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When we offer our readers suggestions for revamping their closets, we typically return to one key point: Even the most innovative redesign won’t work if you don’t light up your closet.

When you light up your closet, you make it a place where you can spend time, deciding on outfits and preparing yourself for your day.

So today we’re going to share some closet lighting tips, from the elaborate to the everyday.

1. Battery operated

If you have a smaller closet, a battery-operated lighting fixture is a solid option. Typically mounted on the wall or the ceiling, these fixtures are suitable for closets that don’t get a lot of use. If you find you are frequently replacing the batteries, it may be time to think about a hard-wired lighting source.

You dream of waking up and picking out that day’s outfit from a roomy walk-in closet. It’s well-lit and comfortable, almost like you’re hanging out in a fashionable boutique.

That’s the dream. The reality is that you keep your clothes in a cozy little wall closet. These closets may not be as generous as a walk-in, but they can still fill a functional need.

Let’s hear what closet designers have to say about organizing and maximizing your wall closet space.

Clothing too tight? Time to go

Closet designers say that a quick way to free up space is to get rid of clothing that you no longer wear or haven’t used in at least a year.

After that, zero in on pieces that are too tight, author and professional organizer Julie Morgenstern tells Real Simple.

"If a cluttered desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what is the significance of a clean desk?” - Dr. J. Laurence Peter.

We can buy his argument, to a point. A lot of geniuses—Einstein, Mark Twain, Steve Jobs – were known for having cluttered workspaces.

Most of us select clothes that reflect our personal style, and if we're appointing that task to our clothes, we need to respect them. Proper care of your clothes and sturdy hangers will result in longer wear, neater appearance, protection of your clothing investment, and the ability to choose an outfit easily since you can clearly see what you have. You won't wear what you don't see!

Being organized is different than being neat and tidy ...