Floor Lamp With Tray

Vanessa Weber Interior Design Expert

Vanessa is a New York-based designer specializing in architectural lighting. Whether you are planning an event, want to illuminate your backyard retreat or simply need advice on what lamp to purchase for your bedroom, Vanessa will be more than happy to share her knowledge and expertise.

Updated 10/04/2021

There are two things every reader needs: a comfy chair and a light to read by. The comfy chair is easy to come by but having the right lamp can be a little trickier. It needs to be the right brightness, the right arc, and preferably not cast a shadow on the pages. Our collection of floor lamps meet all of these criteria plus they have a handy tray to hold your book when you are otherwise engaged.

Buying Guide

What bulbs are best for a floor lamp with a tray?

The right bulb for a floor lamp with a tray depends on whether you use the piece for a reading light or diffuse mood lighting.

Incandescent and halogen light bulbs create a soft and directional light that’s easy on the eyes, and perfect for dining rooms and bedrooms. Warm bulb colors such as yellows and oranges are ideal for nighttime, while cooler tones, like white or blue-tinted bulbs are more suitable for daytime.

For brighter lighting ideal for living areas, choose LED bulbs. These bulbs typically produce a higher number of lumens that other bulbs, while still remaining energy efficient.

Where should a floor lamp with a tray be placed?

To make the most of your floor lamp with a tray, it’s best to position it next to your couch or armchair in your living room. Most people are accustomed to placing their floor lamps next to a sofa or chair so that it’s easy to turn the lamp on and off without getting up and to provide light if you’re reading or working.

When the floor lamp has a tray, it’s even more crucial that you position the light in a way that makes it easy to reach from your primary seating locations in the room. That way, people can use the tray for placing beverages while watching a movie or putting aside a novel when it’s time to socialize. A floor lamp with an attached tray can act as a light source and an end table all in one.

What should I put on the tray of my floor lamp with tray?

A floor lamp with tray is convenient, but the tray part usually isn’t meant to be load-bearing in any way.

We’d actually recommend leaving the tray part of your floor lamp as clear as possible, because this is a great place for drinks! To that end, leaving some decorative coasters on this ledge can be a good idea.

If your floor lamp with tray isn’t in an area of your home where you anticipate needing to put drinks, such as an office area, consider placing a small cup of pencils or pens there.

You’re always looking for them, and remembering that they’re always on your floor lamp will be easy to do!