Shining Stars: The Best Floor Lamps For A Well-Lit Space

It’s that time of year when getting off the lounge seems like way too much effort. Instead, a comfortable chair, a good book and a warm beverage beckon. Making sure your living space works, whether you’re looking to create zones within an open plan, or you want to read without straining your eyes, depends on your choice of lighting. As well as being up to the task to create mood and function, these floor lamps make a style statement. We’ve selected the best, from classic designs to timeless contemporary to ensure your living areas are inviting, as well as inspiring.

Tote Standing Lamp

Tote Floor Lamp - Tide Design - Tide Design - Handmade Furniture

The classic shapes of the Tote standing lamp by Tide Design have been given a clean, contemporary feel with the added warmth of natural timber. It’s the perfect shape for those who love tradition with a side of biophilic design. Available in three timbers, from $1,430 from Workshopped.

Foscarini Twiggy floor lamp

Twiggy Floor Lamp White by Marc Sadler for Foscarini | Replica Lights

Made from coated fibreglass , coated metal and aluminium, the impossibly flexible Foscarini Twiggy floor lamp is ideal over lounges and cosy corners. From a design perspective, it breaks up strong lineal shapes associated with modular sofas. Plus, it creates pools of light perfect for zoning, $2,885 from Space.

Cliff 02 Lamp

Cliff 02 Lambert&Fils Floor Lamp - Milia Shop

The tripod base of the brass and black matte Cliff 02 lamp from the Lambert & Fils workshop adds extra stability with a contemporary edge. A study in minimalism, the brass finishes deliver a jewel-like finish to the supporting rods, $4,380 from Living Edge.

Copenhagen SC14 Lamp

Copenhagen SC14 Floor Lamp – Cult - Design First

Perfect for creating visual warmth on cold nights, the Copenhagen SC14 lamp by &Tradition emits a soft ambient light with the control of a dimmer option and opal glass shade, $2,448 from Cult.

Tonone Bolt 2 Arm Floor Lamp

This lamp is right at home in any room in the house, from the living room to the kids’ bedrooms. Adjustable at two points to allow a change of height, as well as direction, it has a steel base and rods with an aluminium shade. It’s also available in a range of colours suitable for contemporary or traditional interiors, $1100 from Mondopiero.

Alma Lamp

US designer Kelly Wearstler’s stunning Alma lamp has the solidity of a white marble base and the allure of an antique burnished brass base. The cylindrical head of the pharmacy floor lamp can rotate 20 degrees left or right to best direct light, $2,079 from Montauk Lighting.

What light is best for living room lamps?

Lamps are an ideal way to create a sense of warmth in your living room but it’s critical to choose the right light bulbs to avoid your spaces looking like a convenience store. The colour temperature of lights are measured in Kelvins, with 2700k-3000k considered warm and 4000k-5000k considered cool light.

How much should you spend on a floor lamp?

The good news is floor lamps are available at a wide range of price points. Like most furniture, however, you get what you pay for. Prices for a reasonably good floor lamp start from $200 up to $5000 or more. Ensure it has at least a 12-month warranty.

What type of floor lamp gives off the most light?

This will depend on the type of lightbulb you use, as well as the style of lamp shade. Light intensity is measured in lumens and watts. A standard 40w lightbulb emits 450 lumens, while a 60w bulb emits 800 lumens. LED (light emitting diodes) lights output the most light in the most energy efficient way. A wider lampshade design will allow the light to extend its reach.

From late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.

The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.

Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.

THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE

Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.

Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.

A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.

The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.

Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE

Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.

The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.

In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.

Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.

Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.

Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.

THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES

The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:

– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.

SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES

In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.

José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.

Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.

SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED

New stopovers include:

– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings

A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION

By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.

For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.