Arc Floor Lamp Guide: Size, Reach and Placement

An arc floor lamp is a floor lamp whose curved arm carries the shade up to about a metre out into the room, so the light falls from above onto a sofa, armchair or dining table, with no ceiling connection needed. When buying one, three measurements matter most: the overall height (usually 165 to 220 cm), the reach (usually 70 to 120 cm) and the height of the bottom of the shade above the area you want to light. Over a sofa, the bottom of the shade ideally sits 140 to 160 cm above the floor; over a dining table, 60 to 75 cm above the tabletop.

The arc lamp is a special kind of living room floor lamp: it does the job of a pendant light but stands on the floor.

What is an arc floor lamp for?

An arc floor lamp brings light from above to a spot where there is no ceiling connection. In many homes the ceiling point sits in the middle of the room, while the sofa and coffee table stand against the wall. A pendant light there would hang over nothing.

• Rented flat: No drilling, no new wiring and nothing to put back when you move out. Plug it in and you are done.
• Ceiling point in the wrong place: The arc lamp puts the light exactly above the seating area, wherever the ceiling point happens to be.
• Period properties and high ceilings: The arc brings the light down to eye level, where a ceiling light at 3 m would sit far too high.

An arc lamp is a zone light, not a room light. It lights an area about 1 to 2 m across. For a well-balanced living room, combine it with table lamps and wall lights, as described in our guide to living room lighting: lamps and ideas.

What size arc floor lamp do you need?

Four measurements decide whether an arc lamp suits your space.

Overall height

The overall height is the highest point of the arc. Leave at least 20 to 30 cm between the top of the arc and the ceiling, so the arc does not look squashed. With a typical ceiling height of 250 cm, any model up to about 220 cm will fit.

Reach

The reach is the horizontal distance from the centre of the base to the centre of the shade. It determines how far the light extends into the room. To measure it, mark where you plan to put the base, then the spot where the light should fall, and measure the distance between them. The lamp’s reach should match this figure or be slightly longer. Note that some manufacturers quote the overall width instead, meaning the reach plus half the base and half the shade.

Height of the bottom of the shade

The bottom edge of the shade decides whether the light dazzles. Too low and it glares when you stand up; too high and the circle of light becomes diffuse. A seated person’s head is usually 110 to 125 cm above the floor; the bottom of the shade should sit above that.

Shade diameter

For an armchair, 25 to 30 cm is enough; for a sofa and coffee table, 30 to 40 cm. Over a dining table, the shade should measure about a third to half of the table’s width.

Use	Overall height	Reach	Bottom of shade	Shade Ø
Reading chair	160–185 cm	50–80 cm	120–140 cm above the floor	25–30 cm
Sofa, light over the seat	175–200 cm	70–100 cm	140–160 cm above the floor	30–40 cm
Coffee table in front of the sofa	185–220 cm	100–130 cm	150–170 cm above the floor	35–50 cm
Small dining table (up to approx. 100 cm)	200–220 cm	110–140 cm	60–75 cm above the tabletop	30–45 cm
Small room, corner	150–170 cm	40–60 cm	120–140 cm above the floor	20–30 cm

Three arc lamps cover the most common situations. ALVA extends telescopically between 145 and 180 cm in height and, with a 94 cm reach, reaches the middle of the sofa. The dome shade measures Ø 30 cm, as does the marble base. GILA reaches 185 cm at the top of the arc; the two-part arc is adjustable in length and the lamp head tilts. FJOR, 180 cm tall with a 70 cm reach, is the compact solution for an armchair or the corner of a sofa.

How do you position an arc floor lamp over a sofa?

For an arc lamp in the living room, the best place for the base is beside the armrest or diagonally behind the corner of the sofa. From there, the arc sweeps over the seat and the base stays out of the way.

• Light over the seat: The shade hangs over the spot where you sit most often, not exactly over the middle of the sofa. Bottom of the shade 140 to 160 cm above the floor.
• Light over the coffee table: With the base beside the sofa, there is usually 100 to 130 cm between the base and the middle of the table. That is the reach you need. Because people walk past here, the bottom of the shade should sit 150 to 170 cm above the floor.
• Not directly over your head: If the shade hangs straight above you, your book is in shadow and the light dazzles when you lean back. Better 20 to 40 cm in front of or beside your head.

An arc lamp by a reading chair

By an armchair, the arc lamp becomes a reading lamp with light from above. The base stands behind or beside the backrest, with the shade slightly to the side above your shoulder, on the side of the hand that does not turn the pages. The bottom of the shade sits at 120 to 140 cm. A reach of 50 to 80 cm is enough, such as the 70 cm of FJOR. You will find more ideas among our reading lamps.

An arc lamp over the dining table: when does it work?

An arc lamp over the dining table works well for round or square tables up to about 100 cm and as an accent at one end of the table. For long tables from 160 cm, a single shade is not enough.

The reason is geometry: the base has to stand outside the area where the chairs go, about 70 to 80 cm from the edge of the table. To reach the middle of a table 90 cm in diameter, you therefore need a reach of around 115 to 125 cm. As with a pendant light, the bottom of the shade sits 60 to 75 cm above the tabletop. With a table height of 75 cm, that means 135 to 150 cm above the floor. For larger tables, read our guide to dining table pendant lights: height and size or choose from our dining table lights.

Our premium model NERA is made for exactly this. The arc version holds its LED ring 220 cm high, with an overall width of 160 cm with the Ø 40 cm ring and 180 cm with the Ø 60 cm ring. That is enough to reach over a small dining table or the coffee table. The Ø 40 cm ring suits tables of around 90 cm, the Ø 60 cm ring round tables from about 120 cm. If you prefer something softer, choose LIRI with a fabric shade; it too is designed as an alternative to a pendant light over a small dining table. As no exact measurements are given for LIRI, ask us about its height and reach before you order.

How stable is an arc floor lamp?

An arc lamp is a lever: the further the shade hangs from the base, the more weight and footprint the base needs. A heavy, wide base in marble or metal is therefore not a design detail but the key to standing securely.

• Check the base diameter: With a reach of around 70 to 100 cm, bases of about 30 cm in diameter are standard, as with ALVA (marble, Ø 30 cm), GILA (Ø 30 cm) and FJOR (Ø 31 cm).
• A level surface: Stand the base on the hard floor or entirely on a flat rug. The edge of a rug under the base will tilt it.
• Children and pets: Place the base behind the sofa or armchair so nobody pulls on it or uses the arc to haul themselves up. Cats love to jump onto shades; a spot with nothing to leap from nearby helps.
• Secure the cable: Run the cable along the wall.

Test it once it is set up: press the shade gently down and to the side. The lamp should give a little, but the base must not lift.

Which shade: metal dome, fabric or LED ring?

The shade decides whether the arc lamp lights a task or sets a mood.

• Metal dome, directional light: The light falls in a focused beam downwards and the space above stays calm. Ideal for reading and over the coffee table. ALVA and GILA have a Ø 30 cm dome, dark outside and light inside, that shines downwards without glare.
• Fabric shade, diffused light: Fabric filters the light and lets it escape softly to the sides as well. Ideal for cosy evenings. Examples include LIRI and our full range of floor lamps with fabric shades.
• LED ring or LED strip, graphic light: On NERA, a diffuser on the underside of the ring casts a warm band of light downwards; on FJOR, an opal diffuser is set into the arc itself. Both work as light sculptures but are less precise than a dome.
• Acrylic shade, a glowing splash of colour: The orange shade of MIRA glows itself when switched on and still directs the light downwards.

Collection · 6 designsArc Floor LampsView all 6 designs

Which bulb and colour temperature work best?

For the living room, warm white light at 2700 kelvin is the right choice. It feels cosy and makes wood, fabric and skin tones look natural. 3000 K is a touch crisper and works well if you read a lot under the arc lamp.

• Brightness: For reading with an E27 lamp holder, around 800 lumens is a good figure; for pure mood lighting, 400 to 500 lumens is enough.
• Colour rendering: Look for a CRI of 90 or higher, so colours under the lamp do not look washed out.
• Frosted rather than clear: Under an open dome, a clear bulb dazzles when you look up into it. A frosted or opal bulb is more comfortable.
• Dimmer: A dimmer turns the reading lamp into evening light. It only works with a bulb marked as dimmable.

With integrated LED, the light source has already been chosen: FJOR is dimmable and offers three colour temperatures, and ALVA comes with a warm white LED bulb. MIRA has an E27 lamp holder, so you choose the bulb yourself.

Which style: mid-century, minimalist or retro?

The arc lamp is a 1960s classic, which is why it suits interiors with a sense of history so well. But it works just as well in pared-back, modern rooms.

• Mid-century: Dome shade, slender arc, black or gold metal. GILA deliberately recalls classic arc lamps of the sixties. Pair it with teak, corduroy and velvet.
• Minimalist: A single line, no traditional shade. FJOR and NERA reduce the lamp to the arc and the light, ideal with pale wood, linen and little furniture. You will find more dark models among our black floor lamps.
• Retro and vintage: MIRA brings back the seventies with an orange acrylic shade and a dark brown frame; the arc version is 165 cm high and 100 cm wide. VILA curves in a bamboo look on a marble base and carries a 40 cm wide fabric bell at 160 cm high.

As a companion on the other side of the sofa, the tripod floor lamp LOVA with a gold dome, 165 cm high, is a good match.

Which floor lamp suits a living room with no space for an arc lamp?

A large arc lamp needs room for the base and a clear sweep of around a metre. In small living rooms or narrow reading corners, a compact floor lamp with an arm is often the better choice.

• ISLA is a small curved floor lamp, 170 cm high, with a Ø 30 cm base and a beige linen shade (Ø 25 cm). It brings light over the arm of the chair without reaching into the room.
• BIRK has an articulated arm and a tilting lamp head, is 161 cm high and stands on a base only Ø 21 cm across.
• DEVA is 160 cm high and has a side-swivelling arm with a pleated shade that you can turn over your shoulder or towards the wall.

Here is the full range for every room size:

Collection · 52 designsLiving Room Floor LampsView all 52 designs

Common mistakes when buying an arc floor lamp

1. Not measuring the reach: The shade ends up beside the sofa instead of over it. Always measure from where the base will stand.
2. Shade too low: Below 140 cm above the floor, you will knock your head when standing up or be dazzled.
3. Base in the walkway: A marble base in the middle of the room is a trip hazard. It belongs behind or beside furniture.
4. Cool white light: Above 3000 K, the living room feels chilly in the evening. Stick to 2700 K.
5. An arc lamp as the only light source: It lights a zone, not the room. Plan at least two other light sources.

You will find every model in our arc floor lamps collection, with free delivery in about 6 to 9 working days and a 30-day returns policy.

Frequently asked questions

How high should an arc lamp hang over a sofa?

Over a sofa, the bottom of the shade ideally sits 140 to 160 cm above the floor. That keeps it above the head height of seated people and stops it from dazzling. Over the coffee table, where people walk past, 150 to 170 cm is more comfortable.

How much reach does an arc floor lamp need?

For a reading chair, 50 to 80 cm is enough; for the seat of a sofa, 70 to 100 cm. If the light needs to reach over the coffee table or a small dining table, you will need 100 to 140 cm.

Can you use an arc lamp over a dining table?

Yes, it works well with round or square tables up to about 100 cm. The bottom of the shade should sit 60 to 75 cm above the tabletop, and the base must stand outside the area where the chairs go. For long dining tables, a row of pendant lights is the better solution.

Do arc floor lamps tip over easily?

An arc lamp with a suitably heavy, wide base stands securely as long as it is on a level floor and the arc is only adjusted within its intended settings. The risks are rug edges under the base, loose cables in walkways and children or pets pulling on the arc.

What colour temperature is right for an arc lamp in the living room?

Warm white at 2700 kelvin is ideal for the living room, because it feels cosy and shows materials naturally. If you read a lot under the lamp, 3000 kelvin is a good alternative.

How much space does an arc floor lamp need?

Allow for the footprint of the base, usually around 30 cm in diameter, plus the area under the arc that has to stay clear. Leave at least 20 to 30 cm to the ceiling. If that is too much, a compact floor lamp with an articulated or swing arm is the space-saving alternative.