Heaters, fans, and air purifiers
Guides and How-To's five light floor lamp
Coffee Makers & Espresso Machines
Online Coffee Shops & Subscriptions
Coffee Accessories & How Tos
We asked experts for their favorites so you can find an stylish, illuminating option
Contributor, Buy Side from WSJ
Laura Fenton is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.
Interior lighting is notoriously hard to get right. There’s a delicate balance in creating light that is soft enough to be flattering, but bright enough for reading or working. It’s also challenging to figure out the right mix of overhead and accent lighting. A floor lamp may be the trickiest purchase as these lamps not only need to be a great source of light, they are also a key part of a room’s décor.
We asked interior designers to share their favorite floor lamps—ones that they have either owned themselves or used in projects for clients. From a classic brass reading light to a sculptural rice-paper lantern, these expert picks will make your room glow.
This is the lamp to place next to your favorite reading chair. “Pharmacy-style lamps have been around for many years and the lines of this piece are transitional, allowing it to work with many design styles without dating itself,” says Cynthia Masters, of the design firm Panageries in Greenville, S.C. “You can spend a little more on pieces like this because you’ll have them for a long time,” she adds. Masters notes that this swing arm‘s size and shape allow it to tuck cozily next to a chair, freeing up space on a nearby side table.
While there’s a case to be made for investment pieces, there are also times when you want a fast fix for a dark corner. “I was recently looking for an affordable brass, pharmacy-style lamp for my guest room where I didn’t want to spend a fortune,” says Grant K. Gibson, an interior designer who splits his time between San Francisco and Castine, Maine. He settled on a vintage-style gooseneck from Brightech, a newish, direct-to-consumer lighting company that offers free shipping.
Kaitlyn Murphy, senior designer at Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design in Philadelphia, says she has always been inspired by the 9602 Floor Lamp designed by Paavo Tynell for the Hotel Aulanko in 1935. This lamp has a timeless air and Murphy notes that while simple, it can hold its own in a room with rich materials like velvet upholstery, marble and plaster. She also points out there are many good, lower-cost homages to the design, including this lamp with a woven shade and rattan-wrapped base.
A milky glass sphere seems to perch precariously on the slender metal arm of this minimalist lamp designed by Michael Anastassiades. The tension in the design “will add drama and whimsy to any space,” says Charles Pavarini III, owner of Pavarini Design in New York City and a longtime board member of the Designers Lighting Forum of New York. Plus, he notes, it’s a high-quality fixture that throws off great light.
Designer pieces are not always attainable, but Isamu Noguchi’s Akari lights are design classics that fit a broad range of budgets, says Amanda Jesse, partner at Jesse Parris-Lamb, a Brooklyn-based interior design studio. “The handcrafted sculptural shape of an Akari floor lamp adds a warm, organic element to a space,” she says. “The textural washi paper shades filter light beautifully, but are equally stunning when the lamps are turned off.”
“This lamp provides the oft-forgotten sculptural element, which makes any room more layered and interesting to be in,” says Matthew Kowles, an interior designer based in New York City of this Aerin showpiece. Tom Stringer, principal of Tom Stringer Design Partners in Chicago agrees: “I like the strong visual profile, the texturing on the base, and the variety of well-thought-out finishes.” The lamp is also a design chameleon: Stringer has used it in a rustic mountain retreat in the bronze finish, while Kowles recently used a pair in the white plaster finish for a client on the Upper East Side. It’s notable that more than a dozen design pros have featured the Beaumont on a popular retail lighting site.
This swooping design is a laid-back take on an arched floor lamp. “The organic bend of this floor lamp reminds me of a plant,” says New York City interior designer Eneia White, who notes that the Johanson lamp would look beautiful in rooms including a children’s bedroom or nursery. White likes the natural rattan shade, which she says adds texture and a natural element to a room; the base is available in either an aged iron or antique brass finish.
For a minimalist, functional task light, Cheri Etchelecu, the designer behind Cheri Etchelecu Interior Design in Dallas, recommends Koncept’s “Z bar” floor lamp, which is basically an oversize desk lamp. “It has a discreet look that can fit into almost any design scheme,” she notes. With its dimmable and highly positionable design, you can direct the specific amount of light exactly where you want it for reading or working.
Made from turned solid oak, this lamp has the look of a bygone era. “I’ve used the Bari floor lamp a few times, especially in homes that lean toward a wabi-sabi or more laid-back California style,” says Gianpiero Gaglione, founder of GG Interiors in Los Angeles. “It’s beautifully proportioned, but my favorite detail has to be the parchment shade with leather stitching,” he says. “It’s so subtle, and the craftsmanship is exquisite.”
“Iconic” is how Bryan Yates, founder of Yates Desygn in Dallas, describes this lamp. “I’ve been obsessed with it for as long as I can remember,” he says. “Its light, contemporary construction is the synthesis of function and form, adding a hint of sculpture to a space.” Indeed, the 1975 design is included in the permanent collections of several art and design museums, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Brooklyn Museum. American artist Donald Judd had one in his SoHo loft, further validating its serious design cred.
For a floor lamp that is the focal point, not a background player, look for a design with a thick trunk in an unexpected material, like this carved wood model. “The rich wood tones of this sturdy floor lamp are the perfect blender within any casual room,” says Jennifer Walter, of Phoenix, Md.-based Folding Chair Design Co. “Plus, the large cylinder shade makes just enough of a statement to hold its own.” We’ve also spotted it in of-the-moment designer Sarah Sherman Samuel’s Grand Rapids, Mich., living room, where it pops against white walls.
With its bone-china shade and cotton braided cord, this classic British design is all about the details, says Glenn Ban, an interior designer based in East Hampton, N.Y. Ban loves that this lamp works in traditional interiors and more modern spaces, and he also appreciates the brand’s stated commitment to green manufacturing practices.
“Floor lamps are a great opportunity to do something a little bit funky and add a really interesting shape to your space,” says Ginger Curtis, president of Urbanology Designs in Fort Worth, Texas. In addition to its unique shape, Curtis admires the Astrid floor lamp’s rich mix of materials: leather, wood, and brass.
A swing arm floor lamp lets you easily control where the light is directed when you’re reading. This model features a simple linen shade that also offers diffuse light for the whole room. Caroline Brackett, principal designer at Caroline Brackett Studio of Design in Greenville, S. C., describes this model, designed by Paloma Contreras, as “a transitional take on a traditional style.”
When searching for a lamp for her daughter’s room, Mary Maydan, founder of Maydan Architects in Palo Alto, Calif., was pleasantly surprised to discover this tripod floor lamp, which is sold on Amazon but has striking resemblance to tripod fixtures by high-end suppliers. “The thinness of the legs and the elegance of the fabric that shields the light are exquisite,” she says. Maydan also notes that the all-black lamp adds welcome contrast, so a room doesn’t get “washed out.”
Laura Fenton is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.
Shopping for quality products made easy
Sign up for our Buy Side from WSJ Newsletter
affordable floor lamp Copyright ©2024 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.