Mantra Floor lamps

A floor lamp solves the spots a central ceiling light never reaches: the reading corner, the space behind a sofa, the dining area when there is no ceiling outlet where you need it. Mantra floor lamps range from arc models, which carry light over a table with no electrical work at all, to slim uprights with an adjustable head for reading.

What height do you need

For reading in an armchair, the light source should sit above shoulder height, roughly 130 to 150 cm from the floor, and point down towards the page. Look for an adjustable head or a jointed arm.

For ambient light, uplighters work better: they bounce the beam off the ceiling and avoid hard shadows.

For a dining table, an arc lamp is the answer when the ceiling outlet is in the wrong place. Check that the reach spans the distance from the base to the centre of the table, and that the diffuser ends up around 70-80 cm above the surface.

Stability and footprint

Arc lamps have heavy bases precisely to counterbalance the overhang. Check the base diameter on the product page, because in smaller rooms it can clash with the sofa. If you have children or pets, a straight upright with a wide base is the safer choice.