Asked on Jan 04, 2016

How to illuminate dark closets

I have 4 closets in my house with no lighting/electrical outlets. Does anyone have a clever
idea on how to illuminate dark closets?
  25 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jan 04, 2016
    I do not know how much light is provided,however HomeDepot or Lowes carries stick on lights for situations like yours. Worth a Try.
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jan 04, 2016
    Not clever but...I use led battery-operated lights...I have an old one with a pull cord, and a couple of led tap lights. If your put them near the door just above head level, it is easier to replace the batteries.
  • Debra Carlisle Debra Carlisle on Jan 04, 2016
    I bought those (as seen on TV) Light Angels....I got mine at Walgreens. They have LED bulbs, are motion activated and put out a good amount of light. They shut off automatically. I originally bought just one for my light-less coat closet and went back to get two more; one for my hallway (so i wasn't having to search for the switch and one for my garage, same solution.
  • Judy harr Judy harr on Jan 05, 2016
    Rope lights all the way around your closet with the plug in coming down the side of the door and plugging into an outlet in the room might work . Or you may need to put a light in there in the ceiling but only by an electrician .
  • Deb Deb on Jan 05, 2016
    the stick on lights are great for closets and under cabinet lighting in the kitchen..no wires or plugs..uses 3 AAA batteries. Just turn it on when you need it.
  • Mor2666263 Mor2666263 on Jan 05, 2016
    Mr. Beams.com
  • Lavonne Lavonne on Jan 05, 2016
    Dont know if it willhelp but I spray painted the inside of my under sink cupboards with white gloss enamel. The gloss paint helps reflect the room light and the white color does also.
  • Barbara Barbara on Jan 05, 2016
    We found screw in battery operated light fixtures for our closets and our pantry. They were 99 cents at the ninety nine cent store and each takes 2 AA batteries. With four sliding door wall-to-wall closets (one for each bedroom) and a hallway of cabinetry. I bought ten of them and 'copper top' batteries. They have a small pull that you tug on when you open the closet door and then tug again to turn off. As long as you purchase top quality batteries they do a great job. the screws are very small and go through the removable back of the plastic casing. I tried 'peel and stick' but the texture of our interior closets won't let them stay up, so I pulled out our cordless drill, matched the bit to the size of the screw and got to work. In less than 1 hour I had two in each closet and two in the hall cabinets. I bought five more for the hallway linen closet and a storage unit on our sun porch. So far (after a year) I've only had to replace one set of batteries for my daughters closet, she forgot to tug the light off and the batteries died. I have replace no fixtures thus far and we are well lighted in our closets now! Here is a link for what we purchased now available at Dollar Tree: https://www.dollartree.com/household/auto-home-improvement/lightbulbs-lighting/Portable-and-Wall-Mountable-Lights/500c550c557p366015/index.pro
  • Vonna Dinse Vonna Dinse on Jan 05, 2016
    I have the same dilema at my old farm house. I am planning on painting the inside with a bright color and adding some battery operated lighting.
  • Lee3195847 Lee3195847 on Jan 05, 2016
    Paint the inside of the closet white and add battery operated light. I found one at a Dollar store that mounts on the wall and has a pull string to turn it on. Looks like a light bulb in a screw base socket. Not pretty, but does the job in the closet.
  • UpState UpState on Jan 05, 2016
    Best to paint the inside of the closet a glossy white (as stated above) and add some battery operated lights...maybe not from the 'dollar store'; but do check out what Lowes & HD have available. Brightness will likely be a difference.
  • CJ CJ on Jan 05, 2016
    We have battery operated ones that are a strip of four. Each little light swivels to shine the strip in different directions. These strips are advertised for under cabinet lighting but we mounted them vertically at the inside of the door. Their not bright but I can find things in the closet now.
  • Diana Haines Diana Haines on Jan 05, 2016
    Puck lights. They are battery operated lights. You can get them with a remote or you can use the touch to turn on and off. I know Costco has a set of six reasonably price
  • North Wales George North Wales George on Jan 05, 2016
    yes round lights if you forget to turn them off they go off by themselves these are battery powered only one battery plus they are led bulbs
  • Wanda.ll Wanda.ll on Jan 05, 2016
    My son in law says it is against code in some places to put lights in closet. I say do battery or get someone( even yourself if handy) to come install small ones in.It isn't a hard job for electrician and can come off wire from anyplace in attic.JUST Don't do with live wire.Trun power off. I'm sure there is a DIY some where to show you. As we get older we need more light not less. So the closet is one sure place to get light.Good luck.
  • Sharon Seiber Sharon Seiber on Jan 05, 2016
    I too, have a couple closets that are not lighted. One of which is my pantry. I would go with the push button lights, that turn themselves off. I would get distracted and leave them on, calling for more batteries, knowing me.
  • LD LD on Jan 05, 2016
    My question to you is there a wall outlet near the closets? If there is a electrician can tap into it and run electric to your closets. The problem with the battery LED lights, is all the batteries you will have to use in the long run for using them as constant task lighting.
    • See 2 previous
    • B. Enne B. Enne on Jan 05, 2016
      @Tara Goodwin Effertz you could use rechargeable batteries and just switch them as needed.
  • Tara Goodwin Effertz Tara Goodwin Effertz on Jan 05, 2016
    thanks everyone. I have ordered a couple of battery lights from amazon (Mr. Beams) I'll let you if they help or are worth it.
  • LINDA LINDA on Jan 05, 2016
    Boscov's had something I think called angel lights. Motion sensor LED lights that turn themselves off. Had one for a couple years on the same battery. Put it in my Aunt's closet & she loves it.
  • Lee3195847 Lee3195847 on Jan 06, 2016
    I've used battery operated lights in the closet for years, use good alkaline batteries that last not the cheap ones, Help answer this question...
  • Sharon Seiber Sharon Seiber on Jan 06, 2016
    Thanks, ladies. I guess what I was really asking was where to buy them. Does Lowe's Hardware have them?
    • B. Enne B. Enne on Jan 06, 2016
      @Sharon Seiber I bought different ones a long time ago at HD and Costco. Many stores carry them now. I love that we can just check store wesites now...it save a lot of footwork and gas! :)
  • Linda Linda on Jan 06, 2016
    Try battery operated led lamps inside the closet.
  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Dec 05, 2020

    You can get battery-powered LED puck lights that can attach to wall near door. Push the top and light comes on. Push again and it goes out. The batteries will last a long time since LEDs us very little power and you only need it on for a few minutes at a time.

  • There are tons of battery operated lights today on Amazon. They stick to the wall and some are motion detectors or remote control options. They don't require any wiring.