Throw Away Your Plug-In Night Lights

Night lights can be a great addition to your home, providing light in even the darkest corner of any room. Whether your child is afraid of the dark or you find yourself frequenting hallways during the night, plug-in night lights have been used to light the way for years. However, going the plug-in route may not be the best way to go about improving nighttime visibility.

Plug-Ins are an Easy, No-Brainer… Right?

It’s true, there’s nothing more convenient than picking up a cheap night light from your local department store, plugging it in, and going about your day. While convenient, many people end up finding this to be a short-term solution to a long-term problem. Plug-in guide lights have been found to be problematic in more ways than one, especially if your intentions are to make them a more permanent fixture in your home.

Okay, So What’s the Problem with Plug-Ins?

You may be thinking, “I have never really had any issues with my current plug-ins.” Unfortunately, not all residences/households are made the same; some may have needs that plug-in night lights won’t solve. Common issues with nightlights include:

• Takes up outlet space: Unplugging guide lights so you can use other devices during the day time is both time consuming and annoying.
• Easily removable: For families that have small children or animals, this can create both an electrical and choking hazard.
• Bulky, sticks too far out from the wall: Sometimes reduces clearance for wheel chairs, walkers, medical equipment, etc. This can be a small, yet frustrating inconvenience for households with seniors or physically disabled persons.
• Lighting all the wrong places: Not all night lights have the option to filter light downward, causing extra strain on eyes that are adjusting from dark to light.
• Glass bulbs may be exposed: For older versions of plug-ins that don’t utilize LED lights, damage to the bulb is likely upon accidental impact.
• Short lifespan: Again, for older versions of plug-ins, the lifespan of traditional bulbs is significantly less than LEDs.
• Forgetting to turn it on/off: Not all plug-ins have an automatic daylight or motion sensor to turn it on, which isn’t very helpful in the dark if you happen to forget.

Alright, So What’s the Solution?

Let’s get to the point: in-wall guide light switches and receptacles are the solution! Unlike traditional plug-ins, these guide lights are installed directly in place of standard switches and receptacles. They come in three varieties: guide light only, no outlet/switch; guide light with switch; and guide light with outlet.

Not only are these wiring devices the solution to bulky plug-ins, there are more benefits than just saving space and being unremovable.

• Long lasting led light bulb: TOPGREENER in-wall LED guide lights are rated for up 50,000 hours of light, that’s over 10 years of light.
• Save outlet space: Don’t take up precious outlet space with cumbersome plug-ins, get consistent light without giving up outlet space.
• Daylight sensor: No need to worry about bending over to turn off your night light, each guide light device turns on/off automatically when darkness or daylight is detected.
• Easy-to-use attachments: concentrate light downward with the included louvered shade, increasing visibility of just the ground (not all models include attachments).
• Less noticeable: LED guidelight switches and receptacles blend seamlessly with your home décor, providing a more high-profile, modern look.

Best Places to Install Guide Light Outlets and Switches

At this point, you may be questioning everything you’ve ever known about plug-in nightlights, then again, maybe you’re not? Regardless, if you’ve made it this far you must at least be curious. That said, I’ll cut to the chase. Here are some applications in which these wiring devices could be beneficial:

• Kitchens: Makes finding your midnight snack easy, but having to turn on the lights can make it more difficult to fall back to sleep.
• Bathrooms: There are typically very few outlets in a bathroom, so conveniently using a plug-in is nearly impossible.
• Hallways: Allows you to easily avoid obstacles like toys, bunched up rugs, pets, and whatever else you may have lying around.
• Laundry rooms: When your hands are full, turning on the lights can be difficult. Have a small amount of light to guide your way, avoiding potential drops.
• Living rooms: Typically the largest open space in your home, avoid accidents like bumping into the your couch or coffee table.
• Children’s rooms: For children that are afraid of the dark, guide lights are a good way to ease their mind with a constant source of light at night.

In-wall guide lights are a great investment for any home, regardless of the shape, size, and needs of your family. These devices can be easily installed in place of your standard switches and receptacles, no special wiring required. If you’re interested in updating your home, shop our online store for our full selection of guide light wiring devices. Need help? Contact our customer service team for assistance.