Choosing the proper lighting is perhaps one of the most important facets of decorating your home and creating an atmosphere of warmth and comfort. The technology associated with home lighting today has made it easier than ever before to accomplish grand things in your home with just the flick of the switch. With the right light, you can make an average room look spectacular, disguise flaws and emphasize assets. Lighting can enhance color schemes and make odd rooms seem intimate and cozy.

When decorating a room it takes several different types of lighting to truly complete the look. In the ideal room, general lighting, task lighting and accent lighting work in harmony to create an overall effect that is comfortable and engaging. For these reasons, serious thought needs to be given to the home lighting design process, especially when it comes to floor lamps and task lighting. While floor lamps can be decorative and add an element of style to the room, they also need to be practical and able to handle the majority of your lighting issues. Here are just a couple of the different types of floor lamps available and how to they are used around the home.

Floor lamps fall into a category of lighting called task lighting. Task lighting delivers essential illumination for specific tasks like reading or cooking. This type of lighting is localized, shadow free, and easy on the eyes.

One type of floor lamps is called the Torchere. This particular floor lamp is perhaps the most popular of all floor lamps. Identified by a sleek sculptural base and flared torch-like shade, the torchere is perfect for small rooms and dark corners. The soft ambient glow of this table lamp bounces off the ceiling and offers lighting for a variety of tasks.

The Pharmacy floor lamp was developed by pharmacists in the 1920s, hence the name. The pharmacy lamp is ideal for reading and conversation areas and can be adjusted to different heights to accommodate varying needs. The shade is also movable and can be used to direct the beam of light. Pharmacy lamps can also be equipped with adjustable arms for more flexibility in lighting.

When decorating with floor lamps, you should make sure that they are aligned with your shoulders while you are seated if they are being used for direct task lighting. Taller lamps should set at least 15 inches to the side and 20 inches behind the center of the area used for tasks to create an ambience that is easy on your eyes and perfectly centered for doing tasks.

As you can see, choosing the right lighting for your home takes more thought and consideration that you may have previously thought. But if you take a little time now to select the right lighting for your space, you will create a room that is truly complete and a joy for all who use it for years to come.