Arc Floor Lamps

Why We Love Arc Floor Lamps

The arching floor lamp is an icon of modern design, specifically mid-century modern design. The first of these modern floor lamps was the Arco Floor Lamp, designed in 1962 by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni. The design then is the same design used in variations today: a heavy base (usually marble) out of which a slim stem arcs grandly across a space, terminating in a large shade (often a dome of metal that matches the stem).

It is a simple structure, but dramatic in its sweep; that arc often extends several feet. An arc floor lamp is all-in-all an impressive feat of architectural engineering and modern design.

Where Arc Floor Lamps Work Best

The sheer size and dramatic scope of arc floor lamps make them impossible to hide. And why would you want to? These contemporary arching floor lamps deserve to be front and center as their stylish, statement-making appeal is great for starting a conversation. In living rooms and great rooms, a floor arc lamp stands out as the central piece of illumination and as a conversation starter. These floor lamps will pair well with other types of living room lighting including table lamps, sconces and overhead track lighting. Modern arc floor lamps also work well in the bedroom or reading nook, providing an exceptional amount of overarching light to help you catch up on your favorite book or the newspaper. Finally, you may enjoy placing an arc lamp in the home office or business office. It will provide stylish office lighting and will have plenty of functional use too.

An Arc Floor Lamp for Every Style

While inherently modern and taking cues from retro design, you'll find this collection of arc lamps fit into a variety of household styles. In contemporary spaces, you'll love an arc lamp from Artemide for its rich design history. Iconic pieces like the classic Tolomeo fit well in modern living rooms and office areas. Hubbardton Forge offers floor lamps for transitional spaces, many of which follow that of a wrought-iron look. And if you appreciate energy efficiency in your home, be sure to check out the LED arc floor lamps from Cerno. Cerno combines eco-friendly materials with the latest in LED technology to deliver an assortment of lamps you will love introducing to your home.

How to Choose the Best Arc Floor Lamp

Choosing just the best arc floor lamp follows a similar rationale as choosing any light fixture for the home. First, you need to determine why you need an arching floor lamp (what is its intended purpose or function). Is this style of pendant floor lamp needed for decoration or for its ability to provide ample illumination? Once you know why you are choosing an arching lamp then you will need to decide where you will place the lamp. Remember to review sizing dimensions like height, width and length to best gauge what size lamp will work best. You'll also want to keep in mind the light fixture's recommended bulb type to be prepared with the right light bulb when the fixture arrives. Finally, check out its brightness output if you're planning to use it for reading or similar tasks where bright light is preferred. If you have any questions about the arc lamps featured here, please call our lighting experts at 877.445.4486.

Other Considerations

When it comes to mid-century modern design, perhaps the only range of lighting fixtures as clearly identifiable as arc floor lamps like the FLOS Arco Floor Lamp would be the line of Poul Henningsen's pendant lighting and chandeliers for Louis Poulsen. The arc lamp design itself is very symbolic of mid-century and retro design, and pairing fixtures from Louis Poulsen with any of these lamps helps create the ideal cohesive space. Lastly, create a cohesive space by pairing any of these arc lamps with equally stylish table lamps.