The Best Floor Lamps

The best floor lamps (that are affordable) and how to pick the right floor lamp

A few days ago, my husband randomly asked me if I remembered those “old ugly floor lamps” we used to have in our college apartments. I vaguely remembered but his idea of ugly and mine are quite different.

But it got me thinking….floor lamps get a bad rap. They have come a long way from those ugly college days (haven’t we all?).

I own a whopping TWO floor lamps in my house. The most recent one I purchased just a few months ago when I was giving my family room a mini makeover.

I think I looked at every single floor lamp on the market. Quite honestly I had a hard time picking one mainly because there were so many to pick from in all shapes and sizes.

I think I’m beginning to form a design crush on floor lamps though. They give off just the right amount of light and you can place them anywhere. No need to find that end table to put a lamp on.

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Let’s run through some of my favorites floor lamps I came across in my search.

(This post contains affiliate links. You can see my full disclosure here)

Best Reading Floor Lamp

The best reading lamps are the ones that (in my opinion) can be adjusted so you can shine the light where you need it best. Also, look for one with a “hard” shade (not fabric) so all of the light gets directed down to what and not around the whole room.

I might be a little partial because I have this reading lamp (similar) and have had it for years. It has become a fan favorite in our house. So much so that my daughter stole it for her room.

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I wish I would have put a reading lamp in her room sooner. She doesn’t have the space for large end tables on either side of her bed so a reading floor lamp was perfect for her to use at night when she’s…you know, reading.

A budget reading floor lamp that received great reviews is this one from IKEA. This would also be a fun idea in a bedroom.

Here are a few more that have great reviews

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Best console/regular lamp

I am not sure if there is a technical term for just a regular ol’ floor lamp but these floor lamps can either lean very traditional to very modern depending on your liking.

I don’t have one to give you a personal experience but I have swooned over a few.

This floor lamp from the Drew Barrymore collection at Walmart has always been on my radar. I love the wood base and the velvet shade.

(You can see more of my favorites from Walmart here)

This floor lamp is priced so good. I am really surprised with the price….and it has great reviews.

This floor lamp tends to lean a little bit more traditional and has great reviews and the price is so good.

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One more in this category because this lamp really stood out to me. It’s a good mix of modern and traditional and would look good in most spaces. And I love the base of the lamp

Best tripod floor lamp

Tripod lamps are very popular right now. They are aesthetically pleasing to look at and tend to lean a little bit more modern. While the tripod look is more for looks I will have to say that these floor lamps are a bit sturdier. If you have animals or crazy kids, this lamp might be best for you.

A few things you want to look for when picking out a tripod floor lamp is the height of the lamp, the circumference of the shade and how wide the legs are apart from each other.

Again, I might be partial since I own this tripod lamp but it’s a really good one. Take note though…it is large. If you have a corner that needs something, this lamp would be perfect. It’s taller than most, the lamp shade is substantial and the space between the legs is pretty wide.

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I originally had it in my main living room.

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And ended up moving it since it was so large (I didn’t take my own advice and forgot to measure…oops)

This tripod lamp is on the smaller scale and has excellent reviews.

This floor lamp also comes with a matching table lamp if symmetry is your thing and you want matching floor and table lamps. Not to mention it has great reviews

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Best tree lamps

Tree lamps are great for average size rooms that need more light going in different directions. Some of these floor lamps have adjustable shades if you want more control of where your light is going. Again, I don’t own a tree lamp to give you MY honest opinion but I’ll show you some that have great reviews

This one is a bit more on the expensive side but I have seen similar ones for triple the price. I love how unique it looks. It obviously leans a bit more modern but there is something about pairing modern and traditional decor that warms my heart.

This lamp is great. It is stylish,affordable and has adjustable shades.

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Best Arc lamp

Arc lamps are perfect for rooms that have tall ceilings. And for some spaces they are great because the light can be directed to one spot and can also light up the entire space. I highly considered an arc lamp but was worried about the space I had for one. They come in all different sizes though.

This one is good and on the larger side.

This arc lamp is great for smaller spaces.

And I am loving this lamp. It’s such a fun take on the arc lamp.

How to pick the right floor lamp for your room

1.) Decide on what kind of floor lamp you need. if you have a room without overhead lighting and not a whole lot of natural light, you need a lamp that gives off as much light as possible. A reading or task lamp probably won’t cut it.

2.) Measure your space and know exactly where the floor lamp will go. Check the measurements of your lamp before purchasing. The taller the lamp the more light spread you will get. If you are tight on space make sure you check the circumference of the shade.

If you are purchasing a tripod lamp, check the space between the legs of the lamp. My tripod lamp legs are spaced out pretty far therefore making it hard for me to shove my lamp in a small corner.

If you are purchasing an arc lamp make sure you have plenty of room for the arc.

Click on any image to shop and happy shopping!