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Lighting tends to be an afterthought in interior design. But the best floor lamps, intentionally placed in the right spaces around the house, can actually elevate the look of your decor. And that’s not just our personal opinion. (Although we do really love lamps.) There is actually expert-backed evidence that the way your home is lit can affect how you perceive it and ultimately feel about it. For example, a bad lighting scheme can produce harsh shadows, making a space feel smaller, whereas good lighting can highlight all the right places and help the eye travel throughout the room, making it seem more spacious.
All this is to say: Lighting should be at the forefront of your decorating plan, which is why we took the liberty of testing out a curated selection of top floor lamp picks from some of our favorite brands (in addition to other great options that score high design marks in our books). In each of our reviewers you’ll find an AD editor’s testimony as to what makes each light stand out, how they use it in their space, and what’s something buyers should keep in mind. Many of these options barely take up any space and are easy to transport, so buying a good floor lamp is always a sound investment if you ask us. With a variety of design styles, functions, and bulb options, we think there should be something for just about every space on this list.
Top Picks
“A little bit farmhouse, a little bit Mad Men, the Karo is a three-legged floor lamp with an integrated surface. Lamp/table hybrids are nothing new to those of us who frequent secondhand and vintage shops, but Karo turns the familiar combo on its head 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.” —Lila Allen, AD Pro associate director
- Bulb type: E26
- Light bulb included? Yes
“Because of its three-legged construction, this light requires a larger footprint than other floor lamps I own; buyers will want to double-check the dimensions of their space before ordering. I had my lamp delivered white-glove, which saved me the hassle of assembly—but based on the item’s manual, it doesn’t seem like anything unmanageable. I love the easy push-button on/off toggle of this lamp, but I don’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.”
Assembly required? Yes
“I tend to favor clean lines and timeless pieces, so when shopping recently for a new living room floor lamp, the Montage Modern caught my eye and held it, even after viewing dozens of additional (and pricier) options. When the efficient, compact box arrived (less waste!), assembly was a snap—literally, as the shade fabric clips to the lamp ring, and seals on itself with an invisible magnetic strip. Magic. The body screws together easily and the base lines up well. As for the glow, 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.” —Diane Dragan, global director of content strategy & operations
- Bulb type: E27/Medium bulb (up to 9.5 watts)
- Light bulb included? Yes
“Two caveats: I bought the white shade and it’s a true, crisp white, which took a minute to adjust to as the lamp it replaced was ivory. (The Montage Modern is also available in an ivory, pleated shade option as well as tan.) And the clear, floor-based on/off button and wire may not be easily accessible if the lamp is positioned behind furniture, as in my home.”
Assembly required? Yes
“I love that this lamp is a two-birds-one-stone deal—the U-shaped metal lamp base holds a small marble table under the lamp that’s extremely handy. I use it to hold some small decor items and beverages while I’m on my couch or reading in bed, where I previously had a separate nightstand/lamp set-up. It’s perfect for small spaces—I love that it’s minimalist, sleek, and timeless, but the bronze adds an edgier touch.” —Livia Caligor, content operations manager
- Bulb type: 100 watt, type A Standard , 23W CFL or 9W LED
- Light bulb included? No
“The lampshade is a bit bigger than I had anticipated—in fact it takes up more space than the marble side table component which defeats the purpose a little, so I might replace it with a different lampshade. Otherwise, it’s so perfect and very easy to assemble.”
Assembly required? Yes
CB2 Big Dipper Arc Floor Lamp
“CB2’s Big Dipper is a statement lamp that’s also understated. Its design is pretty agnostic, meaning you could easily integrate it into your space whether your taste ranges anywhere from midcentury to Scandi; but the tall stature of the lamp (almost 85 inches tall) makes it a stand out. Assembly was straightforward, and I was able to accomplish screwing together all the pieces myself (though I would recommend recruiting a helpful hand if you’re able to). I appreciate that the arc is adjustable, so you’re actually able to control how far down you’d like the shade to hang, plus, it’s a dimmable design, which I’m a big fan of. I have the lamp set up bedside, and it’s the perfect light source for reading or scrolling on my phone before bed.” —Audrey Lee, commerce editor
- Bulb type: 100W E26 bulb
- Light bulb included? No
“Like I mentioned, this lamp definitely falls under the oversized category. It’d be most at home in a sprawling space with cathedral ceilings but I think it still works quite nicely in my apartment. Because this lamp is quite large, it’s not the easiest to move from room to room (nor is it easy since it weighs quite a bit as well). I’d suggest deciding where you want it beforehand and assembling it in that spot.”
Assembly required? Yes
“A not-so-secret secret among the world of furniture lovers is that the kids section often has the best stuff (and it tends to be slightly less expensive). This particular lamp is from Crate & Kids, and I’ve had it in my living room for over five years now, though it’s also perfectly suited for the bedroom. It’s particularly convenient because it’s the lamp closest to my front door and it’s a touch lamp, which I love, so I don’t have to shuffle around in the dark trying to find a cord or a pull. It has three brightness settings, but they are all quite soft and gentle.” —Rachel Fletcher, AD commerce director
- Bulb type: 40 watt
- Light bulb included? No
“Two calls outs: Because it’s a touch lamp, it can be slightly touchy; for example, I had it plugged in next to a powerful air purifier and that really put it on the fritz. I moved the purifier and all returned to normal. Also, because it’s for kids, it’s pretty short (4.5 feet)! As a short person, I am fine with that, but if you’re expecting a grand statement lamp, this is not it.”
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. And that’s why we love it. It’s a signature light for modernist interiors, and for a good reason—but in my home, it snuggles in nicely with an eclectic mix of antiques and more contemporary wares.” —Lila Allen, AD Pro associate director
- Bulb type: 75-watt incandescent or 12-watt LED
- Light bulb included? No
“There’s a tiny bit of assembly involved in setting it up, but you’ll be finished in less than five minutes. A towering floor lamp it is not: The Stemlite is a wee lad, standing just around four feet tall. It turns on and off (and dims!) through a rotary near the base of the shade, which might be more difficult to manipulate if you struggle with arthritis or joint pain. There isn’t a wide variety of colors available for this light—just Pebble Gray, Black Chrome, or Black Red (a cherry cola–like shade)—but simplicity is kinda the point here.”
Assembly required? Yes
“The toughest part about buying a Gantri lamp is truly choosing which design to go for. Bedsides the attractive, modern design, what I really like about the Pavone lamp is that it’s actually a great source of light. Its a dimmable design, so you can achieve sultry, mood lighting or use it at functional full brightness. The lamp is also newly available in 26(!) different color options and three different rod choices so you can totally customize it to your liking.” —Audrey Lee, commerce editor
- Bulb type: E12 LED Dimmable Bulb
- Light bulb included? Yes
“I love this lamp but I wish the two midsection rods weren’t divided into three parts that need to be attached to one another. The parts were a tad difficult to screw into each other and I think it would have given the design a more polished look overall had they just been one piece.”
Assembly required? Yes
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.
Other Lamps We Love