How to Light a Dark Space

The darkest places in our homes are usually the ones we struggle to light adequately because of limitations in the space. That's what makes them so dark in the first place! Often lacking a window for natural light, spaces like closets, laundry rooms and attics are generally equipped with little more than an exposed pull-chain light bulb to light the room. That's not the ideal kind of lighting at all, not even for a small space.

You may not like the idea of springing for lighting to put in these dark spaces, especially if they're not used that often, and we don't blame you. However, they still need to be well-lit! Plus, once you get new lighting into this space and brighten it up, you may use it more or see it in a different light--pardon the pun--and therefore the cost is worth it. Here are some economical ideas for lighting your home's shadowy corners.

Try bringing in a flush mount ceiling light or a semi-flush ceiling light because ceiling mounts don't take up a lot of space, but do provide a lot of light. If you often have trouble telling if those slacks in your closet are navy or black, just adding more light will help with that.

For large closets, consider adding recessed lighting throughout the space. Some closets really pull out all the stops and have larger, glamorous lighting fixtures, like chandeliers!

To light a dark laundry room that has cabinets or shelves above the machines, try using under cabinet lights or LED tape light. These types of lights are fairly easy to install and add valuable task lighting above your washer and dryer! Be sure to install the lights toward the front of the cabinets.

For laundry rooms without cabinets, a ceiling light will get the job done just like in a closet. Think about using an Energy Star rated ceiling light or one that uses LED, which will last much longer!

You probably don't spend a lot of time here, but attics should still be well-lit for safety reasons. While the bare pull-chain light bulb look dominates many attics, a much safer option is a ceiling flight with a light switch so that you can turn on the light before you enter the attic.

Without breaking the bank, you can find easy and efficient ways to illuminate even the darkest spaces. We are here to help you out and increase the safety and comfort of your home. If you have questions or need help, give our trained lighting specialists a call at 1-866-688-3562. 

Emma Harger-Young - Lights Online