They're true objects of art.
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE Decor editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. outdoor floor lamp
You don’t have to be reminded of the Golden Rule (per TikTok, at least) when it comes to lighting: No. Overhead. Lights! Turning on “the big light” will cast a gross, fluorescent glow, and that is absolutely unacceptable in 2024—when we're all about soft, moody lighting provided by sconces, dark-academia-adjacent bankers lamps, and floor lamps.
On the note of the latter, it can be pretty hard to zero in on a floor lamp that's both affordable, fit for the dimensions of your space, and aesthetically pleasing… in other words, one that you won't have to frantically resell on Facebook Marketplace when you get tired of it after less than a year.
To ensure that you buy a lamp you'll enjoy for many years to come, there are certain criteria you need to be aware of when doing your floor lamp shopping.
If you're not into the whole overhead lights business, pick a floor lamp that diffuses its light source with some kind of shade—creating a warm, ambient glow you'll be eager to bask in on a daily basis. In general, there are many floor lamp style options under the sun: including reading lights with a flexible arm, arc floor lamps with a stem that extends up and out, and torchiere lamps that direct their light towards the ceiling. Floor lamps also run the gamut from modern and minimalist to vintage and ornate, so treat finding a selection—one which passes your personal vibe check while fitting into your home's aesthetics at large—as an exciting choose-your-own-adventure!
As with many home decor accessories and furniture pieces, a recognizable brand name or retailer will automatically drive the price tag up (in most cases). Floor lamp designers have also gotten quite experimentative in recent years, so if you want a creation that's closer to artwork than your average lighting fixture (this Lambert & Fils wonder from Design Within Reach is a good example), be ready to dish out nothing less than a couple of thousand dollars for it.
That being said, we've honored a wide range of budgets in the product roundup that follows—with quite a few (more or less) affordable picks from Amazon. Don't go too low when it comes to price, however: If a floor lamp costs less than $50, there's a chance it might croak faster than the speed of light.
Choose a floor lamp's scale according to the size of the space you plan to put it in, as well as that of the nearby furniture. For example, if you want to illuminate the area around a small accent chair, something towering and massive might look awkward. As designer Chaney Widmer writes on Mix & Match Design Co.'s site, “a lamp with a narrow base and a slim stem can work well in small spaces, while a lamp with a wider base (or tripod base) and a more substantial stem can add weight and balance to a larger room.”
It's all about that Goldilocks sweet spot! Finding it might prove difficult, but at ELLE DECOR, we meticulously parse through the annals of the Internet for home products that will check all of your boxes. We're all too happy to make your shopping experience simpler, so here are 12 artful floor lamps that will make your home an instant refuge from the stress and chaos of the world (no downcast fluorescent lights in sight).
As part of interior designer and lifestyle guru Athena Calderone's latest collab with Crate & Barrel, this lamp takes heavy inspiration from the 1930s and will infuse your living room with warmth in any season.
This modern floor lamp, featuring three frosted glass balls and a stem with an antique brass finish, is relatively low-profile and thus ideal for lovers of all things minimalist.
The lamp you see here is a hands-down stunner. Upholstered in a tapesty-inspired fabric with nature motifs, it's the perfect thing to place in an otherwise sparsely decorated space—letting the lighting do all the talking.
The Allicia lamp has curves, and it flaunts them. Other things this product can proudly flaunt, in no particular order: its built-in, energy-saving LED strips, three color temperature settings, foot pedal control, and the fact that it spares you the tangled mess of cords.
Enter: The perfect lamp for those of us who wish to be on island time... all the time. Designed by Studio Anansi, this lamp is crafted out of industrial materials like iron, aluminum, and brass, while still managing to look whimsical and charming as can be. It’s safe to say the item will become your home’s hottest conversation piece.
Calling all boho enthusiasts: This lamp’s walnut wood base, metal frame, and crinkly paper shade come together to create something that’s easy on the eyes and an instant indication of its owner having some serious style.
Just when you thought this was a normal lamp, its marble table comes in to save the day—making it a truly multifunctional find. Go ahead, picture it spicing up your living room interiors while providing space for setting down your go-to candle or a hot cup of joe in the morning. As a bonus, you can get the floor lamp in either a bronze or brass finish!
The Baya lamp knows how to have a good time. With plum-hued glass spheres that resemble a bunch of grapes (frosted and ridged for the ultimate texture moment!), it's almost good enough to eat. Admire it with your eyes instead, and proceed to buy one for all your friends.
This floor lamp is nothing if not visually interesting. Its marble base, imitation bamboo arm, and delicate canvas lampshade work to achieve a vintage-inspired, natural look. Should you run into problems or grow tired of it (in what world?), that two-year warranty will come in clutch.
Herman Miller is an American brand known for producing iconic, standard-setting furniture (Eames Lounge Chair, anyone?). It’s safe to say that this organically shaped floor lamp will also become an icon in your own abode—what with its translucent plastic polymer shade, walnut wood base finish, and undeniably midcentury feel.
A lamp that balances stateliness with a kind of innate playfulness is rare, but the pictured one from Safavieh has achieved just this kind of equilibrium. Its sculpted leaves (benefitting from an antique gold finish) have us swooning, not to mention the fact that the lamp's LED bulb boasts a 25,000-hour lifespan. Wins upon wins.
This lamp clocks in at less than five feet, but what it lacks in height it makes up for in sheer personality. One look at its ivory-colored shade and ceramic base (that cutout is everything!) confirms this notion.
At ELLE DECOR, we know lighting. Whether we're testing it in our own homes to find the perfect budget floor lamp or tapping the design experts we have on speed dial, our team is proud to be a go-to resource for elevating your home with the chicest lighting solutions out there. Our editors and interior design pros research and review every new article we publish to ensure we've shed light on the most up-to-date, expert-approved information.
Stacia Datskovska is the assistant digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers news, trends, and ideas in the world of design. She also writes product reviews (like roundups of the top firepits or sheet sets)—infusing them with authority and wit. As an e-commerce intern at Mashable, Stacia wrote data-driven reviews of everything from e-readers to stationary bikes to robot vacuums. Stacia’s culture and lifestyle bylines have appeared in outlets like USA Today, Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Food & Wine, and Brooklyn Magazine.
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