✓ Short answer: Place the lamp just behind and beside your shoulder, with the bottom of the shade at seated eye level. Aim for warm 2700 to 3000K light and roughly 800 to 1,600 lumens (rule of thumb).
5 steps to light a reading chair
- Set the shade height. Put the bottom of the shade at seated eye level, often 38 to 42 inches (rule of thumb), to avoid glare, as the Lighting Research Center advises.
- Place it behind and beside. Stand the lamp 12 to 18 inches to the side of the chair (rule of thumb), level with or just behind your shoulder.
- Choose the brightness. About 800 lumens replaces a 60-watt bulb and 1,600 a 100-watt bulb, per Efficiency Vermont.
- Pick a warm color. Warm white at 2700 to 3000K feels calm in the evening and still reads clearly.
- Add more light for older eyes. The Lighting Research Center suggests about three times more light on tasks, so bring the lamp close and keep a soft room light on.
Our top picks
Artemide Tolomeo Reading Floor Lamp
A Tolomeo floor lamp set up for reading, with an adjustable head.
Artemide Tolomeo Floor Lamp
The classic Tolomeo floor lamp by Michele De Lucchi and Giancarlo Fassina.
Artemide Tolomeo Classic Table Lamp
A compact Tolomeo table lamp for the side table beside the chair.
Pablo Designs Brazo LED Table Lamp – Adjustable Arm, Focus Control, 450 Lumens
A focused task lamp in CNC-machined aluminum that adjusts like a camera lens.
Pablo Designs Circa LED Table Lamp – Tilting Glare-Free Disc, USB Charging
A glowing disc instead of a shade, with glare-free light.
Pablo Designs Nivél Cordless LED Table Lamp – Rechargeable, Warm Dim
A table lamp you slide to any height, then carry anywhere.
Koncept Yurei Table Lamp
Koncept Yurei, designed by Kenneth Ng and Edmund Ng, with interchangeable shades.
Pablo Designs Pilar Table Lamp – Marble Column with Glass Globe
A marble column with an opal glass globe floating above it.
Frequently asked questions
How tall should a floor lamp be for a reading chair?
What matters is where the shade ends. Set its bottom edge at your seated eye level, often around 38 to 42 inches (rule of thumb).
Where should a reading lamp go?
Slightly behind and to one side of your shoulder. Light then lands on the page, not in your eyes.
What color temperature is best for reading?
Warm white, about 2700 to 3000K (rule of thumb). It feels calm in the evening and still reads clearly.
How many lumens do I need for a reading lamp?
As a rule of thumb, 800 to 1,600 lumens, similar to a 60 to 100 watt bulb. Choose the higher end for small print or older eyes.
Why do I need more light to read than I used to?
Aging eyes admit less light and scatter more of it. The Lighting Research Center advises at least 50 percent more general light and about three times more on tasks.
Not sure which lamp suits your chair? Contact MetropolitanDecor with a photo and we will happily advise.