The best wardrobe lighting switches on by itself when you open the door, lights the clothes rather than your eyes, and uses natural white so you can tell navy from black. For a new or fitted wardrobe, LED strip in a profile with a door or motion sensor is the neatest option, and for an existing wardrobe, a rechargeable battery light fits with no wiring.
Watch: how to install a wireless door sensor
LED strip in a profile along the front or sides
A line of LED strip running down the inside of the wardrobe front frame, or along the sides, lights the whole hanging space evenly. Setting the strip in an aluminium profile hides it from view, protects it and helps spread the light. Angled profiles point the light back towards the clothes, which keeps glare out of your eyes. See our full range of LED profiles.
A COB strip gives a smooth line of light with no visible dots. Polar X, for example, is a free-cut COB LED strip you can cut to any length, available in warm white (3000K), natural white (4000K) or cool white. It runs at 24V and needs a driver, which should be connected to the mains by a qualified electrician.
If you need strip cut to exact lengths, our TrueFIT bespoke cutting service can prepare it for you.
Wardrobe rail lights
A lit hanging rail puts the light right above your clothes, so you can see everything on the rail clearly.
Alto is an aluminium wardrobe rail light with an anti-slip design. It has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and an integrated PIR sensor that turns the light on when the wardrobe door opens, then switches off after 30 seconds if no motion is detected. It can be cut to length, has a load bearing capacity of 20kg and comes with a side mounting bracket set. No electrical installation is needed, and the USB charger is sold separately.
Shelf and drawer lights
Lighting inside shelves and drawers makes folded clothes, shoes and accessories easy to find.
- Verso is an LED drawer light for kitchen and bedroom drawers. An IR sensor on the front edge turns it on and off as the drawer opens and closes, and its low wattage means a full drawer stack can run from a single driver.
- Vertex is a slim LED shelf light with a pre-installed natural white (4000K) strip that sits on the back of shelf boards, so there is no need to trim the shelf. The cable exits from the back to keep wires out of sight.
- Genoa is an up-and-down shelf light for 18mm wooden shelves that clips to the rear of the shelf and lights in both directions.
- Glow fits 4mm to 8mm glass shelves with a push-fit and gives a soft glow through the glass, in cool white or natural white.
Door and motion sensors
A sensor is what makes wardrobe lighting feel effortless. The light comes on as the door opens and goes off when it closes, so it is far less likely to be left on by accident. Which sensor you need depends on the type of wardrobe:
| Wardrobe type | Sensor that suits it | Sensio example |
|---|---|---|
| Hinged doors, wired lighting | Door sensor | Titan+ Door Sensor, plugs into the Titan+ LED driver |
| Hinged doors, no cable run to the door | Wireless door sensor | Titan+ Wireless Door Sensor, works on single or double doors |
| Walk-in wardrobe or open hanging | PIR motion sensor | Titan+ PIR Sensor, switches on when someone moves nearby |
| Any door with a frame or surround | Magnet and reed switch | Link-S Wireless Magnet and Reed Kit |
Our guide on which LED light sensor you need for kitchens and wardrobes goes into more detail, and you can browse every option in lighting sensors and control.
Rechargeable battery lights for existing wardrobes
If your wardrobe is already built and there is no power nearby, a battery light is the simplest fix. These need no electrical installation, and several, such as Opus, Magnum and Strata, fit with self adhesive magnetic plates.
- Opus has an integrated PIR sensor, a rechargeable lithium-ion battery and USB-C charging, and comes in 235mm and 405mm sizes.
- Magnum has an integrated PIR sensor with a 1.5m range and switches off after 10 seconds if no movement is detected.
- Strata offers an on/off switch, swipe sensor and IR sensor control options.
- Incline has an integrated PIR sensor that turns the light on when the wardrobe door opens.
See the full battery powered lighting range.
Walk-in wardrobes
A walk-in wardrobe works best with layers: strip or rail lights on the hanging sections, shelf lights on the folded storage and a PIR motion sensor so the room lights up as you step in. Keep the light colour the same throughout so the space feels calm and even. Ceiling downlights can add general light if the room is large.
Choosing the right light colour
Natural white, around 4000K, is a popular choice inside wardrobes because it shows the true colours of your clothes. Warm white is cosier but can make dark colours harder to tell apart. If you want both, a strip in adjustable white lets you change the colour. Our bedroom and wardrobe lighting ideas guide has more inspiration.
Shop the full wardrobe lighting collection. Every Sensio product is backed by our 7 year guarantee.
More videos: watch the Bedroom and wardrobe lighting video playlist on YouTube, or see all our video guides.
FAQs
How do I put a light inside a wardrobe without wiring?
Use a rechargeable battery light such as Opus, Magnum, Strata or Incline. They contain rechargeable batteries and need no electrical installation.
Can wardrobe lights turn on automatically?
Yes. A door sensor turns the lights on when the door opens and off when it closes, and a PIR motion sensor turns them on when someone moves nearby.
What colour light is best for a wardrobe?
Natural white is a popular choice, because it helps you see the true colours of your clothes.
Which sensor is best for a walk-in wardrobe?
A PIR motion sensor suits walk-in wardrobes, as it switches the lights on when you walk in rather than relying on a door.
Do I need an electrician for wardrobe lighting?
Battery lights need no electrician. For mains powered strip lighting, the driver should be connected to the mains by a qualified electrician.
For more inspiration, see our bedroom lighting ideas hub.
