Everything you need to know about tripod floor lamps
Key takeaways:
- A tripod floor lamp is a freestanding light fixture supported by three splayed legs, which spread the weight and give it its stability.
- It comes in natural wood for a Scandinavian or bohemian style, in black metal for an industrial look, and in a spotlight version inspired by film sets.
- Check the spread of the legs before buying: it takes up more floor space than a straight floor lamp, and should be placed away from walkways.
A tripod floor lamp is a freestanding light fixture supported by three splayed legs, which spread its weight and give it its stability. It has become a staple of interior decoration, thanks to its elegant design and versatility.
In a modern living room, a cozy bedroom or a reading nook, it adds a touch of style to the room while providing real supplementary light. Its silhouette, inherited from camera tripods and studio spotlights, dresses an empty corner better than many pieces of furniture.
This guide reviews the types of tripods, their styles, their materials and the points to check before buying, in particular the floor footprint, which remains the real particularity of this light fixture.
The different types of tripod floor lamps
Natural wood tripod floor lamp
A wooden tripod with a light fabric shade combines warm materials with a timeless design. It creates a welcoming atmosphere, in the living room as in the bedroom, and goes well with a parquet floor, a coffee table or a bookcase in the same wood.
Under a fabric shade, use only an LED bulb, which heats up very little. Discover our wooden floor lamps and our fabric floor lamps.
Black metal tripod floor lamp
A black metal tripod, with the look of a spotlight, suits those looking for an industrial style. Its sturdy structure makes it a practical and stylish choice for all the living areas of the home.
Its slim legs draw graphic lines, which stand out particularly well against a light wall. Discover our metal floor lamps.
Rattan and metal tripod floor lamp
A floor lamp that combines metal and rattan brings together the elegance of weaving and the modernity of metal. It suits a bohemian or natural style, with a diffused light that passes between the strands and projects pretty patterns onto the walls.
This subdued light is better suited to ambiance than to reading: it is readily paired with an additional lamp. Discover our rattan floor lamps.
Tripod floor lamp with a glass globe or a paper shade
The tripod also comes with a glass globe, whose luminous ball diffuses light in all directions, or with a paper shade, lighter and very gentle on the eye. Both versions bring a contemporary note, airier than the classic shade.
Like fabric, paper is used only with an LED bulb. Discover our globe floor lamps and our paper floor lamps.
Why choose a tripod floor lamp?
Tripod floor lamps have many advantages: their stability, their versatile style and how easily they fit into different decors. Three points of support stay level even on a slightly uneven floor, where a central stand would tend to wobble.
With a tripod floor lamp, you easily create a warm and bright atmosphere in any living area: supplementary light in the living room, soft light in the bedroom or a comfortable reading nook.
It plugs into a simple outlet, with no electrical work at all, and can be moved around as you wish. An indoor floor lamp remains reserved for dry rooms, however: it is not installed in a bathroom or outdoors.
The different styles of tripod floor lamps
Industrial
Industrial style tripods stand out for their sturdy materials, such as black metal, and their functional design. In a loft or a contemporary interior, they add modernity and character.
They pair readily with brick, polished concrete and leather, and show off an LED bulb with an exposed filament very well. Discover our industrial floor lamps.
Bohemian and Scandinavian
Bohemian or Scandinavian tripods often use natural materials, such as wood and rattan. Their warm and welcoming design creates a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
The Scandinavian style prefers light wood, white shades and straight lines, whereas the bohemian style adds weaving, fibers and warm colors. Discover our Scandinavian floor lamps.
Film set
The film set inspired tripod brings a touch of originality. With its spotlight design, it becomes the centerpiece of your decor.
Its adjustable head directs the light toward a wall, a painting or an armchair, as on a film set. It is a spectacular light fixture, which needs a little room to be shown off to its best advantage.
| Style | Materials | Ambiance |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial | Black metal | Loft, contemporary |
| Bohemian, Scandinavian | Wood, rattan, fabric shade | Relaxed and warm |
| Film set | Metal, spotlight head | Retro, spectacular |
Materials and finishes of tripod floor lamps
Tripod floor lamps come in wood, metal and rattan, with fabric, paper or glass shades. These materials determine the sturdiness of the light fixture, but also its style and the way it diffuses light.
A natural wood floor lamp, for a rustic touch, or a black metal model, for an industrial look: there is something for every taste and every interior.
As for maintenance, metal is dusted with a soft cloth, wood appreciates a barely damp cloth, and rattan is gently brushed, always with the floor lamp unplugged.
How to choose your tripod floor lamp?
Several criteria come into play. Style matters, so that the floor lamp fits into the room. The material and the finish are chosen according to the sturdiness and the look you want.
The size and the spread of the legs must suit the available space. A tripod occupies a circle of fifty to eighty centimeters in diameter on the floor depending on the model: measure the spot before buying, and keep the legs out of walkways.
As for height, allow about one meter fifty to one meter seventy to light a living room, and a lower model next to an armchair. The ability to direct the light is a plus, as is a warm white LED bulb. Discover our LED floor lamps and our living room floor lamps.
Conclusion
The tripod floor lamp is a strong decorative piece: it brings style, stability and ambiance. Industrial, bohemian or film set look, explore the available models at Lustria.
Well placed, in a corner or next to a sofa, it lights as much as it decorates, and can be moved the day you rearrange the room.
Frequently asked questions about tripod floor lamps
Why choose a tripod floor lamp?
For its style and its stability: its three legs spread the weight. Just make sure they are not in a walkway.
With a fabric shade or a spotlight head, it gives a pleasant light, for reading or for highlighting a corner. It is also a decorative object in its own right, in a living room, a bedroom or an office.
In which styles do tripod floor lamps come?
In an industrial version, in black metal, bohemian, in natural rattan, or Scandinavian, in light wood. Each style gives a different touch to the room.
For a more retro ambiance, choose a vintage or film set design. Discover our vintage floor lamps.
What are the different types of tripod floor lamps?
Industrial tripods, with metal legs, wooden tripods, for a natural ambiance, and models with a fabric shade, with a soft light that is diffused.
Some have a spotlight head, for a film set style, others a glass globe or a paper shade, more contemporary.
Are there tripod floor lamps with a spotlight design?
Yes. These models create a film set or industrial ambiance, with a retro look.
They light a reading nook, or add style to a living room or an office, thanks to their head that you can aim toward the area to be lit.
In which materials are tripod floor lamps found?
Natural wood, for a warm and Scandinavian touch, black metal, for an industrial look, and rattan, for a bohemian style.
Some models combine several materials, such as black metal and rattan, for a unique decorative effect.
In which colors do tripod floor lamps come?
In black, for a modern and industrial look, in white, for a Scandinavian ambiance, and in natural wood, for a warm decor.
There is also beige, gray and brown, for a discreet elegance. Discover our black floor lamps.
Are there designer tripod floor lamps?
Yes. These models combine aesthetics and function, with refined lines and careful finishes.
They suit those looking for a decorative object that is both practical and elegant. Discover our designer floor lamps.
How to choose a tripod floor lamp for a warm ambiance?
Choose a natural wood model, or one with a fabric shade, with an LED bulb with a warm light, between 2700 and 3000 K.
These materials diffuse a soft light, ideal in a reading nook or a living room. Prefer clean lines and neutral colors, for a timeless decor.
What are the advantages of wooden tripod floor lamps?
They bring a natural and warm touch. Wood is a durable material, which ages well.
They go with wooden furniture and other natural elements. Their timeless style suits Scandinavian, bohemian or classic decors.
How to integrate a tripod floor lamp into a bohemian decor?
Choose a rattan or wood model, with a fabric shade.
Place it near wooden furniture, colorful cushions and plants. Rely on neutral colors and natural materials, for a warm ambiance.
How much space should you allow for a tripod floor lamp?
A free circle of fifty to eighty centimeters in diameter, depending on the spread of the legs indicated on the product page. That is more than a straight floor lamp.
Place it in a corner, next to a sofa or an armchair, where nobody walks. Run the cable along the wall, to avoid tripping over it.
Which bulb to choose for a tripod floor lamp?
An LED bulb, whose base matches the one indicated on the product page. It consumes little and heats up very little, which is essential under a fabric or paper shade.
Halogen bulbs, withdrawn from sale in Europe on September 1, 2018 for the most part, are no longer recommended. If the floor lamp has a dimmer, check for the "dimmable" mention on the bulb.
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