If you had asked me to guess the price of Pottery Barn’s Payton Metal Floor Lamp upon unboxing and styling it out in my space, I truly would never have guessed that it costs less than $200. At 65 inches tall and with a base made of iron, the lamp just feels substantial. The simple, gently curving column, round base, and linen shade make the lamp a design chameleon, too; it would look just as beautiful in a minimalist living room as it does in my more eclectic space. 

I work from home (mostly from my living room sofa, if we’re being honest), and I appreciate how well this lamp brightens up my little perch — even these days, when it starts to get dark mid-afternoon. At night, I like to sit on the sofa as I read or catch up on shows, and the lamp has been excellent for those purposes, too. Overhead lighting — if you’re lucky enough to have it in a rental — can be harsh (I know you’ve seen “the big light” memes), so now really is the time to purchase a trusty floor lamp if you haven’t already. If I tire of using the lamp in this space at some point, I know that it will look excellent in my bedroom, too. I have a black and white striped reading chair in there and could see pairing it with that to add some brightness to my sleep space. 

Putting the lamp together was super easy — if I can do it, you can, too! Note the 16-inch shade actually comes folded up, and you have to “assemble” it (I say that word loosely, as the process is a cinch). I was worried the shade might have some lines and dents in it due to it being folded up, but mine looks flawless. The linen material has a nice texture to it and looks more higher-end than your basic plain fabric shade.  

While I’m partial to all things brass and opted to get the lamp in the antique brass finish, it’s also available in two other metals — black and brushed steel — so there’s truly an option for every aesthetic. Don’t sleep on this Pottery Barn best-seller — the Payton is on that most-wished-for list for a reason. It’s well-priced, something you can use for years without it going out of style, and functional. Right now, it’s also in stock again, so don’t miss it. There’s even an arc version of the Payton, too, if you want an even curvier silhouette.

Buy: Payton Metal Floor Lamp, $199.00