial style lamp, but it also goes well with modern or minimalist styles.  The one-armed version is discreet and elegant, while the three-armed version is more imposing but still very graceful.  Our tip: the more arms the floor lamp has, the more suitable it will be for larger rooms, and vice-versa.

Which rooms are suitable for a swing arm floor lamp?

The swing arm floor lamp is ideal for many rooms in the house.

• In an office, it can be used to compliment, or indeed replace, the desk lamp.  The articulated arm allows you to direct the light to your work area as needed.  It’s an elegant and chic addition to your business space.
• In the living room, the swing arm floor lamp is ideal for diffusing mood lighting as well as serving as a reading light above your sofa.  A multi-use lamp that is practical as well as being aesthetically pleasing.
• In a bedroom the swing arm floor lamp can also be used to replace or compliment your bedside lamp!  You can point the articulated arm towards your bed as you read, then reposition it for sleeping.