Browse links
US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data.
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
If your home sometimes feels like a dark cave, these products can help.
Keep in mind some plants thrive under artificial lights more than others, such as the African violet. In contrast, cacti and succulents are not as suitable for growth under artificial light because most varieties need an abundance of natural sunlight. However, if you love succulents and wish to grow them in a dark apartment, place them close to a grow light and keep the light on for long periods of time.
Promising review: "I have an area in my home that receives no natural light. I need grow lights to keep my tropical plants alive. These lights are one of the more affordable ones, and they are doing a great job! My Thai constellation monstera put out a new leaf and unfurled fast too." —EverythingTB
Get it from Amazon for $41.98.
You can also layer sheer curtains behind blackout curtains so you have both options. The curtains don't have to be white — you can choose any color!
Promising review: "I purchased these for the sliding glass door in my living room, and I love them. Although they are considered sheer, they are constructed well and heavy enough to hang beautifully and add privacy without obstructing the natural light. The texture gives them a rich look that really lends to a more sophisticated way to treat a sliding glass door/window." —Michele W.
Get them from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three sizes and 13 colors).
"Promising review: "These lights are perfect for what I was looking for. They give off a warm and cozy glow and really add a nice touch of oomph to the room." —Nechama G.
Get warm white lights from Amazon for $19.99 (bright white version available for $17.99).
Promising review: "This is absolutely amazing privacy window film. We just moved into a new house and unfortunately both of our bathroom windows are facing other houses. I personally like natural light so I wanted to find a solution that allowed me to keep my blinds open but also gave us privacy. This is completely amazing. Not only does it give us privacy, but it gives our bathrooms a whole new feel! I’ve even put it in our hallway window that also faces another house. No matter where we’re moving to next, I’m definitely using this privacy window film. It so incredibly easy to install and it looks like it’s the actual window. I definitely recommend this!" —LinaRi
Get it from Amazon for $8.98+ (available in 10 sizes).
You can set these to be always on or motion-activated. They pop off easily for charging via USB-C, and the light lasts for around 10 hours in "on" mode once charged (so if it's only popping on and off occasionally, one charge should last you a loooong time).
Promising review: "Bought this once and loved them so much, I bought another pair a week later! These lights are PERFECT. Small and sleek while providing good light, easy to install and use. My favorite features are the motion sensor (which works perfectly), that it's wireless, and that it's rechargeable. They are absolutely perfect for places that might not have easy access to an outlet or where wires would be cumbersome, and for places that you are not in for long periods of time (where a light left on might go unnoticed for days). I have mine in two closets, my attic, and a storage room. I might buy more!" —P. Harrison
Get them from Amazon for $22.98.
It comes with a light bulb, but you could use a daylight bulb in this for maximum effect!
Promising review: "We placed this behind our sectional. There was a lack of light because it's in a corner and this hangs high over the couch. It lights the area exactly as we hoped it would. It looks great and is very stable. Great purchase." —Desfam
Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in two styles).
During the day, you can have it set to full brightness at a cool color temperature (like 5000 K) to wake you up and help you concentrate, while at night, you can dim it to a warmer temp (like 2700 K) to simulate the sunset and wind down for bed.
Promising review: "Perfect fit for our condo living area! Easy to adjust the light level in the room depending on the time of day. Fully met my expectations. Good value for the price. Very happy with purchase based on functionality and attractive appearance." —Dean M.
Get it from Amazon for $239.99 (also available bundled with Echo Dot Third Gen for $20 more).
If you don't care about having the smart features, you can get a similar Adesso three-arc lamp with over 1,200 5-star reviews for $193.
Promising review: "AMAZING! Seriously though. This is incredible!! I've been debating if I should get a West Elm sconce or this and I finally decided on this lamp and I have zero regrets!! Like many of you, I live in New York in an apartment where there are lots of glass windows and zero overhead lighting. This lamp is a game changer!! Four different brightness levels, totally solid, and so sleek you hardly notice it! I would for sure recommend. I included a before and an after picture [above] with the lamp on full strength and off." —cape039
Get it from Amazon for $64.99+ (available in seven styles).
Promising review: "Talk about bang for your buck! I already bought five and am thinking about two more. They are so pretty and simple, but lend so much light. So glad I ran across them. I’m remodeling my house and these are some of my favorite buys!" —Carolyn Lindsey
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in two sizes and two colors).
The light comes on gradually, starting at 10% brightness and working its way up to 100% by 30 minutes before your wake-up time (though you can adjust this down to 20 or 10 minutes before), and you can have it play sounds of nature like songbirds, ocean waves, or a splashing creek. There's a similar process for falling asleep as well, with gradual light fading and sounds like pouring rain and crickets + campfire available to lull you asleep.
Promising review: "This is an amazing little product and I highly recommend it. I suffer from mild insomnia and generally have to use sleep aids. I also moved from SoCal to Washington state a year ago and I have NEVER been exposed to so little sunlight in my life! Living in the dark winters here is insanely difficult for me. This👏🏼Little👏🏼Alarm👏🏼Clock👏🏼 has changed my life and I’ve only had it for like three weeks. The sleepy-time setting has the ability to KNOCK me out without the use of sleep aids! What?! My brain totally responds to the way the light functions. The morning alarm is so gentle and peaceful (you can completely control the noise and brightness settings). I wake up much more naturally rather than to the blaring honk or passive-aggressive chiming of a traditional alarm (looking at you Apple). The light settings are so fun as well! I love having it on a low setting in while I’m journaling, reading, watching TV, anything really! I would pay two or three times the price for this thing. It’s 100% worth it." —KatieM
Get it from Amazon for $39.98+ (available in two options).
The light has three adjustable settings and a touch sensor to easily select your preferred level of brightness. This plug also allows you to charge up to six devices at one and has a built-in surge protector to prevent any damage.
Promising review: "So happy that I bought this beautiful wall charger. It looks much more expensive. The six outlets are nicely positioned that I can use all of them at the same time. Two USB outputs are ideal for charging our phones. Highly recommend!" —Elaine
Get it from Amazon for $19.97.
Reviewers say the Verilux HappyLight has had noticeable positive effects on their mood, sleep, and energy levels!
Promising review: "I decided to get this product once I changed roles at my work and moved to an area of my building with no windows. The lack of natural light was really starting to impact how I felt during the day and my general mood. Right out of the box it is so simple to set up and start using! The light quality is awesome and improved my feeling of well being immediately. I use it for 30 minutes every morning and can't believe the positive comments I get from my coworkers too. My boss said seeing the Happy Light on makes her happy too — LOL! Thinking of getting a second one as my husband is always asking me to bring the Happy Light home for him to use. Very happy with my purchase!" —Jennifer Brumlow
Get it from Amazon for $39.99.
It also features 180-degree swivel so you can get the *exact* right angle and adjustable brightness by holding down the sensor switch in the middle.
Promising review: "Love this mirror!! A little smaller than I expected but after setting it up, it's the perfect size. It's really light, you can travel with it. The brightness is perfect, especially when winter hits, I'll have enough lighting in my room for my makeup. To decrease or increase the brightness, hold down the power button to adjust to your liking. So far, it's working as it should. Mirror is powered by a USB cord. Happy with my purchase. :)" —Mina
Get it from Amazon for $39.98 (available in seven colors).
Promising reviews: "Yes you do need these! My bathroom has no natural light, and weird yellow light coming from a high left angle...that’s a NO for applying makeup! Get these lights!" —Amazon Customer
"These lights are perfect. I put my vanity in my closet because it's the only place I had room for it. But it's dark in there. I would get ready there and then go in the bathroom and realize how bad my makeup looked. These are super bright and I love them! I attached them right to the mirror frame." —Tressa R.
Get them from Amazon for $16.81.
This lamp comes in a sunset version or a rainbow version, and you can also get a version that has both! It's also dimmable, and the lamp head can be rotated 180 degrees to switch up the angle.
Promising review: "GORGEOUS lamp! Got the combination Sunset + Rainbow and each function is beautiful, but the combination is truly stunning also! Makes perfect ambience, especially to avoid waking up your partner at night or early in the a.m. Also: BEAUTIFUL NOTE from seller + very fast shipping! So happy with it I even got another one for my friend. Thank you! ☺️" —TheScream
Get it from IrisMade4U on Etsy for $34+ (available in three styles).
IrisMade4U is a family-run small business based in San Diego, California, offering a variety of handmade accessories and creative home decor.
Promising review: "This is such a beautiful full-length mirror. It is heavy and durable, you could tell the good quality at a glance. I was not sure the difference between 'black' and 'elegant black' in product options but chose elegant black, and I am happy with the sleek look that matches with my other furniture. It completes the modern look of my bedroom and brings in more light, not to mention the functionality. I may get another set in different color for another bedroom. I am happy with it. :)" —Hana
Get it from Amazon for $109.99+ (available in 12 sizes and 33 styles).
Promising review: "Purchased several fixtures to outfit my home renovation. Such friendly and fast service — and the utmost quality lighting. Such beautiful craftsmanship. Thank you!" —Sara Wittenburg
Get them from Olde Brick Lighting on Etsy for $172 (available in eight different finishes and white or clear glass).
Olde Brick Lighting is a Lititz, Pennsylvania–based small business that specializes in high-quality, handcrafted lighting, including chandeliers, pendants, sconces, table lamps, and more.
Promising review: "I love these pendant lights! They are very different from I’ve been seeing online and that’s exactly what I was looking for: something unique. I have installed two of these in my bedroom and it looks glorious! I like the diffused light that doesn’t hurt your eyes." —Romila Jogdand
Get them from Simple Lighting Shop on Etsy for $87.20 (originally $109) (available in 13 styles).
Simple Lighting Shop is a small biz on Etsy that offers a variety of unique, modern looking lighting options.
Beauty vloggers, makeup artists, streamers, and professional photographers alike swear by this particular ring light!
Promising review: "There are literally no downfalls to this product. I was a little iffy purchasing this due to the price, but I am so thankful I did. My selfies and videos look so much better now!! It comes with two different covers to put over the ring light (warm and white), which I definitely appreciate so I can switch up my pics. I like to use the white mostly though, definitely for my makeup tutorials. It also comes with a carrying/storage bag for when you travel. If you’re a photographer, beauty blogger, or just someone that loves taking bomb selfies, you should for sure get this!!" —beautyslayyaaa
Get it from Amazon for $82.44.
Its rotating bezel allows for quick brightness adjustments without needing to fiddle around with software settings. Designed for professional streamers, the Razer Kiyo is also capable of streaming games at 60 frames per second and 720p.
Promising review: "This blows my other webcams out of the water. I've used the Logitech C270 and Microsoft Lifecam HD-3000 and this is far superior. I'm not a streamer but I do video calls all day long for work, and the light ring makes me look so much better and clearer on camera. When I met with my team for the first time with this camera, they immediately noticed how much clearer I was. The mic has been great too. I use my laptop speakers for audio during meetings and even unmuted, there is zero feedback. 100% happy with this webcam straight out of the box." —vnx
Get it from Amazon for $69.
Get it from Rue Lighting on Etsy for $179.92 (available in black or white).
Rue Lighting is a UK-based small biz on Etsy with a wide range of unique LED lighting for the home.
Promising review: "Bought as a gift for someone but now I have to buy my own because this is so cute. Overall, nice little night-light." —plantlady101
Get it from Urban Outfitters for $22 (available in three styles).
Get it from Red Lips Lab on Etsy for $21.99 (available in three colors).
Red Lips Lab is an Etsy small biz specializing in funky lighting options!
I have this little moon lamp myself and let me tell you, it's the coziest addition to any room (I have it in my bedroom). You can adjust the brightness on it and switch between cool or warm lighting, and it's so lightweight and easy to set up.
Promising review: "Oddly mesmerizing and calming. This thing is more amazing than it even looks online. Super lightweight. Only drawback is I could see how a kid would or could go full Godzilla on it and crush it like a porcelain egg. So probably best kept out of reach of demon spawn. But for a cool adult hangout, it's pretty memorizing. Nice glow, adjustable/dimmable. Choose white or a warmer amber-colored light. Just like the moon, changes with the atmosphere. It's pretty geeky, but...shoe fits." —CA Girl in Portland
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four sizes).
Note: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.