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You’ve been looking for the best closet light and you’re not sure where to start? Buying closet lighting can be confusing, as there are a lot of things to consider with so many options. Choosing goes way beyond just the right color and brightness and you need to make sure they fit into your budget without breaking it.
This buying guide will help you find the perfect light fixtures for your needs, with reviews of some of the best products on the market. From recessed lighting to strip lights that illuminate clothing racks, we have everything you need to get all set up with better lighting in your closet!
Table of Contents
The three most common options for closet lighting are strip lights, recessed lights, and track lights. Each option has a different kind of bulb and mounts depending on the type. Some also have a motion sensor or work off of batteries to make installation easier.
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| 5 Pack LED Wireless Rechargable Motion Sensor Closet Light |
| This is our favourite. Packed with the best of all worlds. Rechargable, Wireless, motion sensor and you get 5 for a cheap price tag! |
| Check USA Price |
BEST BUY |
LED Strip lights of Flexible LED Tape is a thin profile, flexible tape with tiny LEDs that can be attached to the wall or other surface and plugged in for use. They give off a more linear light than traditional bulbs and are more conducive to small, dark spaces such as closets.
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| Battery Operated Amagle LED Flexible LED Strip |
| The Amagle LED Flexible Strip is a low cost but effective LED Strip that will light your closet space effectively. Battery operated with 4000k Natural White. |
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BEST BUY |
Installing recessed lighting fixtures inside closets is a good way to provide light. They are particularly good for walk in closets and remember that a more uniform light level will better come from multiples of recessed lights rather than rely upon more central bigger fixtures. When inside the closet be sure not to put them near clothes and other items in the closet; this should prevent fire hazards.
There are two common types of motion sensors: active ultrasound and passive infrared (PIR). PIR relies on changes in infrared energy, or body heat, to detect movement and turn on the lights. Motion sensor closet lighting is convenient because it is self autonomous and doesn’t require a light switch for control.
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| LED Rechargable Closet Motion Sensor Light |
| LED Closet Light - easy rechargable and long lasting. Motion Sensor with magnetic installation option. |
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BEST BUY |
Space constraints, budgets and simply practicality don’t always allow for installing new closet lighting wired into the room and this is where a wireless options is a great alternative.
Wireless lights need to be recharged after about 3-5 hours of continuous use, or 1-2 months of sporadic use. They come with a USB cable and can be plugged into your phone charger or other outlet for power.
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| LED Puck Light 6 Pack with Remote |
| The Brilliant Evolution LED Puck Lights are extremely convenient and functional solutions to light up a closet or small space. With a remote the warmth and brightness can be customised remotely. |
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Track lighting is a popular installation particularly for the larger style walk-in closets as they have the space. A track mounts a series of individual light bulbs on an elongated metal bar, making them easy to move and focus light in different areas of your closet. Track lights require one electrical point as opposed to recessed lighting which need multiple points.
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| Qcyuui Modern 4-Light Track Lighting Kit |
| The Qcyuui Track Light is perfect for a walk in closet or large closet which needs extra light coverage. |
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BEST BUY |
Specialised rail system to hang your clothing can also integrate LED strip into the underside of the rail to illuminate the tops of the hung items. This source also spills into the entire space and looks incredible as the source of light is hidden and the clothes become the focus.
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| Govee Motion Sensor Led Light Strip |
| The Govee Motion Sensor is a fantastic Light Strip made for closet lighting and for lighting smaller spaces. |
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BEST BUY |
While looking for the best closet lighting, also consider the layout and square footage of your closet, as well as your personal style, available space to reach for items on high shelves, and whether you want to create a romantic atmosphere with warm tones or brighten dark spaces.
Different types of light fixtures can be used in your closet, based on the size and layout of your space. Local building codes will help you figure out what kinds are allowed and permitted for use.
When shopping for a good closet light, look at the design aesthetic because most lights are trimmed to match the drywall color. Though you can get other colors that will stand out as more of a decorative statement, typically black, chrome or bronze.
The size of your closet will affect the type of lighting to choose. For a larger walk-in you can afford to go more decorative with a more ornate lighting fixture or semi flush. A smaller standard closet, you will tend to go with fewer lights and a more streamlined design.
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| 4 Color Options AMIR Motion Sensor Lightsa> |
| Multi Color options from Silver White to Warm. Motion Sensor Compact Stick on Closet lights. |
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When selecting a closet light, it is contingent on your space’s attributes coupled with your personal readiness to put in the time and effort into a light installation. Installing a new hardwired light ordinarily includes cutting and splicing wires, cutting out drywall, drilling and mounting hardware. These tasks require an electrician’s expertise which is perfectly suitable if you creating a brand new closet but if you are adding lighting into an existing one then consider an easier install with a wireless light.
So for installation ease, consider plug-in electric or wireless lights. The latter runs on AA or AAA batteries and some can be recharged using USB chargers like those found on most cellphones. Wireless closet lighting is perfect for a closet with an existing light fixture but you want to add ambient lighting and an excellent solution if there really are no other options.
When considering brightness it’s always helpful to have plenty of light. A walk in closet is more of a small room so it should be treated as such with LED recessed lights that create at least 500 lumens each approximately 3 feet apart.
A wardrobe or closet with reach in shelves requires approx 500 lumens per metre if the light is directed downwards onto the clothing.
Do not confuse wattage with light output, a higher wattage product may not produce as many lumens of light as another more efficient source.
You get to choose to some degree the color of the white light produced. Itcomes in different ranges and it is measured on a scale called Kelvins. The a warmer amber/yellow tones are under 3000K; cooler white tones are found above 3500K. Warmer lights are softer and easier on your eyes and more like the color of light already in your home, but within a place of choosing colors of clothes it may be more prudent to aim for a neutral white of around 3000-3500K.
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| 4 Color Options AMIR Motion Sensor Under Closet Light |
| This awesome under cabinet light has touch control wireless control - is color and brightness adjustable and anti glare. |
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BEST BUY |
The light that shines on you and your clothing will affect how you see the colors. If you can find a manufacturer who declares the accuracy of the colors that their white light creates, you need to aim for at least 90Ra or a CRI or 90. Some recessed lights will offer 98Ra which equates to a 98% color rendering compared to the true rendition of that color by natural daylight.
LED every time if possible and second best would be a linear fluorescent light fixture. The benefits of LED is they last a huge amount of time, are incredibly efficient and are very small emitting very little heat – perfect for small spaces that are ideally kept cool.
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| 5 Pack LED Wireless Rechargable Motion Sensor Closet Light |
| This is our favourite. Packed with the best of all worlds. Rechargable, Wireless, motion sensor and you get 5 for a cheap price tag! |
| Check USA Price |
BEST BUY |
First think about the light you need then find the fixtures to provide it. A walk in should provide a good spread of light and prevent shadows on clothing racks or shelves that may be stored in the closet. Lights should also be well-distributed throughout as you want uniformity of lighting all over the room so clothes look their best when being tried on and getting ready for the day or evening.
The best result for a uniformity of light is to throw light into the space from different directions, usually down and across. The ceiling lighting sends light downwards and the potential shadows from down only lighting is cancelled out with wall lights or enough light spilling out from the shelving.
Allow for lighting around a mirror too so the user is lit from both sides and from above for an even wash of light.
Internal shelving can be lit from above from a recessed light or linear fixture. The light needs to cascade down the front of the shelving to light the clothing.
LED strip lighting is small enough to be hidden quite easily, use this linear source to wash a broad stroke of light across the space from above or locate within individual shelves.
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