Floor lamps are finding their way back into spaces. Not loudly. Not as a statement piece for the sake of it. More as a quiet solution to rooms that feel a little flat, or corners that never quite work.
When Homes & Gardens recently spoke with our founder, Mara Miller, about the return of the floor lamp, her answers stayed with us. They were practical, thoughtful, and quietly persuasive. So we have shared them in full below. Eight ideas on why this overlooked piece of lighting might be closer to the future of lighting than we think.
1. Why Are Floor Lamps Making a Comeback in Modern Interior Design?
“As modern life gets ever busier, there is a growing desire to create calm and comforting spaces at home – places that invites us to slow down and celebrate the little moments. With this shift people are moving away from harsh overhead lighting and turning to softer alternatives like floor lamps, which offer gentle, ambient illumination.
When used in combination with wall and ceiling lights, floor lamps can be a transformative and dynamic element in a layered lighting scheme, transforming a space into a cosy sanctuary and setting a mood that encourages relaxation. Pairing a floor lamp with warm-white (around 2700K) vintage-style LED bulbs keeps the look soft.”
2. Which Interior Design Era Are Floor Lamps Echoing in Today’s Revival?
“Today’s elevated, eye-catching floor lamps nod to the era of art deco glamour. Sleek lines, elegant curves and rich textures of bronze and brass echo the iconic designs of the 1920s and 30s yet are reimagined with a contemporary twist. Classic silhouettes such as umbrella shades are reinterpreted in pleated brass and paired with touches of carved wood in their stands for a grounded modern feel.
Signature vintage materials and finishes - antique brass, pewter and matte black - bridge deco elegance and industrial heritage, with spun-metal shades and subtle knurled detailing that feels authentic yet modern. For compact rooms, a slim arc profile delivers that dramatic silhouette without visual clutter.”
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3. How Can Floor Lamps Transform a Space Differently from Table Lamps?
“Unlike table lamps, which are restricted to being placed on tables, sideboards or shelves, floor lamps can be creatively placed in a room, while still offering light at height. Floor lamps can also very helpfully emulate the effect of wall lights, without the need for wiring in, adding pools of illumination to frame artwork or walls or seating areas.
Whether used for a reading nook or to add interest to an empty corner, floor lamps create ambience through soft, pools of light that can shift the mood of the room instantly. For reading, aim for roughly 300–500 lux at the seat; an adjustable head angled just past your shoulder keeps pages bright and glare low. Glass tinted, alabaster and prismatic diffusers soften hotspots while maintaining clarity, so corners feel calm rather than ‘lit up’.”
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Image credit: Sofology
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4. Which Rooms Suit Floor Lamps Best?
“Rooms of relaxation like bedrooms and living rooms are well suited to having floor lamps when used as part of a layered lighting scheme. When combined with other ambient and task sources in these rooms, floor lamps work particularly well placed beside a bed or armchair to target these specific areas with extra light, ideal for reading or adding soft illumination to spaces where we wind down before bed.
However, there are really no rules when it comes to ‘lamp-scaping’, and a floor lamp can look just as at home – and add lovely soft illumination - in a dining room or even kitchen. They’re also brilliant in-home offices: place one behind and one to the side of your monitor to bounce light off the wall and reduce eye strain. For open-plan spaces, coordinate a floor lamp with matching wall or ceiling lights in the same finish to visually ‘knit’ zones together.”
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Image credit: @sofadotcom / @hatchproduction
5. What Are the Trending Floor Lamp Styles & Materials?
“Industrial inspired floor lamps with modern detailing are standing out right now, as they offer the perfect blend of timelessness and contemporary nuances. Structured brass or bronze bases paired with natural cotton shade and touches of crafted wood or stone do this particularly well. This blend of raw materials and refined craftsmanship celebrates a harmony between past and present.
Solid brass and hand-spun metal age beautifully, develop character with use and are fully recyclable - a win for longevity and sustainability. Natural linen or cotton shades keep glare low; prismatic or ribbed glass introduces that subtle vintage sparkle.”
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6. How to Use a Floor Lamp to Shift Your Room's Mood?
“Floor lamps are a classic interior design trick to make a room look bigger – being vertical they draw the eye up and add illumination at a height while taking up minimal floor space. To use a floor lamp to shift a room’s mood, position it to hang over a seating nook or to highlight architectural features or textured wall finishes. Choosing design that have texture such as a pleated brass umbrella will scatter light in an intriguing way, offering an ambient glow that can also be utilised to add interest to a focal point in the room.
Choose warm-white bulbs (2200–2700K) for evenings and use a dimmer to glide from ‘task’ to ‘tucked-in’. A handy rule: set the bottom of the shade just below seated eye level to avoid glare, then wash light across a surface or wall to add drama without harshness.”
7. Can You Have Multiple Floor Lamps in One Room?
“Using more than one floor lamp is an effective way to create layered lighting. The key is to place them thoughtfully and not overwhelm the room. Using two floor lamps either side of a sofa or sideboard can create an elegant ‘frame’ for this akin to two wall lights but make sure that the lamps don’t dominate.
If you’re opting for a sculptural floor lamp that demands attention, pair this with more subtle wall and ceiling lights for balance. Try ‘triangulating’ light sources: one by seating, one washing a wall, and one near a circulation point. Keep finishes related - brass, pewter and copper palette makes mixing easy without feeling matchy-matchy.”
8. What is the Biggest Floor Lamp Mistake to Avoid?
“One of the biggest mistakes when styling a floor lamp is using it as the only light source in a room. While it may initially feel very ambient and moody it’s important to create balance throughout the rest of the room, so you don’t leave other areas feeling dim and uninviting. Likewise, when placing a floor lamp near seating areas make sure it doesn’t shine directional light too strongly into eyelines or overhead, this can be managed by choosing softer bulbs or shifting the angle of the lamp’s light.
Scale and control matter too: a shade around one-third of the lamp’s overall height usually looks balanced. Choose foot switches or inline dimmers for easy control, tame trailing cables with clips or a floor cord cover, and shop by lumens rather than watts (around 470–800 lm suits most ambient setups).”
Mara Rypacek Miller, founder of Industville, established the brand over a decade ago, driven by her passion for art, sustainability, and the timeless value of craftsmanship. Mara combines her commercial expertise with a deep commitment to creating high-quality, handcrafted lighting and furniture. Each piece in the range is designed in-house by the Industville team and encapsulates a harmonious blend of traditional craftsmanship, exceptional quality, and contemporary style, embodying sustainable luxury. Industville’s designs are celebrated by leading interior designers, prestigious hospitality brands, and discerning homeowners for their ability to elevate spaces and enrich any environment.
