Iconic designer floor lamps
Small floor lamps like the Akari 25N or the Flos Taccia are kind of genius.
They blur the line between what you think a floor lamp should be and what it could be. You expect tall, towering, takes-up-half-the-corner floor lamps. Instead, these guys stay low, almost like big art objects. It’s unexpected…and it’s good.
Here’s what I love most about small floor lamps:
They let you layer your lighting (which is important if you want a room to feel expensive and intentional).
They’re sculptures during the day, ambiance creators at night.
They work anywhere. Big loft, tiny studio, awkward hallway? They don’t care. They fit.
Honestly, if I had to choose between one giant lamp or two smaller ones layered around a room, I’d pick the small ones every time. They just have more personality.
And here are a few picks of our favorites:
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Akari 25N floor Lamp – Vitra
Classic Noguchi. Soft, glowy, organic. The Akari 25N floor lamp designed by Isamu Noguchi (1951) is a piece which perfectly combines simplicity and elegance. Noguchi literally called these “light sculptures,” not lamps. They’re meant to feel like floating art pieces.
Manufactured out of washi paper and bamboo ribs. Perfect if you’re into slow living, wabi-sabi vibes, or anything that feels “quiet luxury” without trying too hard.
If you style it with textured materials (linen, boucle, raw wood) it looks even softer and dreamier.
Technical: Handmade from washi paper and bamboo; steel wire armature. Light diffuses softly through the paper.
Paper Cube – Hay
An underrated star. Geometric, simple, very “cool art student who moved to Copenhagen.” Looks amazing on a low shelf, stack of magazines, or just…alone.
The Paper Cube Lamp is the secret weapon if you want your space to feel effortless and artsy without spending a fortune. I love putting this in unexpected spots – under a console table or beside a plant.
Technical: Structured rice paper with a steel wire frame inside. Super lightweight, yet strong.
Gravity XL – Gubi
A bigger statement but still in that “low light sculpture” category. The heavy marble base gives it serious presence. It’s glam but understated at the same time.
It’s gorgeous next to oversized sofas, curved sectionals, or really textural spaces (like thick knits and chunky weaves).
The Gravity XL floor lamp by Gubi was designed by Space Copenhagen (2018). Called “Gravity” because of the heavy marble base grounding the light, contrasting the soft floating shade. Literal poetry.
Technical: Marble base, fabric shade. Dimmer switch included for adjustable mood lighting.
Taccia Lamp – Flos
The Flos Taccia lamp designed by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1962) is already a legend. Originally, the brothers wanted to use a car headlight diffuser (!!), but ended up custom making the glass. Industrial meets elegant by accident.
That glass reflector bounces light in most beautifully and indirectly, but softly, without losing an ounce of brilliance. Plus the base is pure industrial glam. If you love sleek and moody interiors, you need a Taccia somewhere. It is really one of those pieces to underscore true ingenuity in design.
Technical: Aluminum base, blown glass reflector. Adjustable light direction via tilting.
VL Studio Light – Louis Poulsen
It’s like a little jewel for your room. Shiny, curved, and chic. It gives off this cozy, museum-quality glow that makes everything around it feel a bit more important.
Don’t over-style it. Let it shine solo on a low shelf, marble block, or directly on the floor for a very “editorial” vibe.
The VL Studio light, designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen (1930s, revived in 2020s), is in praise of true Scandinavian design. Originally designed for the old Radiohuset (Radio House) in Copenhagen. Serious old-school glam energy, but totally timeless.
Technical: Opal glass shade with powder-coated aluminum or brass body. Soft, diffuse downward light.
Akari 23N – Vitra
The Akari 23N is such a vibe. One of my favorites from the Akari family honestly.
The 23N has a rounder, more earthy silhouette compared to the more vertical Akari models. It feels very grounded, almost like a glowing rock or river stone. t’s lower and wider, which makes it feel less like “a lamp” and more like a living object in the room. Super calming energy.
It works insanely well in Japandi, wabi-sabi, Danish modern, or any calm neutral aesthetic. But it can also soften an edgier brutalist or industrial space. Like…it’s a peace offering to harsher materials.
Technical: Handcrafted from traditional washi paper and bamboo ribbing. Lightweight but durable (because Japanese craftsmanship is literally next level). Soft, diffused light – the paper texture gives it this kind of magical glow that’s impossible to fake with anything else.
Vuelta Floor Lamp – Ferm Living
The Vuelta feels like a modern sculpture first, light source second. It’s architectural, almost like a mini art installation living rent-free in your room.
That arch shape gives it huge “ancient Rome but make it minimalist” vibes. It brings a little history flavor into very contemporary interiors without being cheesy.
It’s stunning for low, moody ambient lighting. Not something you use for working or reading, but pure atmosphere creation. It’s that soft background glow that makes a room feel expensive.
Technical: Opal glass arch on a travertine stone base. Integrated LED with dimmer switch.
