Most floor lamps stand between 140cm and 180cm tall. A good rule is to keep the bottom of the shade at or just below eye level when you are seated nearby, so the globe stays out of your line of sight while light still reaches across the room. Taller uplighters suit rooms with high ceilings, while compact reading lamps around 120cm to 150cm work well beside an armchair.

For soft ambient light, 400 to 800 lumens is plenty, which is roughly a 6W to 10W LED globe. For reading, aim for at least 450 lumens directed where you need it. If the floor lamp is the main light in the room, look for 1000 lumens or more, or choose a mother and child design that pairs a large uplight with a smaller adjustable reading arm.

Many can. Some designs include an inline dimmer or foot switch on the cord, and most others can be dimmed by fitting a dimmable LED globe or a smart globe you control from your phone. Check the product page for the globe type, usually E27 or B22, and whether a dimmer is built in before you buy.

Dark corners, beside a sofa or reading chair, and behind furniture are the classic spots. An arc floor lamp can reach over a sofa or coffee table to give overhead light without any wiring, and because floor lamps only need a power point, you can move them whenever you rearrange the room. Layering a floor lamp with a table lamp and your ceiling light gives a room depth in the evening.

The main styles are arc lamps that curve over furniture, tripod lamps on three legs, mother and child lamps with a main uplight plus a smaller reading arm, dedicated reading lamps, and decorative designs in timber, brass and vintage looks. Choose based on the job first, whether that is ambient light, reading light or decoration, then match the finish and shade to the room.

Check the product page. Many floor lamps have LEDs built in or include a globe, while others take a standard E27 or B22 globe that is sold separately. If you are buying a globe, warm white (2700K to 3000K) is the most popular choice for living rooms and bedrooms because it gives a soft, relaxing glow.

In a smaller room, yes. Choose a lamp of 1000 lumens or more, or an uplighter aimed at a pale ceiling so the light bounces softly across the whole space. A mother and child floor lamp is a smart pick because it pairs a strong uplight with a separate reading arm. In larger living areas, treat the floor lamp as one layer and combine it with your ceiling light or a table lamp for even coverage.

Nothing, the two names describe the same thing. Standing lamp is simply another term for a floor lamp: a freestanding light on a tall base that plugs into a power point. Within the family you will find arc, tripod, mother and child and reading designs, so whichever name you search, you are choosing from the same range.