Clever Lighting Tips That'll Make Your Small Closet Feel Bigger

If there is one problem we all share, it is the issue of not having enough closet space. No matter how many clever closet hacks you try, your closet probably still feels cramped, cluttered, and downright frustrating. But what if we told you that the secret to making your closet feel bigger isn't just about decluttering or reorganizing? It's also about lighting.

Introducing natural light, using mirrors, and getting the right color lights in your closet will help make it seem bigger than it is. Optimizing artificial lights through layering, uplighting, and vertical lighting will also help. Whether you have a small walk-in closet or a reach-in nook, these clever lighting tricks can make all the difference. These tips are effective because our perception of space and our surroundings can be affected by lighting. With the right lighting placed in the right way, you can effectively reduce the shadows and dark spots in your closet, making it feel a lot larger.

Aside from lighting tricks, the color of your closet can help. A small closet will benefit from light, neutral colors like white, cream, or soft gray that reflect light, making the space seem more open. Even the paint finish matters. For instance, matte finishes absorb light and make your closet look even smaller than it already is. Glossy and satin finishes are better for your closet, as light that reflects from the walls will help minimize dark spots. As a bonus, these finishes are also easy to clean.

If you're lucky enough to have a window in your walk-in closet, then you're already at an advantage. Sunlight has a way of opening up a space, making it feel brighter, airier, and larger. Natural light also creates a connection to the outdoors. When sunlight streams into a room, it blurs the boundary between inside and outside, making the space feel less confined. You should keep your closet window treatments minimal so they don't interfere with the light flowing into your space. Sheer curtains will work well for a closet window because they also diffuse natural light. This helps reduce harmful UV rays that could cause the clothes in your closet to fade. Window film is also a good way to avoid this damage your closet window can cause.

You can consider installing a window if your closet doesn't have one. Or a skylight if you're looking for extra pizzazz and don't mind the high installation costs. But you should know that skylights come with the same UV issues that closet windows could have. Thankfully, there are window films you could install on your skylight to prevent fading. A more affordable alternative to skylights is a sun tunnel. These tubular devices channel sunlight from your roof into your closet, bringing in natural light without requiring major renovations. You can even install one to channel natural light into your reach-in closet. They also solve the UV rays problem you could encounter with skylights and windows because most come with a UV-protection system.

With artificial lights, the key is to use them strategically — think about how the light is placed, how it's directed, and how it interacts with the space. With the right techniques, you can create the illusion of a larger closet, even without a single ray of sunlight. Layering the lights in your closet is the best way to use your artificial lights to make your cozy closet look larger. Layered lighting combines multiple light sources to create depth and dimension in any space. This comprehensive lighting effectively minimizes shadows and dark areas, making your space look bigger.

In a closet, this means using a combination of ambient, task, and accent lighting. Ambient lighting refers to overhead lights that provide general illumination. Natural light sources typically provide ambient lighting. Recessed, flush, or semi-flush lights would be your best bet for a small closet because of their minimal look that doesn't take up much space. LED strips inside your drawers or lining your vanity mirror provide task lighting that helps you complete activities like putting on jewelry or picking the right socks. Accent lights are mostly decorative and highlight specific items like your favorite bag or shoes. Wall sconces and track lights work well for this. Reach-in closets might not have enough space to incorporate accent lighting, but task and ambient lighting are enough to properly illuminate them. And if you're wondering how to install additional artificial lights in your rental, there are many easy and renter-friendly ways to add lighting to your dark closet.

Uplighting is another way to make your lights work for you and enlarge the feel of your space. Basically, it involves using light fixtures that project light towards the ceiling. This creates the illusion of height because it draws your eyes up. Wall sconces or LED strips installed along the bottom edges of your reach-in closets will help give this effect. You could also use vertical lighting to produce this same effect. Running LED strips vertically is an affordable closet light fix that will illuminate its full height.

The color temperature of your lights also matters. With artificial lighting, you get to decide how bright, how cool, and cozy you want your closet to feel. Go for cool white or daylight bulbs (around 3500K to 4100K) to mimic natural light and keep things bright and airy. Finally, mirrors are a small space's best friend. They reflect light, making the room feel brighter and more open. Placing a mirror directly opposite a window or close to a skylight or sun tunnel will help bounce natural light around your closet. Consider adding a mirrored door, a full-length mirror, or even mirrored panels on the walls of your closet to give the illusion of depth.