I thought this cheap Ikea cupboard light would help solve my storage woes — I was wrong

Ikea GÖMPYSSLING lights
(Image credit: Ikea / Future)

Ikea makes some great, budget-friendly home gadgets. Its recent selection of Matter-compatible smart sensors are a major win, not to mention the color-changing donut light that was the standout of CES. So when it came time to embark on my annual Big Cupboard Sort-out, I turned to Ikea for gadgets that might help me stay on top of my clutter (and perhaps to motivate me to get started in the first place).

Almost immediately, I happened upon the Gömpyssling sensor-operated LED light, for $4.99 for 2 in the US or £3 for 2 where I live in the UK. These puck-shaped lights adhere to the top of your cupboards and light up when the door is opened, so you can see what's going on inside.

The Gömpyssling product instructions read: "A new and fully charged Ladda [Ikea] battery, 2450mAh HR06 AA 1.2V, will last at least 5 months if the lamp is used 5 minutes per day." I used new batteries, but a relatively cheap make, so I'll be testing out Ikea's own-brand batteries to see if they yield better results.

In general, though, I'm annoyed with myself at opting for a battery-powered option in the first place. Even if I find a longer-lasting battery solution, it still feels a poor choice when it comes to sustainability — not to mention the cost of batteries quickly cancelling out the saving I made by opting for this cheap-and-cheerful option.

US alternatives

UK alternatives

Ruth Hamilton
Collections Editor

Ruth is TechRadar's Collections Editor, responsible for masterminding TechRadar's approach towards the new Collections format — a themed, curated selection of product recommendations designed to provide readers with an exciting new way to shop for the very best new gadgets and gizmos.

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