Our Northern California house has a small coat closet (really a hallway with 2 doors and hooks for coats) between our front entry-way and our basement. It's a tiny space: 3 feet wide, 5 feet deep, and has a low 7-foot-high ceiling. The door to the entryway swings out, and the door to the basement swings in.
What are options for installing lighting in this closet that are likely to pass muster with the local code inspector?
I'm familiar with the NEC requirements for closets which I believe means that a ceiling-mounted or recessed CFL or LED luminaire is the only valid option. But the 7-foot-high ceiling is a wildcard and I'm not sure how it interacts with other code requirements.
In addition to code questions, I'm also concerned about functionality—will any solution actually light up the space effectively? If I used recessed fixtures in this small space, will they shine straight down and leave the coats in shadow? If someone passes underneath will it kill all the light in the closet?
Or should I stick to ceiling-mounted fixtures instead?
Best Answer
You could try something like a Philips SpotOn. LED light, batteries-operated, motion-sensor-activated. Ideal for small, dark closets and cabinets.