Young House Love

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How To Add Remotes To Your Bedside Lamps

Number five is alive! (Short Circuit, anyone?) I went with that intro because we recently added a helpful robot to our household (you know I’m into gadgets – I think my favorite post ever was this one entitled Super Toilet).

Let me start from the beginning. We’re big proponents of having lights that you can reach from bed. It sounds obvious, but for a while the only light in our first master bedroom was overhead and operated by the switch by the door (which feels miles away when you’re lying in bed half asleep). So until we installed the wall sconces two years into living there, we experienced a battle of wills each night to see who would have to make the trek to flick the switch. Picture both of us trying to fake-sleep to avoid having to be the one to get up.

Bedroom After

And when we rearranged our bedroom last September, we nearly ignored our own advice. Since my bedside lamp was sunken back in that nook, it took a good stretch of my long monkey arms to twist the switch each night. People asked if it annoyed me and I honestly replied that it didn’t. What’s wrong with a little pre-bed stretching? It definitely still beats getting out of bed and walking across the room.

Bedroom After

But over time… let’s just say that it wore me and my monkey arms down. My best description of the slow I-hate-this evolution would be this. A week or two of doing the pre-bed-arm-stretch = not so bad. A month or two of it = getting old. Three to six months of it = I’m finished with the straining of the arm (said a la Ben Stiller in this “I’m finished with the checking of the bags” clip). There are certainly worse problems in the world to have, but I’m always down for upgrades that make a room more functional – especially after six months of doing the harlem shake the sloppy swish the light limbo before bed.

Remote Straining

And since we’re both really happy with the room’s layout except for this small lamp-reaching detail, the solution I had in mind was some sort of remote (which a bunch of you had actually recommended months ago when we shared the new arrangement). Initially I yearned to implement some Jetson-esque system that I could control from my phone (since it’s often the last thing to leave my hands each night). Then I briefly reminisced about The Clapper (which I had growing up, btw). But the things I was finding (like this system from Belkin) started to feel like overkill. Then I stumbled upon this $50 system that was marked down to just $19. Sold.

BedRemote Amazon Shot

About a week after I ordered it, my little robot system arrived – and I was all dorked out about getting it hooked up. That’s when I discovered one major flaw in the design. The remote outlet is so big that no matter which outlet you place it in – the top or the bottom – it blocks the other one from being used. Bad robot.

BedRemoate No Thanks

And since the outlet behind my dresser needs to serve more than one electrical device, I was kinda annoyed at first. But it ended up being a blessing in disguise because it forced me to dig an old power strip out of storage so that I could plug the remote into that. Which meant that not only did I now have room for the bulky remote device, but I could plug everything else in at once (we used to rotate things out, so the fan or the baby monitor were only plugged in occasionally). Now that everything has power, this dresser is the quite the hub of activity.

BedRemote 4 Things Charging

But let’s not forget the best part. My mystical remote that makes light disappear right before our very eyes. Ooh. Ahh. (No strained arm muscles required.)

BedRemote Magic

Of course, reaching for the remote on the dresser every night wouldn’t be much of an improvement. So with a little 3M velcro I stuck it to the side of our bed frame, where it’s 100% hidden from view beneath the bedspread after we make the bed.

BedRemote 3M Glued

I tell ya folks, this is the life.

Remote Not Straining

And in case you’re wondering, I put one of the other remote outlets (since the set came with three total) in Sherry’s lamp so she doesn’t have to lift a finger to turn off her light either. Hers wasn’t as much of a stretch since it’s not set back in a nook, but I’m a gentleman, what can I say? It’s a far cry from the old days of negotiating who would have to get out of bed and hit the wall switch. Now I’m all “Oh, you must be tired honey. Let me get that light for you. You just rest.” #madhusbandpoints

I’m sure I’m not the only one who has added a simple techno fix that makes life a little easier. Are there any quick and handy updates going on in your house? Do you have The Clapper song in your head now? I do. Clap on. (Clap clap). Clap off. (Clap clap).

Psst- Today my lady wife is over on Style Me Pretty Living, just jabbering about “life behind the blog.”

Comments

  1. Justynn says

    Hey Guys,

    I actually have the Belkin one at home it use it downstairs on a lamp in my living room so when I’m not home I can turn lights on at night to make it look like somemone is home. I really love it and it makes getting up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water a bit less disasterous (less tripping over dog toys). I set it on a timer to turn on and off at certain times too. Originally I bought it for my christmas tree lights becasue I ALWAYS forgot to turn them off. I also like that you can add more around your house and name them then control them individually from my phone.

    Keep up the good work!

    Reply

  2. Sarah says

    I totally thought you were going to say that you got a Roomba, but this is so much cooler! I’m pretty sure my husband will now be requesting it for Christmas (or some other events he can come up with that’s sooner than Christmas & requires a present).
    Sarah

    Reply

  3. Sarah says

    Wow, I need to do this especially since we have an apartment and adding wall sconces isn’t ideal. We definitely do the “you came to bed last, you turn of the light” game but now it’s turned into two people racing each other to get under the covers first, and that stinks since my nightime routine takes longer than the Hubs :(. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  5. K. Moore says

    This reminds of a an old TV we had and the on/off button was broken so we bought a The Clapper to turn it on and off. Unfortunately our dog barks in two consecutive barks that were just right and was always turning the TV on and off!! Would have loved these remotes back then!! :-)

    Reply

  6. MC says

    This makes me irrationally happy. I’ve had a secret wish for the Clapper for years, so it’s nice to know this exists as a more modern alternative. Though I do think the clapping part may win out in the end…because magic, obviously.

    Reply

  9. Cindy says

    We have a lamp in every room downstairs on a timer to turn on at dusk and turn off at bedtime. It’s especially cozy feeling in the winter. We’ve always used them for Christmas lights. It only took us 20 years to figure out we could use this all year long. duh.

    Reply

  11. Lynn @ Our Useful Hands says

    Hahahahaha! I loved this post! You reference pretty much everything that makes me laugh these days. Whenever I get happy about something or want to do something (ie buy something the hubs says no to) I do the Sloppy Switch. It makes Michael run from the room with his fingers in his ears going “Lalalalala…” because he says that skit gives him the creeps while still being hilarious. So I use it as my special bargaining chip. “Pick my living room layout choice otherwise Mokiki does the Sloppy Switch!” Sometimes it works, most times it doesn’t. :o)

    My best, Lynn

    Reply

  12. Savannah says

    Awesome. I wish I had a need for this! So how does Sherry turn off the lights if John sleeps first and the remote is on his side? Or do you guys switch sides like we do?

    Reply

    • YoungHouseLove says

      I can always just reach up and turn mine off by hand (since mine isn’t set back in a nook) if John’s asleep first, but we usually go to sleep at the same time so John can click mine off :)

      xo
      s

  13. Melissa says

    We had a similar problem oming OUT off our bedroom. It is directly off the living room and the light switch is all the way across the room. We plugged our hanging lamp into one of those Christmas tree plugs where you step on the switch. The switch was just under the end of our chaise right outside our bedroom door. The trickiest part of that was finding a year round christmas store in june when I had the idea.

    Reply

  14. Susan says

    My husband put in a dimmer switch in our dining room recently and I still get so excited every time I adjust the lights. It really is the little things!

    Reply

  16. Erin says

    We actually have this exact system that we used to solve our problem in our living room – no overhead lighting, but 4 lamps. Agree with the gripe about blocking the other outlet but it is outweighed by the awesomeness of illuminating our space with the touch of a button (well, 4 buttons, technically.) LOVE IT.

    Reply

  17. Val says

    Nice! I’m all about any upgrade that enables laziness!

    We won a Clapper at Dirty Santa this year. I was going to send it straight to Goodwill, but it turned out to be just the ticket for the Christmas tree. No more climbing behind the sofa to reach the plug! And the clapping didn’t feel so goofy around the holidays — it was kind of festive to walk through the door and “clap on” the tree. Our holiday guests all had fun with it. So it lives on, in our tub of Christmas decorations.

    Reply

  18. Deb says

    Love this!!! My husband thought I was crazy for wanting a ceiling fan/light that had a remote. I had one previously and knew the joys of it and more importantly… I really can’t stand the cord that hangs down! Now he has seen the light… or doesn’t see it ~if he uses the remote!

    Reply

  19. Lindsay B says

    Neato torpedo! We could use one of those too. Thanks for the reenactment, John. I would’ve been totally lost without it! ;)

    Reply

  20. Carmen says

    Love the harlem shake @ UVA! haha! That would have been awesome if it was parent’s weekend.

    Oh & the light button is very convenient. Great fix!

    Reply

  23. MrsG says

    Hah! I love this idea! I can’t tell you the number of before-bed-debates my husband and I have had over who is actually closer to the light switches. (Our bedroom has two different switches to accommodate two different doorways.) “You have a straight shot to the light-switch, while I have to maneuver around the bed and dresser.” “No, your biggest toe is at LEAST 6 inches closer to the foot of the bed, therefore it is your responsibility.” “I gave GREW and gave BIRTH to your chid. Turn the light off.” “Touche.”

    I always thought it was huh-lar-ee-us that the hubs had a stereo remote in his truck while we were dating. He kept it in the cubby directly below the actual radio– therefore he had to reach to the radio to retrieve the remote. I’m sure my fascinating sense of humor is what won him over in the beginning. ;-)

    Reply

  24. Hanna says

    Awwww, Johnny Five. Short Circuit and Batteries Not Included were my favorites!

    I know the pain of only having an overhead light. My husband’s fix to the issue is to fall asleep with the blankets over his head. /grin

    Reply

  27. Sarah B says

    We installed a remote for our overhead light/ceiling fan for the same reason. It’s nice not having to stumble in the dark to get to the bed, or brave the cold to turn it on in the morning…

    Eventually we’ll get around to installing sconces by the bed, but for now this works great!

    Reply

  28. Deews says

    I have been reading this blog for years, but this is the first time I will comment.
    1st reason: Short Circuit! My fav movie ever. No. 5 no disassemble!
    2nd reason: I don’t have space for lamps on my nightstand. And I always thought that turning off the far away lamp without getting up is affordable to the millionaires. But today I am so HAPPY!!! I will be getting this asap. Thanks YHL. I loveee you guys.

    Reply

  29. Juliet says

    I’m looking for something just like this, but with dimming capabilities. So far I haven’t been able to find it. Has anyone out there seen one?

    Reply

  30. Avery says

    You should watch out for the fan on the same power strip with the chargeables. Motors make your power dirty and modern electronics are very sensitive to dirty power. You may not even notice anything, but I can cut down on their lifespan.

    Reply

  31. GreenInOC says

    From Freecycle, I acquired an Kulla floor lamp from Ikea and I love it! They were giving it away because the switch didn’t work anymore, you could only turn it off and on by plugging or unplugging.

    I figured I would use a timer on it but when I went to the hardware store, the nice guy showed me the remote and I was sold! It’s so worth it and it’s easier for me to reach over and press the button than get up and flip the switch anyway!!

    Reply

  32. Alyson says

    We have a similar system like this in our living room. Since we live in an apartment, there are no hardwired lights – just lots of lamps and overhead lights that plug into sockets. Instead of having to go all over and turn them on/off individually, we installed a system so it can all be controlled from one remote. So convenient!

    Reply

  33. Jess says

    Amazing! We’re sold!

    I have a standing lamp that I love from Target – it was $14 on clearance and it looks great in our bedroom. It has one of those chain cords to turn on and off. A few weeks ago, I tugged the cord a little too hard and it came right out! Since then, we’ve had to plug/unplug the lamp to turn it on/off. Remote ordered! This will be so much easier than moving the bed to plug the lamp in.

    Reply

  34. Lindsay @ jensoncrew says

    The remote of your robot didn’t sell me, but the idea of velcro to the bed… hello! I have a remote to my outdoor fan/light, and I have a time making sure everyone puts it back.

    I am ALL for making my life easier with lights. I was tired of leaving the front porch light on and seeing it as I drove off to work; and too lazy to go turn it off. I tried a daylight sensor, but rainy days made it turn on at random times. I then bought a toggle switch timer and I love it. You can program it to come on anytime. I have it set to come on after sunset and go off at sunrise (it’s smart!)I don’t have to worry about remembering to turn off the porch light anymore!

    http://www.jensoncrew.blogspot.com/2012/08/getting-technical.html

    Reply

  35. rachael says

    awwww I love your first house’s master bedroom!! I also thought that you guys got a Roomba, haha! This is much better though. Where are your sheets from?

    Reply

  36. Maggie says

    LOL is that quilt cover from IKEA by any chance? If so it’s the same as we have. Looked at your link, will have to search to see if we have anything similar over here in UK. Best wishes from Liverpool – your blog is an inspiration to me!

    Reply

  37. CassieJ says

    Im confused, doesn’t the remote shut off everything on the power strip? Is it possible to have the baby monitor and fan on at the same time for example if you’ve shut the light off?

    Reply

  38. Jennifer says

    Do you have any suggestions for something wireless maybe for a light switch that is really hard to reach? We have a switch at the sliding glass door for our backyard and it’s on the “wrong side” so we have to walk around all the furniture to get to it. Thanks! :)

    Reply

  39. Renee says

    Those things are awesome! My parents have several all over their house. Our local True Value hardware store sells them regularly for $15.99 but in December before Christmas every year they go on sale for $6-7. A steal of a deal. (but, of course, I forget to buy them every year and haven’t brought myself to spend $16 each) Great to use for the Christmas tree. And Short Circuit is my husband’s favorite movie…every once in a while he digs the old VHS out and makes me watch it with him.

    http://www.truevalue.com/product/2-Remote-Controlled-Indoor-Outlets/44010.uts?keyword=remote

    Reply

  40. Lindsay T says

    If a remote-control system is out of your budget, they make extension cords with buttons (like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-31324-10-Foot-Extension-Switch/sim/B003E46M60/2 ). They’re designed for Christmas trees, so you don’t have to reach behind the tree and get a face full of needles to turn your lights on and off, but I find they work really well for lights that are placed inconveniently for whatever reason. Actually, we have one attached to the space heater in our bedroom. It’s across the room on top of the dresser for maximum heat flow, but instead of having to get up and brave the cold room to turn it off, we just reach down and push the button next to the bed.

    Reply

  41. Stephanie W says

    My first thought when I read the post title was “NO disassemble number 5!” I love Short Circuit! It was one of my family’s favorite movies to watch together :) And those remote outlets are a fantastic idea for inconvenient light placement, I will definitely remember them.

    Reply

  42. Gabriella @ OLinA says

    This is too cool! We have the exact same problem(as I am sure everyone does) but it drives me nuts. My classic move is trying to shut the light and then doing the lack of balance slide which knocks everthing off the end table in one not so fluid motion.

    Reply

  43. Louise says

    Oh how i’ve missed your blog! I’ve had not internet for 2 AND A HALF WEEKS!!!! honestly, t’was awful…
    anyway, what a post to come back to! John, you are like Ron Weasley in Harry Potter! you’ve got a Dumbledore deluminator, COOL! :0) haha!
    off not to catch up on your other posts x

    Reply

  46. Lauren says

    What a great post, made me laugh! I do the same every night. I love the mirror over your bed, where is it from?

    Reply

  48. pallavi says

    Please tell us more about the futuristic box you call a charging station – it looks so clean and simple!

    Reply

  50. Anne B says

    My husband is going to be a happy man when this arrives in the mail next week! I immediately ordered it after reading your post. We recently rearranged our bedroom which left lights out of reach. He hates getting out of bed to turn them off! And let’s face it- it is the husband’s job :) Great find!

    Reply

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