If you’re like most of us, your clothes closet isn’t lighted. And even if you do have a ceiling light, we’ll bet dimes for dollars that you still have to take your wardrobe choices out into the sunlight to be sure that you have selected colors that don’t clash.
By the way, as you get older, the problem of differentiating between colors in low light becomes even more significant.
Furthermore, the condition is exacerbated as your closet becomes more crowded. A top shelf filled with old socks and hat boxes can obliterate even the brightest light bulb.
How do we know about all of this you ask?
Simple.
As often as not, we have shown up for an important meeting with socks that don’t match our outfit or each other. Or worse yet, we discover a large obtrusive stain and or tattered area that went completely unnoticed until moments after our presentation had been given. How embarrassing.
Any kind of lighting in a clothes closet is better then none at all. But a lot is left to be desired when the shadow from the boxes on the top shelf prevent the light from helping you select just the right colors for that day’s special business meeting.
We have fluorescent lighting in one of our closets the spans almost its entire length. The problem is that we have two levels of hanging and we can’t differentiate color on the clothes hanging on the second tier because they reside in the shadow of the clothes hanging above.
Since the light is mounted at the ceiling to a wall connection over the door there isn’t much we can do to move it to a more advantageous position.
Sound familiar? If you find yourself struggling to make color choices because the level of light in your dressing area isn’t sufficient then we have some information that should really excite you.
We just discovered lighted clothing rods – what a country.
Morris’ wife, Carol, is the designer for the remodeling company. She helps us stay on top of the game when it comes to new and unusual home remodeling practices and what people want. She walked into the office carrying a printout from a Web site called “Lightology.”
Deep within the site she discovered a lighted clothes pole.
We have since done some homework and discovered a bit more about what she found:
Apparently, an Italian manufacturer named Orizzonte has created a light fixture that mounts to the underside of a closet shelf that can be used as a clothes pole.
Wait a minute! No, it’s a clothes pole with a light in it.
* It is a hanging rod that holds a lamp that uses a fluorescent light tube to illuminate the clothing hanging thereon.
* The wattage of the fluorescent light varies from 8 to 21 watts depending on the fixture length.
* It comes with a clear diffuser that’s a clear light lens to protect you and the bulb.
* It comes with an anodized aluminum finish which means that it’s aluminum gray in color.
* It will hold up to 50 pounds of clothes.
* It is available in four lengths: 23, 35, 46, and 59 inches.
* The fixture weighs about 4 pounds.
* It is not dimmable. Editors note: Who cares if it isn’t dimmable! Were trying to get more light not less. Anyway, we haven’t met anyone yet who has expressed an interest in “mood lighting” their underwear.
* The fixture is self-contained and has its own switch. Want to get fancy? Wire the fixture into a door-actuated switch and when you open your closet door to show off your handiwork (or underwear), folks will beam at a lighted clothes pole already turned on.
The fixture requires 110-volt power that can be taken from a nearby wall receptacle. The wattage is low in the largest of the units and should put little or no strain on most existing circuits. However, we strongly recommend that you consult your local electrician.
The wire comes directly out of the wall (no junction box necessary) and travels directly into the fixture where the connection is made (the fixture acts as the j-box).
The units can be placed end to end to satisfy a multitude of closet sizes.
For more information and tips, visit James and Morris Carey at www.onthehouse.com.
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