Dimmable Floor Lamp: Check How It Dims Before You Order

A client wants a floor lamp for the corner of the living room that can drop to a low evening glow, and the listing only says "dimmable". That one word does not say who controls the light: the lamp itself, or a wall dimmer already on the circuit. This article covers how a dimmable floor lamp dims, what to check before it goes in, and which finishes are worth knowing about.

How a Dimmable Floor Lamp Dims

A dimmable LED floor lamp usually dims in one of three ways. Touch dimming uses a sensor on the lamp, gesture dimming responds to a hand movement near the lamp, and a built-in control puts a dial or button on the lamp itself. In all three cases the control stays on the lamp, so no wall dimmer is needed to change the brightness.

The product listing is the only reliable place to see which type a lamp uses. The Tarell 6W floor lamp, for example, is listed with gesture dimming, while other models in the group only show the word dimmable in the title. Where the control type is not stated in the title, read the product page before you tell the client how the lamp will work.

This is what the four listings state:

Wattage is not brightness, so compare the lumen figure on each product page where one is given.

Wall Dimmer on the Same Circuit

The usual site problem is a room that already has a wall dimmer. A lamp with its own dimming control and a wall dimmer are two separate control points, and it helps to know which one the client expects to use. Wall dimmers on a lighting circuit usually feed fixed lights such as downlights, while a plug-in floor lamp runs from a normal outlet.

Check what the dimmer actually switches before you plug in. If the outlet for the floor lamp is controlled by a dimmer, or by a switch that leads to one, stop and confirm with the lamp's manufacturer that the lamp suits that arrangement. A lamp with its own dimming control behind a wall dimmer can flicker or dim unevenly, so a standard outlet is the safer choice.

If the room's downlights already flicker on an existing dimmer, Fixing LED Dimmer Flicker covers how to match the controller. A quick test is to unplug the floor lamp and see whether the flicker stays. If the fix means changing a wall dimmer or an outlet, that is fixed wiring and goes to a licensed electrician.

Common Mistakes When Specifying a Dimmable Floor Lamp

• Ordering on the word dimmable alone. The listing says the lamp dims, but the client may expect a wall dimmer to do the job. Confirm the control type on the product page and show the client where to touch, wave or turn.
• Plugging a self-dimming lamp into a dimmed outlet. The two controls can work against each other, and the usual result is flicker or a lamp that never reaches full brightness. Use a standard outlet instead.
• Assuming every lamp in a range dims. Similar-looking lamps in the same range may not both be dimmable. Check that the exact variant you are ordering says dimmable in the listing.

Finishes and a Matching Table Lamp

A dimmable floor lamp is usually bought as one of several decorative lamps in a room, so the finish matters as much as the dimming. The Amity is listed in black with sand smoke, and it also comes in brass matt with amber and brass matt with opal. The Tarell is listed in antique gold and gun metal, and the Ferum in black with a patina dome shape.

Once the floor lamp is chosen, the next question is usually the rest of the room. For the table beside it, a matching travertine lamp keeps the finishes consistent. Check its switch type against the floor lamp's control so both lamps work the same way in the room.

Frequently Asked Questions

Dimming and Controls

How do you dim a floor lamp without a wall dimmer?

Choose a lamp with its own dimming control. The Amity 12W 3000K floor lamp is listed as dimmable, and its product page shows how the control works.

Can I use a dimmable floor lamp with a wall dimmer?

Only if the manufacturer says the lamp suits it. A lamp with its own dimming control on a dimmed circuit can flicker or dim unevenly, so a standard outlet is the safer choice.

What does gesture dimming mean on a floor lamp?

The lamp changes brightness in response to a hand movement near it, rather than a switch or dial. The Tarell is listed this way. The exact movement and the area it works in are on the product page, so check them before you demonstrate the lamp to a client.

Models and Brightness

Which dimmable floor lamp gives the most light?

Of the three LED models in this group, the Tequo 20W dimmable floor lamp has the highest wattage, against 12W for the Amity and 6W for the Tarell. Wattage is not brightness, so compare the lumen figure on each product page where one is given.

Are all Ferum floor lamps dimmable?

Not necessarily. The Ferum iron floor lamp in black with the patina dome shape is listed as dimmable, but similar-looking lamps may not be. Confirm the word dimmable on the exact listing before you order.

Installation and Compliance

Do I need a licensed electrician to install a dimmable floor lamp?

Not to plug one in, because a plug-in lamp is not fixed wiring. Adding or changing a wall dimmer, a switch or an outlet is electrical work and must be done by a licensed electrician in Australia. Licensing rules vary by state and territory, so check with the local regulator.

Before you order, check where the cord will actually run, because a floor lamp needs an outlet within reach of its spot.

Shop dimmable floor lamp at Schnap

Trade pricing is available on these lamps, with same-day dispatch from Kingsgrove NSW.

Dimmable LED floor lamps

• Telbix Amity 12W 3000K Dimmable LED Floor Lamp, Black Sand Smoke
• Telbix Tequo 20W 3000K Dimmable LED Floor Lamp, Black Smoke

Gesture dimming

• Telbix Tarell 6W 3000K Gesture Dimming LED Floor Lamp, Antique Gold

Dimmable iron floor lamp

• Telbix Ferum Iron Floor Lamp, Patina Finish, Dome Shape, Dimmable, Black

Amity in other finishes

• Telbix Amity 12W 3000K Dimmable LED Floor Lamp, Brass Matt Amber
• Telbix Amity 12W 3000K Dimmable LED Floor Lamp, Brass Matt Opal

Need the right dimmable floor lamp for the job? Browse the range at Schnap.