I have one of those halogen floor torch lamps, the kind that points directly to the ceiling. It's amazingly bright, at 300W, and pretty much illuminates the entire living and dining area of my condo.

After reviewing bulbs from GE Lighting, Philips Hue, Cree, Lifx and more -- and checking the results from our excellent CNET labs -- I’m ready to share my top picks for floodlight bulbs that can do it ...