The Best Floor Lamps to Perfect Your Lighting Scheme
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.
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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.
Best Lampshade-Style Lighting
Light bulb requirements
- Bulb type: E12 LED Dimmable Bulb
- Light bulb included? Yes
What to keep in mind
- 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 shopping 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
Light bulb requirements
- Bulb type: E12 LED Dimmable Bulb
- Light bulb included? Yes
What to keep in mind
- 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 shopping 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 Splurge
Light bulb requirements
- Bulb type: 75-watt incandescent or 12-watt LED
- Light bulb included? No
What to keep in mind
- 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 Reading Lamp
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Light bulb requirements
- Bulb type: 60-watt E26
- Light bulb included? No
What to keep in mind
- This lamp isn’t dimmable.
Assembly required? Yes
Joon Loloi’s Anwar floor lamp has quickly become Baker’s trusty reading sidekick. With its curved neck and tapered, opaque shade, the piece has the focused glow of a task lamp—ideal for illuminating a side table or the pages of your latest novel. “My living room only has somewhat harsh overhead lighting, so this lamp first caught my eye so I could finally have soft illumination in one part of my space when I want to wind down,” Baker says. “It feels more targeted, but the light still radiates enough to create a cozy nook around my sofa.”
Accented by aged brass and deep brown marble, the lamp easily flits between retro and moodier contemporary styles. Despite its thin brass stand, the lamp is surprisingly sturdy, with a substantial marble base keeping it secure and pointed in the direction you place it. Baker’s existing furniture leans midcentury, with plenty of leather, dark wood, and warm tones, but the lamp adds something her existing mix was missing: “The brown marble base is my favorite part—I like how it strays away from more expected white Carrara styles,” she says. “The veins and lines throughout the stone make it look distinctly one-of-one (unlike a generic floor lamp I’d find in a big-box store).”
More Lamps We Love
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A patterned version of Anthropologie’s best-selling Lulu floor lamp, this iteration boasts the same tapered silhouette and maximalist appeal. Upholstered in a botanical print of swirling vines instead of a tactile velvet, the lamp takes on a more traditional persona. The matching fabric shade is designed to diffuse some of the light and direct it downward for a softer, more ambient effect. Brass detailing adds a polished note, but the Lulu lamp is still versatile enough to work across a range of spaces. This isn’t the lamp for focused task lighting, but it’s great for creating a warm glow in your bedroom’s corner or beside the sofa during movie nights.
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The Gigi floor lamp from CB2, in all of its polished steel glory, might just be the epitome of modernist glamour. The silhouette is simple—a sleek column base and triangular flared shade—but when a lamp is as statement-making as this one, you don’t need gimmicks. The reflective surface isn’t just for show; it helps bounce light around your room. The lamp primarily directs its glow downward, making it better suited for lighting specific corners rather than an entire room. Use it to supplement your broader lighting set-up or let it take center stage in your reading nook or den.
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Reminiscent of Isamu Noguchi’s iconic rice paper shades, this Japandi floor lamp uses linen for a softer take on the look. Best for providing a soft, diffused glow, this lamp sets the mood in a similar way to candles or string lights, but with a bit more grown-up sophistication. A solid wood base provides structure and durability, while a three-foot-tall linen shade creates purposefully oversized proportions. While not dimmable, the shade is thick enough to keep the glow from feeling too harsh or bright. Pair with low-slung seating, natural textures, and neutral hues to complete the aesthetic.
Design Within Reach’s Sten floor lamp is a bit more angular than your traditional arc floor lamps. With its sturdy marble base and exaggerated proportions, though, the silhouette still feels familiar. The modern lamp is a classic for living rooms where overhead lighting is a non-starter. It’s designed to cast light widely, but it can also rotate and swivel when you want a more focused glow. A satisfying analog knob clicks on and off, adjusting the brightness as it turns. Dimmable and plug-in, it’s an easy route to full-room illumination, especially for renters or anyone who’d rather skip the electrician.
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An avant-garde pick, the Olivera floor lamp from Lulu and Georgia boasts an undulating wicker frame. All three globe bulbs are concealed here, as is most of the cord, but a foot pedal on/off switch ensures ease of use. This stands at five feet tall and casts a diffused, ambient glow, so we’d imagine that it would fit nicely in a lounge or bedroom corner.
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For the modernist, the Ciminiere d’Italia Round LED floor lamp offers a minimal frame that makes a major design impact. Whether placed next to your vintage sofa or in a spare corner in your all-white bedroom, this dimmable bulb casts a wide arc of light from its nearly six-foot-tall bulb. If you’re highly sensitive to light temperatures, this one measures in at 3500, a soft white light that’s warmer in tone.
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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.
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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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.
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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.
Arc Lamp: These flexible lamps have a curved arm that provides directional light without requiring any ceiling suspension—not to mention, they’re great eye candy. They’re a simple yet effective way to add interest to a space without having to do anything drastic. If you’d like a history lesson on the OG Arco lamp, designed by Italian brothers Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, we recommend checking out senior design editor Hannah Martin’s Object Lesson on the iconic fixture.
Column/Tower Lamp: Popular iterations of tower lamps include light textiles/paper draped over a frame as well as extremely minimal, single wood or metal slat silhouettes. A good example is the Noguchi lamp from Ashley Tisdale’s California home that sat on the actress’s wishlist for her office space until she was able to score one.
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Globe Lamp: Globe lamps use enlarged, globe-shape bulbs to light up a space. And though this style might sounds simplistic, designs can come in unexpected shapes like the Modulation Floor Light by Axel Chay we spotted in photographer Tyler Joe’s apartment or one of Eny Lee Parker’s fabulously bulbous dual-headed designs.
Task Lamp: When it comes to dealing with a task at hand, task lighting is your best friend. Their most popular use is probably for reading, since they provide directional light downward towards your material or project. A swing arm is a popular feature for task lamps, since the light is more easily directed wherever you need. Incredibly versatile and easy-to-style, they’re right at home next to a desk or any sofa, as seen in this Shelter Island living room.
Torchiere Lamp: Torchieres flip the script with an upward-facing shade that directs light toward the ceiling. When Colin King launched his West Elm collection a few years back, we were delighted to see his take on a torchiere design (and FYI, it’s still available.)
Traditional Lamp: Bringing it back to the basics, your traditional floor lamps feature all elements of a classic floor lamp design: one light bulb and a shade, providing diffused ambient light throughout a room.
Tray Table Lamp: This sect of floor lamp marries lighting with elevated function thanks to a side table affixed to the base that can balance smaller knick knacks. While especially practical, they can also be stylish additions to your space—like this one we spotted besides a mohair-upholstered Eames chair in a chic Minneapolis home.
Tree Lamp: Tree lamps take on the appearance of their namesake, featuring multiple bulbs that are usually adjustable, allowing you to customize your lighting scheme. Think Harco Loor’s tree breeze floor lamp, with adjustable “branches” to feed light in whatever direction you choose.
Tripod Lamp: Like the photography equipment, the base of these lamps are supported by three legs and can vary greatly in design. You’ll find lots of tripod lamps with basic canvas or cotton shades out there, but don’t be surprised to discover more unique pieces like this Noguchi tripod lamp that sits by the window in Noah Ruttenberg’s New York apartment.
Light Bulbs: Can I Use a Higher Wattage Bulb Than Recommended?
While you can use a higher watt light bulb than your light fixture suggests, we wouldn’t recommend it. Wattage relates to how much power a particular device uses, and if more than the design allows is being used, you face the risk of “overlamping,” meaning your fixture will start to run particularly hot. This is bad for a few reasons: Overheating can melt bulb sockets and wiring and, in the worst cases, lead to an electrical fire. It may also cost you more in the long run and be less energy-efficient—if your bulbs are drawing too much energy, it’ll likely mean having to replace them more frequently. If you’re still confused on the correct bulb to look for, we hope this handy visual guide will help.
