Unless your closet is really roomy, chances are it probably doesn’t have any lights in it – or at most maybe a single bare bulb overhead. But adding in just a little bit of light can actually make your life a whole lot easier. Whether your closet is narrow or deep, barely big enough for coats or a full-sized walk in, good closet lighting can make it easier to find what you’re looking for, not to mention making the deep dark corners of your closet a little more accessible.
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The default rule for closet lighting is: regular sized closets don’t need lights because the light from the room they’re in should be plenty to see by, and walk-in closets should have a single centralized light overhead – like they’re a small room of their own. But while these setups might work passably well, neither one is ideal. The light from your room might be adequate to see by, but not clearly, and a single overhead light might illuminate your closet, but not evenly. The very best place to put a light in your closet isn’t overhead or outside it, it’s right inside the closet bar itself.
Sounds strange, right? But think about it: lights built into the closet bar shine directly down on your clothing, illuminating everything that’s hung up and the full length of your closet all at once. The LED closet bars from Task Lighting are designed to simply replace your existing closet bar. They can either be hard wired to your room’s electrical system or plugged in, and are motion activated, so as soon as you start rifling through your closet, you’ll have all the light you need to see by.
Another nice advantage of this type of closet lighting (no matter how big or small your closet), is that if you need to find your clothes in the dark – say because you work early or late, or just a different shift from your partner – you can actually see what you’re doing without having to light up the whole room. Closet bar lights provide just enough illumination to see the inside of your closet (and the color of your clothes!) without casting a light too far beyond. The lights are specifically downward focused, with a limited range, so they won’t be shining directly in your eyes first thing in the morning, either.
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Of course, closet bar lights aren’t the only kind of lighting you can add to your closet. Especially if you have a roomier walk in closet, having cabinet lighting on your shelves can make it easier to navigate your closet as a whole. Instead of digging around on dark or shadowy shelves, you’ll be able to see everything all at once. This type of closet lighting particularly complements custom closet storage units; if you’re looking to upgrade and improve your closet, they’re easier to install at the same time, and can transform your closet from something dark, disorganized, and crowded to something you might not mind staring down first thing in the morning.
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If you’re feeling particularly fancy (and have a decently roomy walk-in closet), you can even integrate more useful functionality into your space. Task Lighting offers a wide range of hard-wired power strips, and between that and their smaller cabinet lighting, it’s really easy to install something like the above: a mini ironing board tucked away in its own hidden little drawer, complete with built-in outlet and lights that turn on when you pull it out to use it. Having extra outlets can make it possible to have a few other convenient add-ons, too – like a clothing steamer or hand vacuum – so you can make sure your clothes are looking their best without having to take a trip to your laundry room.
Beyond pure functionality, closet lighting is aesthetically pleasing, too. Especially in a larger, boutique style walk-in closet, just a little added lighting can help highlight both the woodwork that goes into the closet itself, and your neatly-organized, well-sorted clothing. Spotlights pointing down on your shoes, scarves, or jewelry not only make it easier to find the one you’re looking for, but give your closet a luxurious sense of decadence. Rather than digging through an overstuffed closet, one that’s both well laid out and well lit will make it feel like your clothes are being presented to you fresh and new every morning – which is a much nicer way to start your day.
