Interior Pole Lamp Components

The Vertical Pole

• The vertical pole can be either a spring-loaded tension pole with no base, wherein the tension from the top and bottom of the pole helps prevent it from falling, or a pole with a large supportive base and weight. Poles can have a sleek modern look making use of bronze, antique brass or chrome, or they can incorporate wood to coordinate with your wooden furnishings.

Lamps

• The pole can have one lamp at the top of the pole or several lamps placed at intervals along the pole. These lamps often swivel in several directions so you can highlight a picture in your room or light up a corner for use when reading. Lamp shades come in linen or synthetic fabrics. You can also look for a pattern to match the rest of your furnishings, or opt for a glass, natural parchment or ceramic lamp shade for a clean, contemporary look.

Switch

• Some pole lamps have a three-way switch for low, medium or bright light, while others have a pull chain to turn the lights on and off. Some lamps even have individual switches for each lamp -- a handy feature when you just need to have one lamp on at a time. If you choose to have all the lamps on at the same time, the swivel head in the lamps allow you to focus the light in various directions.

Types of Bulbs

• Bulbs used in these lamps can vary in wattage from 40 to 80 watts and can come in candelabra, incandescent, halogen, high-pressure sodium or metal halide forms. Bulbs in your pole lamp can help create the mood in your room and can either call attention to a certain area in your room or downplay another part of the room.