The 20 Very Best Floor Lamps (2024)

$299

Style: Drum shade | Material: Linen, metal | Adjustability: Telescoping neck

TV and film set decorator Kimberly Fischer told me about this lamp from West Elm when I wrote this highly specific story on floor lamps a couple of years ago, and she called ita staple. “I’ve used it multiple times,” she said. “It’s classic and shows up well on-camera.” She points out its natural linen shade, and the fact that it is height adjustable makes it that much more versatile. It’s got a slender metal stem that incorporates both antique brass and satin black finishes (for a little extra detailing) and a base that will fit small spaces comfortably, which is why, along with its just-below-$300 price tag, I’ve dubbed it the best overall floor lamp on this list.

$70

Style: Bent neck | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Dimmable

For something completely different in look but equally adaptable and multipurpose (and much more affordable), here’s an LED lamp that will provide light without stealing the show thanks to its slim profile. It’s recommended by Stacy Harwood, a senior designer at the online interior-design service Havenly, for its “sleek design,” and she calls it “super-versatile,” meaning it pairs well with any décor style — which is why I think it will work well for most people. Designed by Strategist-favorite Hay for Ikea, it also has a swiveling base and head and full dimmer capability for just $70, a price that truly can’t be beat.

$129

Style: Tripod, drum shade | Material: Metal, cotton

Tripod floor lamps are as classic as they come, but this one that Havenly lead designer Toussaint Derby recommends stands apart thanks to its black-and-gold combination that she says “makes it feel more glam” than your run-of-the-mill lighting out there. Gold accents offset the black fabric drum shade and sleek legs for a moody, high-impact look.

$359

Style: Tripod | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Adjustable head

If you like a lamp that stands on three legs but prefer something with a slimmer profile, consider this lamp by Greta Grossman’s original 1947 Grasshopper design that Allan recommends as an “alternative reproduction if you are working toward building your own iconic collection.” It has a tubular steel tripod stand that is “tilted backward, creating a modern silhouette,” and a conical shade with an elbow joint that can be adjusted up or down to direct the light where you please. In terms of placement, Allan recommends “placing it behind your favorite reading chair in a family room, bedroom, or kids’ room.”

$349

Style: Arc, drum shade | Materials: Metal, cotton | Adjustability: Dimmable

A floor lamp with a dramatically arcing neck can double as overhead lighting if you position it correctly — above seating or even a dining table, for example. Another favorite of Harwood’s, this more traditional option has a simple metal base and cotton shade, making it especially versatile. “With an extending arch that’s over six feet high,” Harwood says it is a practical option for both small and large rooms. She adds that it comes with full dimmer capacity and that you can get it in two finishes (brass and nickel).

$120

Style: Arc, globe shade | Material: Metal, marble

This arcing lamp has more of a ’60s vibe thanks to its globe shade. It’s recommended by home decorator Carrie Carrollo, who, tired of what she calls the millennial-approved “all gold- (or brass-) toned everything,” suggests trying chrome. “This lamp feels like a nice way to potentially experiment with the tone,” she says. It also marries two of the shapes she mentions above, with a shade that is both orblike and mushroom reminiscent.

$1,295

Style: Arc, pleated shade | Material: Wood, canvas

The Mads Caprani lamp was designed in 1971 and had a resurgence in popularity a few years ago, when it could be seen in boutiques like Mansur Gavriel and the homes of stylish people all over the world. Vintage versions were difficult — and expensive — to source. (I bought mine from Copenhagen-based Etsy seller Verbo Studio, whose lamps were in beautiful condition and better priced than the ones I saw in the U.S.). Now it’s back in production thanks to Gubi. Comprising a curved bentwood spine made of wood veneer and a canvas pleated shade, the elegant lamp balances on a crescent-shaped cast-iron base and can slide into just about any spot thanks to its petite footprint. I’ve created the most pleasant reading nook by placing it next to a big white slipcovered chair. Even though it’s slightly ubiquitous now, I never tire of looking at its sinuous shape.

$130

Style: Task | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Adjustable height, swing arm

For something a little more traditional, try a task lamp, like this one that design historian Alessandra Wood recommends. “I love a good pharmacy lamp,” she says, adding that because of its classic look, this will always be in style. “This has the perfect blend of vintage and industrial charm, and the aged brass introduces an upscale feeling of warmth to any rustic space.” It’s available in other finishes, including nickel and bronze, and has an adjustable height and swing arm.

$1,049

Style: Task | Material: Solid brass | Adjustability: Adjustable height, swing arm

If you like the idea of a task lamp but prefer something that looks a little less like it belongs in a library or a banker’s office, consider this solid-brass one with a conical shade from Ralph Lauren that Denver-based interior designer Jess Knauf recommends. “It’s a great little reading light but also super-sexy at night for mood lighting, especially if you have two next a sofa,” she says.

$448

Style: Column | Material: Plant polymer, aluminum | Adjustability: Dimmable

Photographer and designer Tommy Lei turns to California-based Gantri, which makes 3-D-printed lighting using plant materials, for his floor lamps. “It works directly with reputable designers to produce cutting-edge products with a high-design flair,” says Lei. The Pavone, designed by Viviana Degrandi, is one of his favorites that he uses in both his home and with clients. The LED light source is ensconced between two tail-feather-shaped shells that diffuse light radially and sit atop two aluminum rods that are anchored by a slim cylindrical base, giving it a slender profile. Lei prefers to use it as a corner lamp to “elevate any sitting or living room,” adding that it “pairs easily with a wide range of décor styles because of how timeless the silhouette is.”

$269

Style: Upright, drum shade | Material: Wood, linen

Here’s an upright, shaded style that would fit in just about anywhere. Harwood calls it “simple,” with a “versatile design that pairs well with coastal, Cali-cool, and transitional styles.” I would agree. The pale rubberwood base and textured linen shade feel so relaxing and make it easy to imagine this lamp in the living room of a (theoretical) summer cottage.

$329

Style: Upright, drum shade | Material: Resin, fabric

“An ’80s nod with a muted, ancient feel” is how Shannon Retseck, the owner of Cuttalossa, a home-goods and textile company, and Cuttalossa & Co., a retail space in Philadelphia, describes this unusual lamp. The twisting resin neck and woven drum shade are muted enough in color that the lighting won’t overwhelm a room, she says, adding that this would be “such a great way to add visual interest to a space lacking charm.”

$350

Style: Column, vertical light | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Dimmable

“This floor lamp is one of my favorites, mainly because of the marble base but also because it’s unique and it doesn’t take up a ton of space,” says interior designer Tiffany Thompson of Duett Interiors. It comes from Canadian-based brand EQ3 and doesn’t immediately look like lighting because of its matte-anodized-aluminum shade that emits a vertical shaft of light. “If you live in a smaller apartment, or you’re looking for a light fixture to go in a corner space, this is a great option while still being a conversation piece,” says Thompson.

$599

Style: Column | Material: Metal

If the above light works best in a corner, this shiny stainless-steel lamp that Victoria Adesanmi, founder and principal of interior-design studio Aesthetics Studios, recommends is meant to stand out. “I’m obsessed with this,” says Adesanmi. “It’s modern, simple, and perfect for any place in your home.”

$1,800

Style: Column | Material: Washi paper

For something that doubles as a piece of art, consider Isamu Noguchi’s Akari light sculptures, which are made from washi paper and come in dozens of styles and shapes. “We think it’s hard to top a Noguchi lamp,” say Meghan Lavery and Daniel King, owners of vintage-furniture and design store Home Union in Brooklyn. “They fit with anything and give the nicest glow.

$639

Style: Bent neck | Material: Metal | Adjustability: Dimmable

Another minimalist LED lamp, the Leaf from Scandinavian design studio Muuto comes recommended by Clémence Polès, the creative director and founder of online magazine Passerby. “I recently discovered Muuto and have been fawning over their designs,” she says. “The Leaf floor lamp is beautiful. It’s really elegant, thin, and doesn’t take up much space.” Slightly more sculptural than the Ikea lamp above, this “feels like it could be part of an Alexander Calder piece,” according to Polès. The shade, which is shaped like a leaf, can be angled in the direction you desire.

$116

Style: Orb, low | Material: Plastic | Adjustability: Dimmable, 16 LED color options

For a different kind of ambient light, two of our experts, Thompson and Retseck, suggest trying round floor lamps, like this one recommended by Thompson. “This is a nontraditional version of a floor lamp,” she says. “I love it directly on the floor or propped up on a stack of books.” It casts a soft glow and comes with 16 LED color options. Retseck, who recommends a similar lamp, agrees that “well-placed glowing globes bring a serene diffused light.”