Shopping The Best Floor Lamps to Perfect Your Lighting Scheme
Bright ideas for any decor style
September 2, 2026
A burst pipe flooding this Shelter Island home left space to be more playful with the traditional interiors upon renovation, such as the colorful ceramic coffee table from Chinatown’s Superhouse by a ceramicist named Sean Gerstley and two task lamps framing the couch.
Photo: Blaine Davis, Art: © Derrick Adams Studio
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.
Our Favorites
- Best Lampshade-Style Lighting: Ellery 3-Light Floor Lamp by Jake Arnold – $449 Crate & Barrel
- Best Customizable Lamp: Pavone Floor Light by Viviana Degrandi – $598
- Best Splurge: Gubi Stemlite Floor Lamp – $1,599 ($1,279 (20% off)) Design Within Reach
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.