What You Need to Know About Closet Lighting?

“A thoughtful lighting design combines additional useful illumination with the luxurious boutique effect that highlights favorite collections like bags or shoes as showpieces.” Strategic placement of recessed puck lights at top shelves, ribbon lights along the edges, or a brightening at a cabinet’s base can create a pleasant ambience, and keep showcased pieces organized. Whether your closet is big enough to walk inside or has just enough room to store your items, the drab interior can give way to an elevated and chic new look. Here, Kerstens offers advice on how to create the closets you’ve always wanted.

One of the most useful and efficient bulbs to install in a closet are LED lights. “Despite the number of additional fixtures, they generate a minimal amount of heat even if placed behind glass cabinet doors that may showcase handbags or perfume,” says Kerstens. Their long-lasting and energy-efficient qualities translate into energy savings. “In some cases, it’s an investment that may add to your home’s value,” she says.

A lighting design plan will position LED bulbs in the ideal locations. Installing recessed puck lighting around the cabinetry’s top perimeter will impact the overall lighting scheme or put a spotlight on treasured pieces. Running recessed ribbon lighting above clothes along the length of the closet rod will create brightness at both ends, which is often lacking in most spaces. “It provides the best visibility for your wardrobe and even the contents inside drawers,” says Kerstens. For a bolder look, illuminating the base of a cabinet gives a contemporary floating look.

LEDs come in a range of wattages and can create different room effects depending on the cabinetry color and the existing natural and ambient lighting. “A medium-intensity ribbon light has approximately 1.4 watts per foot and can provide a soft accent glow,” she says. “Higher intensity ribbons are about three watts and are great for task lighting or brighter illumination over clothes.” Dimmers add another level of customization, altering light intensity up or down. Based on a cabinet’s finish, a warm or cool LED can coordinate with a room’s colors and materials.