Top 10 Floor Lamps for Artists and Hobbyists

High Quality Lighting: Go big or broke?

Investing in good quality lighting is a no-brainer for anyone who values their comfort, productivity, and creativity. A cheap floor lamp may do the job of getting your dim room brighter, but not all lighting solutions are created equal.

Not only can a quality light source reduce eye strain and headaches, but it can also bring out the best in artwork and other visual elements, boost mood, energy levels, and focus, save on energy costs, and even increase the value of a property or artwork.

The Best Lamp for Artists, Miniature Painters, and Hobby Crafts?

Natural sunlight is the best way to see the World. As humans, our eyes and brain are tuned to operate in natural daylight with its full spectrum of colors.

FEatures to look for in high quality lighting as an artist OR hobbyist

Illumination Quality

Bright and diffuse light in an art studio, craft room, or workspace is a must. A lamp that is both bright and can spread light across a large surface area will make a huge difference in your workflow and comfort level.

A good floor lamp, for example, may be able to fill an entire craft space, but if the light is too focused or concentrated in one area, it can cause eyestrain and fatigue.

Ergonomic Features

There are many types of lamps to choose from, most of which have adjustable features that can be tailored to your needs. For example, a table or task lamp or a floor lamp, can be moved and adjusted to target a desired position over your work area.

In my experience, the best desk lamp that I’ve found are those specifically designed with a swing arm or gooseneck design that places the light directly over your work. While table lamps are compact, they may also take up unnecessary space on your desk. Clip on lamps that hook on to the side of your tabletop are a better choice for those with limited space.

Light Consistency

Another crucial aspect of high-quality lighting is consistency. While natural lighting is the ideal light source for any artist or painter, it is unreliable because it changes as the day marches toward night. Also, the amount and quality of light you get changes with the seasons.

As we’re focused on the LED floor lamp, the kind that should fill a room, then your search should consider its ability to illuminate the space no matter what time of day it is. Importantly, the consistency of lighting improves reliable color rendition, contrast, and texture.

Tasks that require close attention to detail, such as miniature painting, model building, and jewelry making, necessitate consistent lighting. In photography or videography, e.g., vlogging, lighting that you can control just makes the job easier.

Eye Strain Protection

Finally, good lighting can help reduce eye strain and fatigue. When working on intricate details for extended periods, it’s easy to strain your eyes if the lighting isn’t optimal. Reduce eyestrain by investing in high-quality flicker-free lighting solutions that aren’t too bright, dark, or haphazardly colored.

Why a Floor Lamp?

Here are some advantages of using a floor lamp:

Height and adjustability

Unlike table lamps, floor lamps provide a wide range of adjustability, allowing you to position the light source exactly where you need it.

Illumination coverage

Floor lamps typically have larger shades and bulbs, which provide a wider and more evenly distributed pool of light. This is particularly useful for large-scale artwork or projects.

Ease of use

Floor lamps are easy to move around and adjust, making them a versatile and convenient option for artists and hobbyists.

Access

Are you using a standing desk? Using an easel? A sleek looking floor lamp may also serve as an excellent office light, depending on your needs. Having a light with different brightness settings could help here.

Ambience and Aesthetics

A floor lamp is often much better as changing the ambience of a room, especially hiding in the corner of a space. While this may not be your intended utility for a studio light as an artist, I’m sure you’d appreciate the beautiful aesthetic value that a floor lamp can bring.

Floor lamps are a great option for those looking for an effective task light that also gives off calming ambiance and aesthetics. Maybe you want to avoid the spotlight effect you may get from recessed lighting, or need something sleek that won’t break the bank in a small studio apartment or room in your home.

Of course, there are also some disadvantages to using a floor lamp:

Space requirements

Floor lamps can take up more floor space than other types of lamps, which could be an issue if you have a smaller workspace.

Portability

A floor lamp is often heavier than a table lamp or a craft light you clamp to the side of a desk. This makes it more difficult to transport if you need to move your lighting around. While some floor lamps have wheeled bases so you can roll them; this also adds to its overall bulk and space requirements.

Risk of tipping

Floor lamps can be tall and top-heavy, which can make them prone to tipping over if they are bumped or knocked.

Cord management

Floor lamps may require a long cord to reach an outlet, which can be unsightly and create tripping hazards.

If you’re not sure a floor lamp is right for you, then I would certainly direct you to other options like a high quality desk lamp or even using a recessed lighting system.

Best 10 Floor Lamps for Artists and Hobbyists

So, you’ve decided that a floor lamp may be right for you! But, now you’re unsure which lamp to choose.

OttLite Standing Floor Lamp

Ottlite is a popular brand of artist lamp, and produces lighting that is best suited best for crafting and art studio work. This standing floor lamp with an adjustable neck and pivoting shade is definitely worth considering.

It’s important to note that the OttLite Standing Floor Lamp doesn’t use LED lights but instead comes with two 18-Watt OttLite Type B compact fluorescent bulbs. This distinction can have some implications for miniature painters and artists.

The compact fluorescent bulbs provides natural daylight, adjustable design, and long-lasting light, making it a great option for illuminating your workspace. The advantage of these bulbs is how closely they match natural daylight with excellent maximal brightness and diffusion.

Though, I should mention that modern LED lamps with proper color temperature calibration and a high CRI (>90) would also do an equivalent or superior job. So in this case, should you prefer instant full brightness and an eco-friendly option, you might want to explore the other LED-based floor lamps as alternatives shown below.

DLLT Modern Metal Floor Lamp

The DLLT Modern Metal Floor Lamp is a handsome addition to any art studio or hobby workspace. With it’s matte gray or black finish, adjustable neck and head, and dimmable LED light, this lamp is a great choice for illuminating your projects with precision.

This floor lamp features a metal shade and adjustable head, making it a stylish and practical choice for living rooms, bedrooms, offices, or study rooms. It has a classic style and measures 11.4″D x 11.4″W x 66.9″H. One thing to note is that this lamp is not dimmable and does not come with a bulb. I would recommend these daylight high CRI 5000k LED bulbs for this, or any, floor lamp.

Key Features

• Flexible architect swing arm design
• High-quality matte black powder coat and brushed copper design
• E26 US standard lamp socket (compatible with various bulb types)
• Easy to assemble

Daylight Company Duo Floor Lamp

The Daylight Company Duo Floor Lamp is a slim, flexible, and modern LED floor lamp designed to cater to a variety of tasks, including hobbies, art, and reading. For the miniature painter, I think this is a fairly unique design in that you’ll want to place it behind your work desk.

And, in this case, you’ll position the lamp housing over your table. It’s a great option if you have limited length space for your table, but have the depth to place a lamp behind your desk.

This lamp features two independently adjustable strobes, which allow for high light output over a wide area or intense light over a small area. With 56 high-quality daylight LEDs, the lamp provides accurate color matching and a touch switch dimmer with four brightness levels.

Some notable features of the Duo Floor Lamp include its advanced 6,000K warm white LED technology. You may prefer this if you want to avoid the bluish hue of other LED lamps. As per other reviewers, the lamp is designed for both mood and task lighting and may be bright enough to be the only lighting source needed in various rooms without an overhead ceiling light.

Key Features

• The lamp features twin adjustable strobes for versatile lighting options
• A flexible neck allows for easy light direction
• With 56 high-quality bright daylight LEDs, the lamp ensures precise color representation
• The touch switch dimmer offers four brightness levels

Laster Reading Standing Lamp with Remote

I’ve reviewed this Laster lamp for hobby and miniature painting work. You can see that full review in this article. This versatile lamp offers four color temperature settings ranging from 3000K to 6000K, and brightness adjustments from 25% to 100%, resulting in 16 possible lighting combinations to meet the diverse requirements of various projects.

The Lastar LED Floor Lamp is a good choice if you need an additional lighting source for miniature painting or don’t have much space. With a brightness output of 550 lumens, this 12W LED floor lamp is energy-efficient.

However, this isn’t my first choice as a primary light source for larger spaces or broad, open tabletops. The fairly short flexible armature limits how far over the LEDs can extend over a desk or table.

It has a brightness level that is enough I think for most light duty hobby or small craft painting jobs, and plenty of versatility with adjustable color temperature and its LED diffuser. The 360° flexible gooseneck allows you to direct light precisely where you need it, making it perfect for detailed artwork, miniature painting, or intricate hobby work.

I thought the included remote control was cute, but I ended up using the touch switch to operate the light. Note for those who work in short spurts and forget to turn off lights, the Laster floor lamp features a 45-minute timer function. This may be useful as well for timed tasks.

Key Features

• Four color temperature settings and adjustable brightness levels
• Remote control and touch control options
• 45-minute timer function and memory function
• Flicker-free and anti-glare LED light

BenQ e-Reading LED Floor Lamp

The BenQ e-Reading LED Floor Lamp is designed with artists, hobbyists, and miniature painters in mind. This lamp offers advanced lighting technology, a curved head, and fully adjustable arm structures and ball joints to ensure that your entire workspace is illuminated.

RELATED: FULL REVIEW OF THE BENQ LED LAMP FOR PAINTING MINIATURES AND MODELS

I love the use of the turn knob for controlling the brightness and color temperature. It reminds me of the old controllers for playing brick-breaking games like Arkanoid, or the wall light dimmers you may have seen.

Another neat feature is that the on-off switch is the silver ring you see on the back of the light housing. It’s touch-sensitive. A single tap will turn the light on or off. If you hold the ring for 2 seconds, it’ll switch the lamp back and forth between a “Reading” or “Task” lighting mode.

Meaning, you can use that touch switch to go quickly between two settings depending on whether you want a warmer light for reading or a more task orient color temperature with a cooler neutral lighting output. It did take me a while to get used to all the features and working seamlessly between them depending on what I wanted to do with the light.

I’ll also note that much of the technology (and cost) of this light also emerge from it’s “smart” approach to lighting. For example, the auto-dimming mode detects ambient brightness and adjusts accordingly, ensuring a comfortable work environment day and night.

I love having my BenQ around, and I’m still deciding where it should best fit. Should it be my hobby lamp, or my evening settle down and read a book lamp? It works so well in all the areas I would want to use it for! I strongly suggest you take a closer look at this really innovative, tech-advanced floor lamp system.

Key Features

• Wide desk illumination with its curved head and adjustable arm
• Features a cute adjustment knob for operating color temperature and brightness level settings
• Auto-dimming mode is useful, depending on your need
• Easy (and fun) touch controls for on/off function, and switching between reading and task lighting modes

Brightech Sparq Arc Floor Lamp

This is the only “curved” lamp on the list. And, the hobby desk arc lamp on a tall stick is how some have described the Brightech Sparq Arc Floor Lamp. Is it the best arc lamp for painting miniatures? Well, maybe. The Brightech Sparq in my view, however, is the highest recommended floor arc lamp.

As a miniature painter, you’ll probably already know the advantage of an arc lamp. The ability of the light to illuminate multiple continuous angles around and over your work area gives you the ability to see what you’re doing without the challenge of positioning your light overhead just perfectly. It can reduce harsh shadows, remove any need for you to find the optimal position. Just place the lamp and do your thing.

The curves of the Brightech floor lamp still provide direct illumination where you need it, and allow your workspace to be illuminated much more evenly than with a single focal light source.

The lamp also has “smart” features like the ability to integrate with Google Home or Alexa. You can use this lamp with apps on your smartphone (if you purchase the accessories to do so). Of course, like other floor lamps, you can expect a heavy anti-tilt base and the flexibility to move things around.

Note that there is no color temperature adjustment and the 3000K output may be a tad warm for color accuracy for some art studio work, including photography.

But, if you’re okay with this subtle warmer lighting shift–it’ll be easier on the eyes–then this could be a good lighting solution for individuals who require an adjustable, bright lamp for various tasks. Overall, this tall arched floor lamp offers ample illumination while keeping your desk clutter-free.

Key Features

• Tall arched design provides simple overhead lighting without occupying desk space
• Heavy and sturdy base
• Compatibility with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit
• Energy-saving integrated LED bulb (warm color temperature)

Flex Light Pro (Lume Cube)

The Flex Light Pro (Lume Cube) standing lamp is one of the most unique lighting systems on this list. It also happens to be one of the most expensive lighting systems I’ve bought in recent years. But, as a content creator and someone who needs flexible lighting solutions for photography, hobby work, and whatever I’m doing at the time, this is an amazing system.

It rivals the Redgrass Games R9 Desk Lamp in terms of utility for me. I would have a hard time doing my various blogging tasks, YouTube, and miniature painting work without this light.

The Flex Light Pro has dual flexible arms and smartphone holder in the middle add so much versatility for the things you may enjoy having as a mini painter or hobbyist, e.g., good lighting and a way to video record your work.

As per the website description, the Lume Cube Flex Light Pro is designed with artists and creators in mind and gives you complete control over the light direction. The 2-point lighting system and dual edge-lit panels can rotate up to 270 degrees. The high-quality LEDs with built-in diffusion provide perfectly balanced light, reducing shadows and eliminating harsh bright spots.

The lamp has a 96+ CRI rating ensures perfect color accuracy for your artwork. This is lamp is amazing for photography, and a lot of the product images you see this site are taken with this light. With adjustable color temperature and brightness settings, you can customize the lighting to suit your needs, whether you’re working on a detailed miniature or a larger canvas.

One feature that I’ve come to truly appreciate is the portability of this light. You can detach the operational head, unscrew each flexible lighting module, and pack it all down into a fairly compact package for travel. The stand itself is a simple, lightweight tripod. Take the lamp in the included carry bag with you on the road; or if you’re at home or in the studio, simply lift the whole system in a single hand around to where you need it within your workspace.

Key Features

• Very high CRI rating for color accuracy
• Adjustable color temperature (3000K – 6500K) and brightness (5% – 100%)
• Flexible arms for each LED panel that rotate 270 degrees
• Gooseneck smart phone mount for photography/videography
• Convenient travel case for artists on the go

Verilux SmartLight Full Spectrum LED Floor Lamp

The Verilux SmartLight Full Spectrum Floor Lamp has many common features associated with a versatile lamp. It has adjustable brightness, ergonomic flexibility with a flexible gooseneck, and easy to operate controls. In fact, from a style and aesthetic stand point, the Verilux is quite similar to the Ottlite standing lamp (shown above).

For artists, painters and other creatives, the LEDs in this lamp deliver a full daylight spectrum light. While I’m not sure it can claim the title for perfect daylight reproduction, i.e., nobody is as good as the real Sun, any good lamp should aspire to illuminate your work clearly without hurting your eyes.

Other notable things that you’ll find in the lamp that some competitors have at a slightly higher cost is the ability to adjust brightness to 5 levels and 3 set color temperatures (i.e., warm white to daylight neutral). The SmartLight is flicker-free and equipped with an Optix glare control lens, which should reduce harsh hot spots of light on your working surface, and help reduce eye strain and fatigue.

Key Features

• Full spectrum LED light delivers close to natural daylight illumination
• Five light intensity levels and three color temperature settings
• Flicker-free with an Optix glare control lens to reduce eye fatigue
• Simple, practical design
• Versatile across many tasks including artwork, crafts, and hobbies

Daylight Artists’ Studio Lamp

The Daylight Artist’s Studio Lamp is a classic. It is one of the most practical, no-nonsense lamps you can get for working in any creative space.

Looking for a powerful and versatile lighting solution for your studio or large workspace? The Daylight Artists’ Studio Lamp with Stand could be just what you need! The sleek design in chrome and black looks great in most settings where you’re making stuff.

I also think this studio lamp could be a simple and super useful lighting setup for an ad hoc home wargaming tabletop. With a large tabletop surface like you would use to play a game of Warhammer 40k or AOS, this floor lamp could be that perfect standby that you use when you ambient room lights don’t do the job.

Moreover, the sturdy tripod base and a super bright reflector shade helps the lamp cast a wide glow that’s ideal for large spaces and artists who work on a grand scale. Its super bright LED bulb offers over 50,000 hours of light and produces little or no heat. The shade interiors are treated with a special reflective coating for a diffuse, wide-angle light throw, ensuring that your workspace is well-lit and free from harsh shadows. Just what any artist wants!

Key Features

• Sturdy tripod base and super bright reflector shade
• Bright LED bulb (16W) with 6500K color temperature (i.e., overcast daylight)
• Classic design in chrome and black
• No bulb heat production
• Lightweight construction is great for any artistic workspace

Brightech LightView Pro Magnifying Glass with Stand

The Brightech LightView Pro Magnifying Glass with Stand and Light is perfect for anyone looking to light up their workspace without taking up valuable tabletop workspace. Note that I also reviewed this magnifying floor lamp in another article.

This is the best craft light you can get with a magnifying lens and light combined in a rolling floor lamp system. This makes it more accessible than other lamps due to it’s ability go where ever you need it (within your room floor space). It does lack the slim design of the other lamps in this list, but the versatility of this lamp makes up for it.

This light is also very powerful, and perfect for any artist that needs a strong, wide-angle and evenly distributed light source with minimal glare. The XL magnifying glass measures 6 inches wide and 4.5 inches long and offers 2.25x magnifying strength. This magnifying lens strength is, in my opinion, the ideal power for working with miniatures and scale models. You can see why in this magnifier overview, where I discuss focal length and magnification power.

The LEDs produce up to 900 lumens, which perfect for working in scale miniature and other detail oriented hobby tasks. The light is adjustable and dimmable and you can use this lamp for a range of tasks from reading, to crafts, to painting. As mentioned, the 6-wheel rolling base provides mobility and stability, and the height is adjustable, making it suitable for use over a bed, chair, bench top (standing height) or any standard desktop surface.

Key Features

• 2.25x magnifying glass lens (ideal for miniature and scale modeling work)
• Long-lasting and energy-efficient LED light
• Adjustable armature height and 6-wheel rolling base
• On/off switch with built-in dimmer
• 900 lumens light intensity
• 5000K cool, neutral color temperature

Well, What is the Best Floor Lamp for Artists and Hobbyists?

It comes down to purpose. What are you planning to do with the floor lamp now (and in the future)? I’ve nailed this down to three lamps that fit three key reasons why you’d want a particular floor lamp model with its associated features.

BenQ e-Reading LED Floor Lamp

(Rich, innovative feature set)

This floor lamp is designed with artists, hobbyists, and miniature painters in mind. It offers advanced lighting technology, a curved head, and fully adjustable arm structures and ball joints to ensure that your entire workspace is illuminated.

It has a turn knob for controlling the brightness and color temperature, and the on-off switch is a touch-sensitive silver ring on the back of the light housing.

The lamp also has an auto-dimming mode that detects ambient brightness and adjusts accordingly, ensuring a comfortable work environment day and night.

Brightech Sparq Arc Lamp

(Versatility and simplicity)

This floor lamp has an arc lamp design with a continuous LED curving around and over your workspace, providing illumination from multiple angles. It can reduce harsh shadows and eliminate the need for finding the optimal spot to position your light overhead.

NOTE: The Sparq arch lamp has a warm color temperature light output that you cannot change. If you’re looking for a neutral, cool lighting system in an arc lamp configuration, take a closer look at this popular desktop arc lamp.

Brightech LightView Pro Magnifying Glass with Stand

(Best in-class optical aid and light)

This floor lamp is the best craft light you can get with a magnifying lens and light combined in a rolling floor lamp system. The XL magnifying glass measures 6 inches wide and 4.5 inches long and offers 2.25x magnifying strength, which is ideal for working with miniatures and scale models.

The LEDs produce up to 900 lumens, which is perfect for working in scale miniature and other detail-oriented hobby tasks.

The light is adjustable and dimmable, and you can use this lamp for a range of tasks from reading to crafts to painting. The 6-wheel rolling base provides mobility and stability, and the height is adjustable, making it suitable for use over a bed, chair, bench top (standing height), or any standard desktop surface.

Conclusion

As a miniature painter who works in a basement room, creating in the bowel of my home, I am always pining for that perfect natural lighting system. I want that ambience that only the real Sun can provide.

While I’m not sure a floor lamp is the best lighting option for my work, just yet, it is clearly a great choice for many art studios and hobbyists. A floor lamp allows you to save tabletop space (by consuming the floor area). They also have all the great features that any hobby desk lamp could provide.

Whether you’re a professional artist or a hobbyist, investing in a quality floor lamp can make all the difference in your work quality and comfort. So, avoid the cheap floor lamp. Take your time, weigh the pros and cons, and select the perfect floor lamp to brighten up your workspace and enhance your creative space 🎨💡😊.

I hope you found this article helpful. As I gain more experience with all these lighting systems, I’ll be sure to update you!

Thanks for reading. Until next time, keep creating! 🖌️

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