Poorly lit walk-in closets make it hard to find clothes.
Just about any type of lighting fixture that produces an adequate amount of ambient light can be used for walk-in closets, although more direct types of lighting may be used in some instances. The closet's size and your style preferences may also play a part in your walk-in closet light selection. Does this Spark an idea?
Ambient Light
Ambient light refers to illumination that does not come directly from the light fixture, but rather is bounced off the surrounding ceiling, walls and other surfaces to provide a general light for an entire room. In walk-in closets, ambient light reduces the amount of shadows. If you stand between the light source and an object in the closet, such as clothing hung on a lower rack, the ambient light ensures that you will still be able to see the clothes there, despite your own shadow.
Types
Globe fixtures are common in walk-in closets. These fixtures surround the bare light bulb with a glass sphere so the light can shine out in nearly every direction, allowing light to reflect off the ceiling and upper walls as well as aim downward at the closet racks and floor. Globes are generally frosted glass to further diffuse the light and reduce shadows. Half-globes may also be used for walk-in closets where light reflected off the ceiling isn't considered necessary.
Alternatives
If you have a particularly large closet or want a more stylish light fixture, track lighting is an option in walk-in closet spaces because the multiple heads of a track light can create enough general lighting to allow you to see your clothes clearly no matter where you are standing. Choose a track lighting fixture with diffused lamp heads for best effect, and install the fixture so the light from the lamps spills downward between the clothing racks and where you normally stand to pick out your outfits, if possible.
Lamp Selection
Lighting within your walk-in closet should allow you not only to function by finding clothes, but also to see colors clearly so you can coordinate your wardrobe. To see your clothing colors as they will appear in natural daylight, choose daylight-balanced incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs. To see the colors as they will appear under household lighting, choose warm white compact fluorescent or standard incandescent bulbs. For track lights that require halogen lamps, you may not have a choice. Soft white diffusion on these lights can help the light and colors appear more natural, although they may appear somewhere between daylight and indoor lighting color clarity.
Supplemental Fixtures
If closet shelves block your view of items lower down in the closet, install LED under-counter fixtures for visibility. These lights are designed to fit under kitchen counters, and many are battery-operated to eliminate wiring needs. These fixtures emit a bright white light that may not show true colors but is helpful for visibility in areas where finding small objects, such as jewelry, is more important than coordinating colors.
Tags: walk-in closets, walk-in closet, ambient light, colors they, colors they will, compact fluorescent
