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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Stupid lighting set up

20 replies

Blinkingheckythump · 01/09/2021 02:42

Aibu to ask for advice on this daft set up?

We have a room with a door at either end as you need to pass through it to reach another room, but there's only a light switch for the room at one of the two doors. So currently we're having to walk through it in the dark to reach the switch at the other end. Honestly I've no idea why the house was designed like this it's so stupid. I'm sick of forgetting and having to walk back through the room to turn the light off , I'm far too lazy for this!

I wonder if anyone has a solution that's an easier fix to getting it rewired? I had considered a WiFi bulb that you can control with your phone but it's not really convenient when you may not have your phone to hand, nor for guests.

Why oh why did they think it made sense to design the room like this?!

OP posts:
youareminebestfavourite · 01/09/2021 03:16

How about a sensor light that's triggered as you walk past it? Not sure if you'd be able to put one in without re-wiring, but surely there are some out there that you can add to an already wired room?

msbevvy · 01/09/2021 03:22

An Alexa bulb or similar?

Ponoka7 · 01/09/2021 04:10

What's the plug situation like? Could you have a lamp somewhere convenient? Or just a battery operated bulb.

NotJuryDutyAgain · 01/09/2021 05:34

Not ideal for guests, but if you have an Alexa device within hearing/speaking-distance of the room, you can make any lamp voice-controlled with an Amazon smart plug. Or use a smart bulb that you can turn on and off through Alexa or similar.

SukonthaM · 01/09/2021 05:51

I was also going to say get an Alexa. You can voice activate it or turn it on with your phone

NoHeavenNoMore · 01/09/2021 05:53

@youareminebestfavourite

How about a sensor light that's triggered as you walk past it? Not sure if you'd be able to put one in without re-wiring, but surely there are some out there that you can add to an already wired room?
Yes, we did this on our stairs. We have two magnetic, rechargeable LED lights which are on sensors. Stay on for set amount of time as you walk up of down the stairs. Saves the whole landing light being on upstairs every 2 minutes when someone's going up or down. Works great for us Smile
onelittlefrog · 01/09/2021 06:02

Alexa.

But you'll need to buy an Alexa and a smart plug/ smart light, so it might end up no cheaper than rewiring.

Still it's awesome to have voice activated lights :D

billyt · 01/09/2021 08:21

Bit of lo-tech suggestion.

If you are up to it, or can afford for an electrician to do it, you could run another cable and you could install two-way lighting switches.

You'd need a three-core and earth cable between the two switch locations and then two two-way switches. That way you can turn lights on/off from either point.

smalalalalalala · 01/09/2021 09:23

We have Alexa in the bedroom because the switch is behind the door (we are lazy) and it is a pain!

If you are just passing through the room, you'll keep barking at Alexa 'Alexa, light on', 'Alexa light off' over and over.

Wireless light switch is what you need.

Electriccircus · 01/09/2021 09:24

Look up Quinetic wireless switches, could be an easier solution to your problem.

maddening · 01/09/2021 09:25

Wireless switch, clap on switch, motion sensor battery light in room.

nannynick · 01/09/2021 09:45

You can get a bulb which has a built in movement detector. So you leave it switched on all the time... the bulb only lights when there is movement and only does so if the light level in the room is too dark.

Here is an example: www.thelightbulb.co.uk/gls-a60-9w-240v-e27-6500k-sensor-light-led-opus/

AtticusHoysAnus · 01/09/2021 10:34

Either get wiring and switching done correctly.

Or get a yeelight bulb and control from Alexa.

Di11y · 01/09/2021 12:18

Yes alexa is the easy answer though it might not be as much as you think to re-wire

BeenThruMoreThanALilBit · 01/09/2021 12:29

God I feel old! Can’t you just put a lamp at the non-switch end, on a time-switch?

steppemum · 01/09/2021 12:33

our utility room has a bulb on a movement sensor, and so does the garage.

So walk in, light turns on, and stays on for about 5 minutes. it sometimes goes off while I'm hanging washing, and then you move and it comes on again.

It is incredibley easy to do, the bulb has a sensor in the bottom of it, so you just screw a light bulb into the socket, and turn the light on at the wall. The only thing you have to remember is not to turn the light switch off at the wall.

minniemoll · 01/09/2021 12:38

My house is a bit like this, I have lamps in most rooms with low wattage LED bulbs (3 or 5w) on smart timers, so they come on at sunset and go off at midnight (or before if I tell them to via Alexa), but you could just have a standard timer.

CastleCrasher · 01/09/2021 12:43

We have a room like this (electrician messed up and we didn't want to retracj walls). Got a wireless switch instead. Bonus is we have a remote control to run the lights now too! Alternatively an Alexa or Google light would work without needing your phone or an electrician

rslsys · 01/09/2021 12:57

Ikea lightbulbs. You can get wireless switches that you can stick to the wall to control them.

StatisticallyChallenged · 01/09/2021 14:06

LIghtwave switch - you just replace the switch. Works with Alexa voice control

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