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Oct 17, 2024

18 Best Floor Lamps of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us. From sleek LEDs to retro lamps, add some

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.

From sleek LEDs to retro lamps, add some style and light to your space.

Lighting changes the dynamic of every room. You know, like how bad dressing room fluorescent lighting is, or how you can't see anything inside of a fancy restaurant, because they simply are too fancy for lights? Like that. At home, though, there is a whole bunch of lighting options that span the range between stark black cave and the blinding lights of hell.

Here, we rounded up 18 of the best floor lamps that give you some nice light without overwhelming the space. Some are function first—cheap, narrow, and easy to use. But you can level up your choices, too, with ones that have smart capabilities (like hooking up to an app, where you can then control said light) and others that pack a whole design punch.

Whether you're shopping for your living room, bedroom, or home office space, each of these is happy to take over and brighten up a spare corner. It takes pressure off of harsh overhead lights, and it's an easy room upgrade you can make in any space—rented or owned—without starting from scratch.

Some floor lamps are essentially pieces of functional art, and this is one of them. Thanks to its natural color and smooth shape, the handcrafted oak base adds texture to any space without dominating it.

Sometimes you just need something cool, and this Allmodern lamp is cool. Put it for a little reading nook, should you have or aspire to have one. It's 14 inches in diameter, 60 inches high, and uses a 60-watt incandescent bulb.

This floor lamp is minimal in both aesthetic and size, and it's perfect for a simple piece that brings a lot of light. The task light is bright and pointed, perfect for adding near a desk or reading corner that needs a lift.

This natural weave floor lamp is great for spaces that call for soft, indirect light. Maybe somewhere you gather to watch TV or an extra vibey office space. It's 12 inches in diameter and 47.5 inches high, making it great for a lonely corner.

Some smaller spaces call for function first, and a floor lamp with a built-in table is ideal for the job. Keep this in your office or next to your bed, where you always want to have water and a book (and or your phone) within reach.

For a mid-century modern aesthetic, this tripod floor lamp is a cool addition to your space. The base is metal and wood with a sheer black shade that softens the light as it comes through. It's a standard plug-in lamp and requires a 150W E26 medium bulb.

Article's straightforward gunmetal floor lamp is industrial and cool. It takes up minimal space and is compatible with all types of LED lights and home decor styles. We love how it looks a little industrial but doesn't give off harsh, cheap lighting feels. It works in most rooms, too.

You can angle the arm on this to the direction of your choosing, and, depending on where it's facing, can make for more direct or more ambient lighting.

This thin, minimal floor lamp does all of the decor work with a cool brass arm and a simple ivory shade. That bit of curve on the body makes it feel like a whole centerpiece, even if it's just lighting up a corner.

For pretty much any simple, high-quality homewares, Hay is at the top of our list. The Danish-inspired brand oozes efficiency and minimalism, especially in this small but mighty floor lamp. Choose from a few cool, punchy shade colors.

Even better than extra light that isn't blinding and overhead is extra lighting with a drink table attached. Never try to balance the remote and or your coffee on the couch arm again.

ABC Home pushes beyond normal homewares everywhere that it can, and this take on a floor lamp is a prime example. It's more like a sculpture than a lowly old light source with its translucent opal glass, which gives off a glowy, cozy light.

If you're looking to make yourself a smart house, start introducing Philips Hue lights into your rooms. Or just buy a whole pack, which you can do with this gradient floor lamp. It pairs to an app, where it can be controlled there or with your voice. The light is a blend of white and color and makes for a cozy glow above all else.

West Elm's overarching floor lamp is perfectly dramatic. It's a cool addition to a space that has the room for it. The full brass coloring—including a metal shade—keeps the bold shape still feel uncomplicated. Pair it with a 7W LED bulb, 60W incandescent bulb, or a smart bulb.

You can be frugal or you can be extra. And this Flos spun floor lamp is extra. It's pricey but it also looks pricey. Sebastian Wrong, a sculptor and designer, made the piece with extra attention to design detail. It's taller than your standard floor lamp at 69 inches high, and it's made with machined aluminum construction.

CB2's leather and brass floor lamp is understated but expertly cool. Keep it for a neutrally colored room, or anywhere that you don't want a bold lamp dominating the space.

For a floor lamp that has a little personality but doesn't feel like too much of a commitment, this brass-and-globe combo is an easy choice. It leans slightly mid-century modern, but without a ton of commitment. And at $70, it is financially friendly, too.

We forgive you for assuming that all task lights belong on a desk. Allow us to show you the minimal beauty that is a floor task lamp, with a light that you can adjust to see whatever you're looking at more clearly. The crane shape is giving architectural mockups, so we assume that's what you'll be using the light to look at.

Lighting is everything in a space. Before choosing a floor lamp, consider these feature factors.

Style

Most floor lamps do a good job at their primary function, which is being a lamp. Depending on your space, you can get one that goes with most styles or one that stands out as particularly mid-century modern, classic, or industrial.

Size

Online, these lamps look generally the same size. But make sure to measure both where you'll put the base and how much clearance you may or may not need. Save tight corners for shapes like Article's shadeless lamp or Philips Hue.

Bulb Capacity

If you scroll through reviews on lamps, you'll likely see that people get very frustrated when they find out their stash of bulbs doesn't work or fit with their new lamp. If you like particular types of lighting, make sure the lamp has the right capacity.

Dimming Options

Lamp dimmers are not essential, but they are very nice to have in certain spaces. Say, near a corner where you read or near your bed.

Most floor lamps are decent, and even the cheap ones do a good job. We chose some of our old reliables you can order from Amazon, Target, or Wayfair for this. But for leveling up the function, we tested for smart lamps that connect seamlessly. For decor, we found some of the best designed, high-quality pieces that make the floor lamp a statement.

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