The first step to boosting any home’s ambience is a quick scan of the best lighting stores online or in your area. Some new flush mounts or wall sconces (well, maybe not the overhead lighting—just kidding) can do a lot to make your home feel less dimly lit, enhance the aesthetics of that selfie, and heighten the coziness, whether you’re moving into a new space or making some select upgrades. And though you won’t get a feel for the light source the same way you might in a showroom, online stores do give you a range of lighting options to choose from, easy shipping, and some killer lifestyle photos just to give you an idea.
Ahead, an AD-approved list of some of our primary lighting store destinations for modern table lamps, sculptural floor lamps, crystal chandeliers, lighted ceiling fans, desk lamps, and more—all with plenty of personality to spare.
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Upsides
Designer-approved picks, timeless designs
Downsides
Variable lead times, 15% restocking fee for lighting returns
If you consider yourself a person with classic taste—classic, neutrals, nothing fussy, nothing loud—McGee & Co. is worth a deep dive. Their offerings span reasonable price points for both quality materials and stylistic longevity. The beauty of a classic look is that you’ll never tire of it. A wicker pendant is always going to look right above the broad kitchen table in a beach house, and the tasteful Mollino Semi-Flush Mount will always suit a foyer. And if you’re just looking to spruce up a side table, they have an ample table lamp collection, which we’ve featured in our dedicated roundup.
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Upsides
Accessible offerings, wide product range, designer collaborations
Downsides
Variable lead times, shipping delays on backstocked items
Partnering with designers like Athena Calderone and Jake Arnold, Crate & Barrel always seems to have its finger on the pulse of what’s new and happening. Its lighting in particular runs the gamut from traditional metal and glass styles to brighter, younger silhouettes among its baby and kids sections. We’re loving the retailer’s new rattan and woven floor lamps that lean into the crafty basket light trend.
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Upsides
Wide variety of iconic pieces and contemporary designers, regular sales
Downsides
Lengthy shipping times, high price points
If you’ve read our stories before, you know we’re suckers for Design Within Reach (also known as DWR). From the retailer’s stock of Eames chairs to their array of midcentury furnishings, we can’t get enough. Lighting-wise, luxury wall sconces, sleek ceiling fans, and unique table lamps are among the wide selection of lighting options available. The options available are as unique as they are timeless, and you can find something for nearly any corner of your home.
Lumens
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Upsides
Vast product selection, authentic mid-century pieces, wide price range
Downsides
Stock and shipping vary from brand to brand, and limited sales
As their name implies, Lumens—which recently merged with YLighting—specializes in all things illumination, and it should be your first pit stop for anything from floor to ceiling lights (though it sells lots of furniture and other decor where that came from). Their lighting designs span metal, wood frames, and even silhouettes made from delicate woven textiles, with plenty of recognizable names on its roster such as FLOS and Herman Miller. You can even find landscape lighting for your entryway, backyard, and any other outdoor spaces that needs to be brightened up.
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Upsides
Affordable, quick shipping, lenient returns
Downsides
Limited product selection
Quince’s budget-friendly wares now include lighting. We love their bedding and their sweaters, but their timeless lamp silhouettes are set to steal our hearts as well. With simple forms made from rattan, brass, and ceramic, these lights offer an affordable and ambient glow to any wall, ceiling, or side table. Plus, quick shipping and a lenient returns policy ensure you’ll find the exact right fit for your space.
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Upsides
Quick shipping, vast selection, year-round sales
Downsides
Quality varies drastically between brands
For deal hunters and people fixing up their starter apartments, Wayfair has much to offer in the way of a truly massive selection of affordable lighting. From bathroom light fixtures and mini pendant lights to table lamps and living room flush mounts, there's something for every room of the house. We lost ourselves (in a good way) among all of the track lighting, in case you want to finally say goodbye to that dated set hanging over your kitchen island. With frequent clearance sales, this is also our go-to for saving big on practically anything for your home.
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Upsides
Lighting-focused product selection, vintage and new options, wide price range
Downsides
Variable lead times, limited stock for some items
Like many other retailers in the design space, Rejuvenation is something of a generalist, but its decor and lighting is where it really shines, whether you favor natural, ceramic materials, or smooth metals. You'll also find a great variety of outdoor lighting, if you’re looking to imbue some farmhouse-chic style into your exterior, or lighting accessories like shades and smart LED light bulbs. Because many of Rejuvenation’s pieces come with a higher price tag, we recommend shopping here for large statement-making pieces that you intend to make the focal point of your space.
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Upsides
Regular sales, reliable coastal designs
Downsides
May not suit every design style
One of the quickest ways to add visual interest to your living room or dining room is to incorporate an unexpected texture into your lighting design. Serena & Lily has a lot to choose from in this department, from woven wicker pendants to scalloped hanging lights. Their aesthetic skews more bohemian and beachy, and it’s a great place to find a statement piece to help anchor your room.
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Upsides
Affordable, well-reviewed, quick shipping
Downsides
Limited product offering
Castlery’s selection of lighting is small but mighty, offering table and floor lamps that are perfectly suited for minimalist or Scandi-inspired interiors. You’ll notice lots of marble, ceramic, and wood bases, which make any room feel more natural. And while the lighting is certainly on the trendy side, we appreciate that each feels timeless thanks to the neutral hues and smooth silhouettes.
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Upsides
Quick shipping on in-stock items, reliable sales, Scandinavian and modern designs
Downsides
Not very versatile stylistically
If you're aching for something modern (but not rent-check-level expensive) Article has an approachable selection of lighting that feels sophisticated on a budget. Each piece, whether it’s a modern sconce or pendant to replace the ugly boob light that once was, will add warmth and elegance without overpowering everything else in its vicinity.
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Upsides
Vast product selection, shop a number of brands in one place
Downsides
Confusing discounts, not super accurate price matching
There is a world of ceiling fan designs out there, and Lamps Plus is a great retailer for upgrading yours, among many other lighting situations. The options lean more sculptural and will add a solid dose of texture and intrigue to your home decor. Now that’s what we call lighting design: not just choosing yet another run-of-the-mill ceiling fan.
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Upsides
Heirloom-worthy pieces, high-quality materials, reliable
Downsides
Smaller product selection
Joon Loloi, a whole-home offshoot of beloved rug company Loloi, is a dependable retailer for interesting twists on traditional lighting silhouettes. Whether it’s a plaster-encrusted sconce, a retro brass pendant, or an angular, oak floor lamp, Joon Loloi’s lighting selection is for those who want their light fixtures to convey a level of gravitas and sophistication.
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Upsides
Reliable, bohemian decor, wide price range
Downsides
Variable lead times, items go in and out of stock unpredictably
If your taste leans vintage, ornate, and slightly bohemian, Anthropologie’s stunning lighting options should be your first stop. Rather than looking at lighting as a finishing touch to your home aesthetic, the retailer makes focal point-worthy lamps, sconces, and chandeliers that you might just center your whole room around.
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Upsides
Statement lighting, designer collaborations, unique material uses
Downsides
Higher price point, items quickly go out of stock
Lulu and Georgia has a chokehold on many design lovers we know, and for good reason. Each piece of furniture and decor is thoughtfully designed to make your space feel warmer and cozy. Their lighting options span categories, but you’ll find common themes, like dark wood bases and accents, rattan shades, and sculptural and organic shapes. The pendants and chandeliers are particularly striking over a dining table or bed.
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Upsides
Quick shipping, regular sales, a lot of design styles are represented
Downsides
Quality varies from product to product
If affordability is your main concern but you still have an eye for excellent design, Joss & Main does the practically impossible and combines budget-friendliness with chic pieces. The styles styles are similar to what you’ll find at West Elm and CB2, with lots of metal shades, brass accent lighting, arched silhouettes, and versatile shapes.
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Upsides
Designer collaborations, affordable price point, mid-century inspired designs
Downsides
Unpredictable shipping, limited in-store stock
The stock at West Elm is constantly updated, but you can always count on finding high-quality lighting options with a few quirky bursts of color thrown in, just for fun. We love West Elm’s lighting designs because it’s easy to stick to a color theme while switching up the shape and form of your lights from room to room. This is also a great place to look for items with a midcentury-modern feel to them. And for more guidance through the process, you can book an appointment to meet with an expert (virtually, in a store, or at your home) to talk through your lighting plans and any other home design decisions.
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Upsides
Affordable, ample stock, large selection
Downsides
Simple designs, expensive shipping
Forever our affordable Scandinavian design favorite, IKEA has a wealth of options to share when it comes to lighting design for your home. The retailer has designs for each room, spanning low-light floor lamps for an ultracozy ambiance to superbright LED options for work spaces. Within this category, you can find everything from classic lighting options to more off-the-wall, statement-making styles—all for surprisingly low prices.
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Upsides
Iconic mid-century brand, authentic designs
Downsides
Doesn’t suit a wide variety of design styles, like coastal or traditional
The best-selling pieces from the Nelson Bubble Collection, including this pendant ceiling light, are made to create a soft glow in any room. You can find several contemporary designs—for lighting, furniture, and more—like these across Herman Miller’s site.
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Upsides
One-of-a-kind pieces, vintage-first marketplace, rigorous authentication process
Downsides
Can be hard to find multiples, higher price point
Classic, modern, Bauhaus, maximalist… 1stDibs has any style you’re looking to add to your home. Heavily featured in our Open Door series, this retailer is a near-and-dear resource for interior designers searching for authentic vintage pieces. If Etsy’s a resource for everything you can think up, 1stDibs is a resource for everything you couldn’t begin to fathom—like this flush mount butterfly chandelier or these serpentine Fiori sconces.
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Artemest is the kind of place that carries the “if you know, you know” makers in Italian design. Whether you’re looking for a post-modernist table lamp or a Murano glass chandelier, you can find nearly anything among the online retailer’s curation. You won’t have to worry about everyone on your Instagram feed having the same pendant light as you, nor will you have to fly to Milan yourself in order to benefit from the design district’s innovation. The red globe light’s shades can be moved to cast a more direct line of light, while the Cobra lamp’s neck can swivel to shine anywhere on your desk top.
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It wouldn’t be an article on lighting if Isamu Noguchi’s iconic paper lanterns didn’t make an appearance. While there are a million dupes circulating the internet, we wouldn’t trust the quality or avant-garde designs of Noguchi from anyone except his namesake museum shop. Akari 1A and Akari 7A are classics, but his canon includes playful shapes and colors at work for the more lighthearted space, too.
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CB2’s curation of lighting focuses on big, bold, sculptural shapes. Large floor lamps, striking marble outdoor sconces, and brass pendants promise a dramatic but tasteful addition to your home. It’s a great middle-of-the-road option in terms of affordability, and because there are hundreds of lighting options to choose from, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find something that perfectly suits you.
