The 18 Very Best Floor Lamps

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 it a 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.

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

If you prefer something simpler, I recommend this floor lamp from Pottery Barn that has a plain wooden base that I imagine would fit in just about anywhere. Interior designer Stacy likes its “versatile design” that she says pairs well with coastal, California, and transitional styles,” thanks to its pale rubberwood base and textured linen shade. It’s also available in a darker walnut finish, which comes with a gray shade.

Style: Upright, various shade styles | Material: Wood, fabric

If you want a floor lamp that you can customize with a plethora of different shade styles, check out Pooky, the Gloucestershire-based lighting brand that offers over 700 shades in all shapes and patterns (and maker of one of our favorite table lamps). Strategist senior editor Hilary Reid recently received the Tinto lamp for testing that features a wooden “spinal” column and antiqued brass base. She calls the lamp “very attractive”: “The ‘natural’ shade of wood is warm and rich looking, and the brass base is just the right amount of brassy (not too shiny, but gives a polished contrast to the carved wood),” she says. But what she loves most about the lamp is its presence, saying that it “adds some texture and playfulness to my living room in a subtle way,” thanks to the wooden stem and pleated shade she chose in a pale-blue-and-green ikat pattern. The lamp base itself costs $350, and the shades range in price from $75 to $250, making it relatively inexpensive to change them out down the line. (For the floor lamp, you’ll want to go with the larger sizes that measure between 16 and 20 inches.)

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.

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.

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

The Mads Caprani lamp, originally designed in 1971, has a bentwood neck that’s a more subtle take on an arc lamp. Vintage ones were once 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. — but now they’re back in production thanks to Gubi. The curved bentwood spine is made of wood veneer with a canvas pleated shade and balances on a crescent-shaped cast-iron base. It can slide into just about any spot due 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.

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

Tripod floor lamps are another classic choice, 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.

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.”

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.”

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.

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.