Good lighting is never an afterthought in worthwhile design—especially when it comes to selecting the best floor lamps for your interiors. While placement plays a role, it’s the style and silhouette that anchor the personality of a room. Chances are, you’re are already familiar with certain styles: the midcentury modern Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Arco design that winks at futurism, the zen illuminating lanterns of Isamu Noguchi, and the utilitarian tall torchiere floor lamps of college days that have been elevated by designers such as Colin King for West Elm and George Kovacs for Lumens.
The beauty of investing in a floor lamp is that you can adjust the lighting scheme without altering the entire layout of a space or calling an electrician to rewire a chandelier. A brass tree lamp is the perfect accessory to a sectional that requires a bit of task lighting. Meanwhile, a tripod model adds just the right amount of mood lighting to a living room. Other good news? When it comes to floor lamps, you can always buy more than one.
Inside this Article
Our Favorites
Best Lampshade-Style Lighting
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Photo: Nashia Baker
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Photo: Nashia Baker
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Ellery 3-Light Floor Lamp by Jake Arnold
- Bulb type: E12 LED Dimmable Bulb
- Light bulb included? Yes
- Gorgeous when put together, but takes lots of unscrewing and rescrewing the base and head to make sure the lamp wasn’t wobbling
- Base is a tad heavy for carrying from place to place
Assembly required? Yes
This floor lamp by AD100 designer Jake Arnold is nothing short of a sculptural work of art. The head of the lamp has a whimsical feel thanks to the varying heights of the three lights. The shades are just as beautiful, as the jute material adds a touch of warmth to complement other soft, natural materials in the room. “With a brass silhouette and Medusa-like head, I get the perfect piece of visual interest without overwhelming my space,” says senior commerce editor Nashia Baker of her lamp. “I’m not the biggest fan of bright overhead lighting either, so this lamp’s adjustable lighting can illuminate my room in a subtle, sunny fashion.”
Best Customizable Lamp
- Bulb type: E12 LED Dimmable Bulb
- Light bulb included? Yes
- Two midsection rods are divided into three parts that need to be screwed into each other
Assembly required? Yes
The Pavone floor light by Viviana Degrandi is not only dimmable but can oscillate between sultry to bright. The lamp is available in 26 different color options for the base and top and spans from vivid neon yellow to mellow pink. The rods are also customizable and come in black, chrome, or white. “The toughest part about buying a Gantri lamp is choosing just one design,” says commerce editor Audrey Lee. “Besides the attractive, modern design, what I really like about the Pavone lamp is that it’s actually a great source of light.”
Best Budget Lamp
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Diane Dragan
Joss & Main Montage Modern LED Floor Lamp
- Bulb type: E27/Medium bulb (up to 9.5 watts)
- Light bulb included? Yes
- The white shade is a true, crisp white, which may look a bit stark if you’re used to ivory or creamy lamp shades
- The clear, floor-based on/off button and wire may not be easily accessible if the lamp is positioned behind furniture
Assembly required? Yes
For those in favor of clean lines when it comes to home decor, the Montage Modern living room floor lamp is not one to overlook. “It’s excellent to read by (LED bulb included, as promised) and offers concentrated light in my corner, though I switch on additional lamps to brighten the room at night,” says Diane Dragan, global director of content strategy & operations. It arrives in a compact box (meaning less waste!), and assembles in a snap—literally, the shade fabric clips to the lamp ring, and seals on itself with an invisible magnetic strip.
Best Splurge
- Bulb type: 75-watt incandescent or 12-watt LED
- Light bulb included? No
- At four feet, it is not as tall as other floor lamps
- Some assembly required
- On/Off switch is through a rotary near the base of the shade, which can be more difficult to manipulate if you struggle with arthritis or joint pain.
- Only three colorways: Pebble Gray, Black Chrome, or Black Red (a cherry cola–like shade)
Assembly required? Yes
If you’re familiar with the cool, space-age aesthetic of the ’60s, then you know the work of Bill Curry, the designer behind this far-out floor lamp. Curry is famous for pioneering the ‘total look’ shadeless luminaire, epitomized by the Stemlite. “In this model, the metal base smoothly tapers into a glowing glass orb not entirely unlike a UFO,” says contributor Lila Allen. “And that’s why I love it. It’s a signature light for modernist interiors.” Allen also notes that the iconic design pairs equally well with antiques and contemporary wares.
Best Arc Lamp
- Bulb type: 100W E26 bulb
- Light bulb included? No
- This oversized floor lamp—85 inches tall—needs plenty of space
- The size and weight makes it difficult to move room to room. Pick a spot and then assemble in place.
Assembly required? Yes
“CB2’s Big Dipper is a statement lamp that’s also understated,” says Lee. “Its design is pretty agnostic, meaning you could easily integrate it into your space whether your taste ranges anywhere from midcentury to Scandi.” Assembly is straightforward and Lee was able to piece it together on her own, but wouldn’t discourage a helping hand if it’s nearby. Since the arc is adjustable, you control how far down you’d like the shade to hang. The lamp is also dimmable, allowing you to create a soft ambiance bedside or in a reading nook.
Best Tripod Lamp
- Bulb type: E26
- Light bulb included? Yes
- Because of its three-legged construction, this light requires a slightly larger footprint than other floor lamps. Double-check the dimensions of your space before ordering.
- If you opt out of white-glove delivery, you’ll have to assemble it yourself.
- The cord hangs in the middle of the lamp legs in an unsightly way
Assembly required? Yes
“A little bit farmhouse, a little bit Mad Men, the Karo is a three-legged floor lamp with an integrated surface,” says Allen of the hybrid Castlery fuses a familiar silhouette seen in vintage shops with a modern twist by placing its platform at the center of the tripod rather than wrapping around a central support. “It’s an unusual design, and it’s fun to play around with styling the center section—I actually preferred it best bare, but that didn’t stop me from trying out books, bowls of fruit, and flowers,” she adds. While she had her lamp delivered with white-glove delivery, she said assembly looked pretty simple based on the manual. She also loved the easy push-button to power on this lamp, but didn’t love how the cord hangs in the middle of the legs. “I would have preferred for there to be catches integrated into a support that would allow it to tuck away—and am considering adding some myself.”
Best Side Table Lamp
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Livia Caligor
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Livia Caligor
Pottery Barn Delaney Marble Floor Lamp
- Bulb type: 100 watt, type A Standard , 23W CFL or 9W LED
- Light bulb included? No
- Lampshade falls on the larger end and takes up more space than the marble side table component, which feels unproportional
Assembly required? Yes
A standing lamp and a side table in one is a gem when it comes to figuring out room decor when space is precious. The U-shaped metal lamp base holds a small marble table under the lamp, making it extremely handy. Livia Caligor, AD’s content operations manager, uses it to display petite decor or to park a beverage. “It’s perfect for small spaces and very easy to assemble—I love that it’s minimalist, sleek, and timeless, but the bronze adds an edgier touch,” she says. Place it near a seating area or by the bed and you’ve got yourself a reading lamp.
More Lamps We Love
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The Iron Roots Wooden LED Floor Light
We love that this unconventional stunner is a fresh and contemporary take on what a floor lamp can look like. It’s handcrafted from sustainably sourced lumber and available in three distinct color tones—meaning if your space favors light tones or you’re a strictly dark wood household, it’ll be easy to match your preference.
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Serena & Lily Montford Floor Lamp
Sometimes, a simple design is the best way to go. This beautiful brass vintage-inspired lamp is sleek and slim, but the dimmer switch on the socket allows you to control the brightness of your space. Keep in mind, this light fixture is meant for a relaxed vibe as the maximum light bulb wattage is 60W.
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Brightech Atlas Tall Floor Lamp
This approachable Brightech model confirms that lamp design doesn’t have to be predictable. The curvy lines of the lampshade, atop the matte black pole, have a commanding presence that give it charisma without going over the top. It will certainly revive the living room decor, but consider bringing it into a home office as a point of interest. You won’t be disappointed in the ambient lighting bestowed by its warm glow.
George Kovacs U.H.O. LED Floor Lamp
Leave it to George Kovacs, a pioneer of modern lighting, to come up with the U.H.O. with an up light that has a diffused beam streaming from a white acrylic shade atop a brushed nickel body. It plays to the tune of something out of the Jetson’s household, but not in a cartoony way. Alternatively, the sleek lines could fit in living spaces with Art Deco motifs and could play nice with other metal finishes. Best of all, it’s suited for a room without a ceiling light as the LED tends to spread the light.
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Davide Groppi SAMPEI Floor Lamp by Enzo Calabrese
If you’re not sure how to style this Sampei 290 floor lamp by Davide Groppi, take a page out of this Parisian studio that employs two of these lights to provide a sense of balance in a living spacepiece. Pair it with a neutral color palette flecked with touches of color for an abstract design that skews into something like an art installation.
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Arteriors Terrace Floor Lamp
If your home decor could use a relaxed touch, consider this organic, handwoven rattan floor lamp. It’s got a sturdy, metal base and natural or antique brass finish, plus charming double pull chains. The wicker shade adds an especially interesting textural element and offers a calming cast of light that’s especially ideal for a reading nook.
West Elm x Billy Cotton Bennett Floor Lamp
Those who favor slim silhouettes will appreciate this light’s sculptural shade designed by Billy Cotton. The color means it’ll seamlessly blend into your living or dining room, but the shape keeps things interesting and different.
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Yuh Floor Lamp by GamFratesi for Louis Poulsen Lighting
This minimalist floor lamp takes plenty of inspiration from mid-century modern designer Arne Jacobsen. It combines the modern convenience of LED bulbs with an angular, adjustable lampshade. The matte black metal and simple but striking design make it a perfect fit for a chic living room, modern home office, or streamlined bedroom.
Floor Lamp Mapping
Below, we’ve outlined the primary floor lamp shapes you’ll come across in your lighting journey, as well as AD-approved pointers and styling tips from our archives.
