Best Paper Lamps: Top 15 Picks & Where to Buy

Inspired by Isamu Noguchi's Akari lamps, paper lamps have become a major lighting category and are incredibly popular. Their appeal lies in the lampshades made from materials like washi (Japanese paper) and rice paper, coupled with a simple structure inspired by Japanese lanterns, making them highly adaptable to diverse designs. The translucent paper shades, made of washi or rice paper, have the effect of absorbing and diffusing light, creating a soft, warm glow that is the most significant charm of paper lamps. Even when not lit, the off-white color of the paper complements any interior, making it easy to incorporate into your decor.

Traditional Japanese lanterns, known as "chochin," were made with a simple structure of washi paper stretched over a bamboo frame. This simplicity allows for a wide range of design applications, and modern paper lamps inspired by chochin come in various shapes. From the classic round form to polygonal and dynamic shapes reminiscent of living creatures, there's a design to suit many interior styles. Let's elevate your space with the charm of paper lamps.

Paper floor lamps are starring interior items that can define the mood of a space just by placing one. Their roles are diverse, serving as main lighting to illuminate the entire room, or as indirect lighting to bring depth and healing to the space. From sophisticated and simple tall standing lamps to design-conscious masterpieces that are like objects d'art, we will introduce 6 carefully selected best lamps that will elevate your room.

As its name suggests, Japanese Paper Floor Lamp “SLENDER” is a floor lamp with an impressive, elegant vertical form standing approximately 124cm tall. The design, embodying Japanese minimalism, features flowing lines and serves as an object with a Japanese ambiance even when unlit. Placed in a corner of a living room or bedroom, the soft light filtering through the washi paper creates a calm, Japanese atmosphere.

This lamp is manufactured using the traditional techniques of "Gifu Chochin" (Gifu lanterns), which are also the roots of Isamu Noguchi's Akari series. The shade uses Mino Washi, which has a 1300-year history, specifically a special paper made with kozo (paper mulberry) pulp, making it thin yet highly durable. The soft light, created by the handiwork of skilled artisans, delivers deep healing to daily life.

Japanese Paper Floor Lamp "GEMINI" 01 is a modern washi paper lamp whose unique form was discovered by a New York designer. Its original design, resembling two overlapping luminous bodies, is perfectly sized (approximately 50cm tall) for placing on the floor of a living room or bedroom. Like a sophisticated object, it acts as a spatial accent, bringing a quiet, calm Japanese aesthetic and a gentle, healing atmosphere.

The shade luxuriously uses "Harusame paper," known for its beautiful, delicate polka dot pattern, from among the 1300-year-old Mino Washi papers. Crafted by a workshop inheriting Gifu's traditional crafts, this lamp is characterized by the exceptionally soft and warm light that passes through the washi paper. It fills the entire room with a gentle glow, creating an atmosphere of deep tranquility and repose.

Japanese Paper Floor Lamp “PAPER STONE, ” as its name suggests, is a floor lamp distinguished by its angular, sculptural form inspired by "ice stones" and rocks. Among the many round-designed paper lamps, this sharp polyhedron casts a unique presence. Standing approximately 56cm tall, it adds a sophisticated accent to living rooms or bedrooms, tightening the space into something modern and defined.

The shade uses "Asa Rakusuishi" paper, which incorporates hemp fibers, from among the 1300-year-old Mino Washi papers. It possesses durability that embodies the tradition that "paper is as strong as stone," and when lit, the hemp fibers beautifully emerge. The light filtering through the washi paper emits a glow that is both powerful and soft, like a crystal, bringing deep tranquility and repose to the room.

Japanese Paper Floor Lamp "ME-LOOK 01" is a modern floor lamp with a slender, prismatic form adorned with a captivatingly complex mesh pattern. It is available in two colors: black and white. Its linear design, standing approximately 91cm tall, fits smartly into the corners of living rooms or bedrooms. The light leaking from the shade is complex and soft, almost like a work of art, filling the space with deep tranquility and a relaxed mood, offering exceptional healing.

The secret to this unique light lies in a creative washi paper called "Melook," developed by a Gifu workshop. While inheriting the 1300-year tradition of Mino Washi, it employs an innovative technique of intertwining kozo (paper mulberry) fibers into delicate thread patterns. It is a masterpiece that wonderfully fuses traditional Japanese serenity with contemporary design.

Designed by the renowned designer Shigeru Uchida, Japanese Paper Floor Lamp "paper moon 04" is characterized by its low-set horizontal (wide) silhouette, standing only about 14cm tall. This unique form naturally guides the gaze downward, bringing a calm depth and expanse to the room. It fits well not only when placed directly on the floor but also on low consoles or shelves, creating a sophisticated space with its quiet presence.

This lamp is handmade one by one by "Asano Shoten," a long-established store that inherits the 300-year-old traditional techniques of Gifu Chochin. The shade uses Mino Washi, which has a 1300-year history. The light, diffused softly through the thin, strong washi paper, envelops the entire room in a quiet and calm mood. It is a masterpiece that fuses traditional Japanese beauty with modern design.

"Akari 25N" is one of the most symbolic floor lamps in the "sculptures of light" Akari series by Isamu Noguchi, a leading sculptor of the 20th century. Its rounded, three-tiered form, inspired by the traditional Japanese New Year's decoration "Kagami Mochi," radiates an overwhelming presence. Its size, approximately 117cm tall, maximizes the charm of the high-quality washi paper shade, making it ideal as a centerpiece in a living room or as an art piece in a large space.

Since its design in 1951, it has continued to be handmade by skilled artisans in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The shade, made by pasting handmade washi paper onto a traditional bamboo rib frame, is a masterpiece that harmonizes traditional Japanese craftsmanship with a modernist form. The soft, warm light that spreads through the washi paper fills the entire space with gentle healing and brings tranquility to daily life.

Paper table lamps are recommended primarily for those looking for indirect lighting. Small and convenient, these lamps can be used on tables, bedsides, bookshelves, or as decorations combined with other interior items. They are also perfect for those who want to subtly change the atmosphere of their room.

Japanese Paper Table Lamp “TORCHIN OVAL" is a portable washi paper lamp inspired by "Yame Chochin," a traditional craft from Fukuoka with a 200-year history. It is cordless (Type-C charging), allowing it to be carried anywhere, and features a touch sensor on top for 3-level brightness adjustment. It instantly creates a healing space wherever you like, such as in the living room or bedroom. Its compact size, approximately 20cm tall, is also appealing.

The shade uses delicate washi paper, which softly diffuses light and brings a calm atmosphere to the space. Its stable design with a low center of gravity makes it perfect for bedsides or console tables. Crafted by a Yame workshop, this lamp, which fuses the warmth of traditional techniques with modern convenience, delivers quiet repose to your daily relaxation time.

Japanese Paper Table Lamp "Mountain" is a portable lamp characterized by its lovely roundness, reminiscent of a mountain or a pear, as its name suggests. In addition to its small size (20cm height, 16cm width), it is cordless, allowing it to be carried anywhere without restriction. You can freely take this small light to the spaces where you most want to relax, such as on a living room shelf, in a study, or by the bedside in a bedroom.

This lamp is made using the techniques of "Yame Chochin," a traditional craft from Fukuoka with a 200-year history. The shade luxuriously uses high-quality, durable, handmade Yame Washi. The soft light, filtering through the washi paper that showcases skilled craftsmanship, brings a calm and sophisticated healing atmosphere to the space and harmonizes with Japandi style interiors.

Japanese Paper Table Lamp "Lace Washi" Black is a modern table lamp featuring a black shade adorned with the traditional Japanese "Seigaiha" (blue ocean waves) pattern, like lace. When lit, the beautiful wave pattern, symbolizing "eternal happiness," emerges like a delicate shadow picture, casting a warm and calm light into the space. Its cylindrical shape, approximately 27cm tall, adds a sophisticated accent to living rooms or bedrooms.

This lamp was born from the fusion of 1300-year-old Mino Washi and the traditional techniques of Gifu Chochin. From the handmaking of the washi paper to assembly, each lamp is handcrafted by skilled artisans in a Gifu workshop. This masterpiece, showcasing authentic Japanese craftsmanship, will surely bring high-quality healing and tranquility to your daily life.

Japanese Origami Paper Table Lamp "Flower of Light" - maru is a table lamp with a charming, artistic origami design that looks as if a "flower of light" has bloomed, just as its name implies. The frameless washi paper shade is crafted using Japanese origami techniques, creating complex and beautiful shadow gradations when lit. With a palm-sized diameter of about 12cm, simply placing it by the bedside or on a shelf brings gentle healing and tranquility to the space.

This lamp is made by artisans of "Kyo-hyogu" (Kyoto mounting techniques), a traditional Kyoto craft with over 1000 years of history, used for items like hanging scrolls. The advanced technique of layering washi paper to achieve both beauty and durability realizes this delicate form. Its ease of use, ready to go without assembly, is also appealing. This small art piece of light, fusing tradition and innovation, richly colors everyday life.

Japanese Paper Table Lamp "PAPERSON 03" is an adorable table lamp with a unique indentation reminiscent of a gourd and rounded lines. Its small size, approximately 22cm tall, makes it perfect for a living room side table or a bedside in a Japandi-style bedroom. While possessing the structure of a traditional chochin (lantern), its modern appearance adds a playful and sophisticated accent to the space.

The secret to this lamp's warmth lies in the special Mino Washi "Kozokasuirigami" used for the shade. By intentionally incorporating fragments of kozo (paper mulberry) bark along with the fibers, the rich expression and texture of the washi paper emerge when lit. This light, imbued with 1300 years of traditional techniques and handled by Gifu artisans from papermaking to assembly, delivers deep repose to your space.

"Akari 1AD" is a table lamp featuring playful painting on Isamu Noguchi's "1A" model, the most popular in the Akari series. The simple pattern drawn on this egg-shaped shade was inspired by the bells found at Japanese shrines. Standing approximately 43cm tall, it adds artistic individuality to a space not just as lighting, but as an accent on a shelf or in a study.

The Akari series is also known as "sculptures of light" and is considered a symbol of modern design. Since its design in 1951, each lamp has been handcrafted by skilled artisans in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, using handmade washi paper and bamboo ribs. The soft, warm light filtering through the washi paper evokes a fusion of traditional Japanese craft and modernism, bringing deep tranquility and healing to the room.

Hanging paper lamps significantly impact a room's impression. As they become eye-catching, large interior elements, choosing the paper material according to your room's atmosphere is recommended. For a luxurious feel, opt for those using authentic washi with an off-white hue, while for a more cheerful impression, choose lampshades made from bright white rice paper.

The Akari 37D is a hanging paper lamp with a design that exudes the warmth of handcraftsmanship. While it has a classic spherical form, the coarsely spaced frame adds warmth, making it perfect for Japandi-style spaces. By hanging a large spherical lantern in the center of a room, light is cast from the middle outwards, creating a spacious impression.

This unique, Japanese-made hanging paper lamp features a double-layered washi lampshade. The inner shade uses khaki-colored washi, making it an excellent choice for those seeking a paper lamp that matches their interior color scheme. While only the shade is sold (bulb and cord not included), it can be easily installed on an existing pendant cord using the included clips. It comes in other colors, including navy and brown, allowing you to choose one that complements your home decor.

The Akari 33N is a hanging paper lamp from the Akari series, characterized by its wavy form. Its vertically elongated design makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a ceiling light that suits high ceilings or open spaces. The playful, organic design, crafted from washi and bamboo, acts as an accent in spaces with a solid impression, such as those with exposed concrete or mid-century modern styles.

We have introduced various lamps so far, but many people are probably wondering, "Where exactly should I buy high-quality Japanese paper lamps?" The authenticity of the materials, the certainty of the craftsmanship, and the reliability of the design all depend on shop selection. Here, from authorized Isamu Noguchi dealers, to specialty shops particular about traditional Japanese techniques, to select shops strong in modern design, we will introduce carefully selected online shops that we confidently recommend.

Millennium Gallery Japan offers handmade items crafted by skilled artisans with exceptional Japanese traditional craft techniques. You can find paper lamps made using techniques and materials with over 1000 years of history, as well as those blending the latest designs with traditional techniques. This shop is perfect for those interested in Japanese aesthetics, culture, and craftsmanship.

Adaptable to various interior styles, from classic to trendy, paper lamps are popular with many people. We have introduced various paper lamps categorized into floor lamps, table lamps, and hanging lamps. Choose the size and design that suits your needs and create a beautiful space.

The Noguchi Shop is the official retailer of Akari lamps, operated by the Noguchi Museum in New York, founded by Isamu Noguchi. You can purchase a wide variety of authentic noguchi lamps in various designs. Here, you'll find even more of Isamu Noguchi's beautifully designed paper lamps, often called "light sculptures."

Based on the Scandinavian concept of "hygge," which values comfort and coziness, Huga Collective offers warm, modern, and sophisticated products. They manufacture paper lamps inspired by Akari, achieving high design and reasonable prices through modern materials.

Sansho offers a wide range of handmade Japanese products. In their paper lamp category, they mainly sell hanging paper lampshades. They also provide care guides for washi, the material used in paper lamps, making it an excellent choice for those who want to cherish their favorite items for a long time.

This Australian shop specializes in Scandinavian design furniture. They offer a wide selection of leading Nordic interior brands like HAY, Muuto, and Vutra, and their paper lamp selection is curated for high design. It's an excellent shop for those seeking unique paper lamp designs beyond the conventional.