Map the base and the shade
Mark the lamp's base on the floor with paper and consider the widest point of the shade or arm separately. An arc lamp may stand outside a chair while its shade hangs over the place where someone gets up. Sit, stand, and walk around the proposed position before buying. Product height alone tells you little about these movements. Check whether an adjustable arm changes the footprint when it is set for reading rather than display.
Place the light for the task
For reading, try the light beside or slightly behind the shoulder and adjust until the page is clear without the bulb in your normal line of sight. Check that a tall chair back does not block the light. For general atmosphere, the best position may be elsewhere, where the shade lights a wall or ceiling as intended by its design. Do not force one floor lamp to illuminate a reading page and every corner equally.
Resolve the cable before styling
Choose a position near a suitable outlet so the cord follows a clear route away from walking feet and furniture movement. Do not hide a cable under a rug or pinch it beneath a chair leg. Follow the lamp's assembly instructions and keep its base stable on the intended surface. After placement, vacuum around it and open nearby drawers as a practical test. If daily cleaning means repeatedly lifting the whole lamp, reconsider the location.
