Best Floor Lamps 2023

Choosing one of the best floor lamps from a seemingly infinite number of contenders can seem like a tall order. After all, so many factors go into the making of a solid floor lamp that should ideally add style while brightening up just about any space in your home. After hours of intensive research and speaking with New Orleans-based interior designer Nadia Ramadan, we found the Ikea Ranarp floor lamp to be the best overall option. The simple and timeless lamp has a small footprint and comes in a slew of colorways, making it a great pick for just about any space, but there are plenty of contenders on this list to suit about any design palette and budget.

The right floor lamp for you ultimately depends on the size of your space and how you want to light ... [+] it.

When it comes to looking for the best floor lamp, Ramadan recommends a simple mantra: function over form. "Prioritizing how you will use a piece will determine the height, number and type of bulbs and even the design of the lamp," says Ramadan. "For example, if you are choosing a floor lamp in a reading nook, you would want the lamp shade to sit within eye level—about 30 inches from the floor, but of course that height will change depending on the chair used. You would also want your reading nook floor lamp to have a shade rather than a bare bulb to reduce glare. Most importantly, how much light does the lamp need to produce? That will determine the shade type and number and type of bulbs." To help make your shopping task easier, read on for our choices of the best floor lamps on the market right now.

IKEA

Dimensions: 11 x 60 inches | Power source: Plug-in | Bulb included: Yes | Warranty: No

While Ikea has plenty of things that are suitable for college dorms and temporary spaces, many of the lighting options at the Swedish furniture store are sleek, bright and surprisingly solid. The Ranarp task lamp looks like a scaled-up version of a desk lamp, and is available in both black and white color options. The shade allows the light to be more concentrated than a bare-bulb number, while the adjustable point means that you can tweak the lamp's positioning so it illuminates the spots that need a bit more light without washing the whole space.

Amazon

Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 65 inches | Power source: Plug-in | Bulb included: Yes | Warranty: No

This elegant floor lamp looks more expensive than it is, a quality that Ramadan is always looking for. She bought this specimen "on a whim for my foyer and I absolutely love it. It has a very simple shape, great color and the price point cannot be beat," she says. The bare bulb aspect might annoy people who prefer their light to be more diffused, but it's a cheerful, minimalist addition to any space, with a heavy enough base that romping pets or kids won't knock it over. It's a good example of Ramadan's point: "Not all design pieces have to be expensive in a well designed space."

Walmart

Dimensions: 21 x 15.75 x 68 inches | Power source: Plug-in | Bulb included: Yes | Warranty: No

Speaking of not expensive design pieces, Ramadan encourages looking for lamps in non-traditional furniture settings, including Facebook marketplace and secondhand shops. For a lamp that looks like it came from the pages of a catalog but is actually from Walmart, this Safavieh Stefan Floor Lamp is a great choice. It has a slightly updated feel thanks to the black lamp shade but has the same functionality of our top pick, the Ikea Ranarp floor lamp.

Amazon

Dimensions: 9.5 x 9.5 x 65 inches | Power source: Plug-in | Bulb included: Yes | Warranty: No

The Brightech Luna Frosted Century Standing Lamp is reminiscent of retro street lighting or subway signs, a quiet but powerful source of diffuse light. The frosted shade on the lamp means that the light is less intense than bare-bulb models, but it has a similar clean, simple, industrial look. The only caveat is to make sure the height is what you’re looking for—some reviewers found that it was shorter than they expected.

Jonathan Adler

Dimensions: 20.5 x 66.25 inches | Power source: Plug-in | Bulb included: Yes | Warranty: No

For those looking to splurge a bit, Jonathan Adler is a big name in the lighting space for a reason. Ramadan recommends this lamp for those who want a farmhouse aesthetic with a little bit of a wink to it. "I love the bamboo-like body, feet and circle finial on top. It's overall a good looking lamp and it draws just the right amount of attention," she says.

West Elm

Dimensions: 30 x 11 x 54 | Power source: Plug-in |Bulb included: Yes | Warranty: No

Arc lamps are an excellent option for when you want to mimic overhead lighting, but Ramadan notes that you should be careful of their placement. "When an arc lamp is used in a living room and you have to walk around it to sit down," she points out. This option is nice because it provides the lofty overhead lighting of an arc model but without being big enough to get in the way of the room. It's sturdy, unlike some inexpensive arc lamps that easily knock over or have paper shades prone to tearing, and the antique brass finish is elegant without being too showy.

Amazon

Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 63 inches | Power source: Plug-in | Bulb included: Yes | Warranty: No

I admit to being biased about this lamp, since it's one that I own thanks to its over 18,000 glowing Amazon reviews. But it's an excellent lamp. The LED bulb is adjustable not just in terms of how bright it is but in terms of what color temperature you want. It also comes in a range of colors, from black to platinum to bronze, so you can coordinate with any room you have. For a sleek lamp it's surprisingly bright—mine illuminates all of my living room, which doesn't have any overhead lighting installed. Plus, it's inexpensive, at about $60, so it's a good option for rooms that need a little lighting but that you can't spend a lot on, like a guest room, dorm room or vacation house.

A standard floor lamp typically measures between 60 to 72 inches tall, and one end of the spectrum isn't necessarily better than the other—the right height for you ultimately depends on the dimensions of your space. Before you go about procuring a new floor lamp, measure the room where you want to place it. Also, consider how much light you want it to emit. Some lamps are shorter because they’re meant to be used while seated, while big arc lamps are often designed to illuminate entire rooms.

Floor lamps are one of those categories where there really is no limit to the price point. You can spend tens of thousands of dollars on a floor lamp, if you wish. But for most people, you can get away with great floor lamp for under $200, and there are plenty of excellent options that will cost you less than $100.

The placement of a floor lamp depends on the shape of your room and how you want to light it. One good rule of thumb is to avoid putting a floor lamp in highly trafficked areas where people could trip over it cord. You also shouldn't place a lamp in a way that obstructs parts of the room—in front of a frequently used bookcase, for example. Instead, consider putting one in the corner of a room to suffuse light throughout the space. If you have a television, you can place a lamp behind it to reduce the glare in front of the screen.