Closet Lighting Ideas to Brighten Any Wardrobe

No closet is complete without lighting, and the exact type of fixture you select for the space is entirely up to you.

"There's no hard and fast rule when it comes to closet lighting," Becky Shea, the founder of Becky Shea Design, says. "I've played around with pendants, high hats, spotlights, and integrated lighting—you name it. It's all about what fits your space and your style."

While there's nothing like natural light flowing into a closet, this setup isn't as common, making overhead ambient lighting the next best option, Rebecca Breslin, a senior design manager at Wayfair, says.

"It will provide a soft, uniform light and also tends to cast less shadows," Breslin says.

Keep in mind, though, that lighting temperature is key. Shea recommends sticking to 2700k bulbs in soft white or warm white because it will give your garments a true-to-life appearance, which makes it a functional choice.

Below, we've rounded up 15 beautiful and practical closet lighting ideas to help brighten up your wardrobe space.

01

Add personality to your closet by selecting a pendant light with character. This geometric design adds instant intrigue to the space while providing ample brightness all throughout.

02

If you prefer more of a storied look, opt for an antique-looking pendant light like this one. Full of charm, its petite size is well-suited to small spaces like the closet.

03

If you're building a closet from scratch, take into account whether you wish to include sconces. Shea emphasizes the importance of thinking ahead and planning for wiring or outlets.

"Especially in smaller spaces, maximizing every square inch within your millwork for illuminating your garments is key," she says.

04

Add LED strips to your shelves so that you can fully admire all of your clothing and accessories, even when it's dark outside. You'll never lose track of all that you have on hand when everything is easy to view and access.

05

If your closet features windows like this one does, your lighting can be a bit more minimal—take advantage of all of the natural sunlight streaming inside instead.

"If you're lucky enough to have a window, natural lighting is ideal," Breslin says. "It will highlight your clothes and accessories in perfect color and will cast less shadows."

Here, a simple globe-shaped flush mount is an ideal solution and one that experts appreciate as they deliver a touch of style to an otherwise boring room, Bryan Johnson, the CEO of Shades of Light, says.

Opting for a short pendant light or a flush mount fixture is also quite practical.

"Usage of space becomes far more important when there’s less of it to go around, so people have a tendency to store things as high as they can," Johnson says.

06

There's no reason you can't opt for a more dramatic closet light fixture if you prefer. This one is truly a work of art and will make your getting area feel like a luxe boutique.

07

Recessed lighting and a glass pendant work together in this closet. A glass fixture is ideal if you're looking for something that takes up minimal visual space yet is still elegant.

Johnson recommends incorporating a small chandelier to light up your space if you consider it a personal sanctuary. It will bring a personal flair to it.

08

The larger your closet, the more lighting you can include. Why not go big if you have the space? Here, two beautiful chandeliers add glamour to the space while also illuminating both ends of the space so you can see what you're looking for at all times.

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