I don’t know how many nights I’ve fumbled through my dark house—either after falling asleep on the couch or making a bathroom run at 2 AM after my Alexa routines turn off our lights at night. My options were lousy: feel my way along the walls and hope I don’t stub my toe, or turn on the overhead lights and immediately regret it. Plug-in nightlights weren’t going to work. I’ve got a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old who pull those things out like it’s their job. Plus, I never liked how they stick out of the wall and look kind of tacky. Then, I came across the SnapPower GuideLight. For roughly $23 per outlet, my nighttime stumbling ended. This was one of those purchases that actually worked as it should.
Why traditional nightlights weren’t cutting it
The aesthetic and practical problems with plug-in nightlights
I tried the plug-in nightlight route for years, and it never worked. No matter which style you pick, it always looks clunky sitting in your outlet. They stick out awkwardly and disrupt the clean appearance of your walls.
Then there’s the kid factor. To my kids, those nightlights were irresistible playthings. I’d install one, and a day or two later, it’d be sitting on the floor.
Most bathrooms and hallways don’t have extra outlets sitting around unused. Mine were already spoken for—phone chargers, electric toothbrushes, hair dryers. Giving one up just to see at night felt like a waste.
I tried motion-sensor plug-ins and different styles, but nothing worked on all fronts. I kept having to pick which problem I could live with: safety concerns, ugly aesthetics, or losing outlet space. Thankfully, I found something that didn’t force that compromise.
How the SnapPower GuideLight solved everything
A GFCI outlet cover that works as a built-in nightlight
The GuideLight is a replacement cover plate for your existing outlet with built-in LED lights along the bottom edge. Instead of plugging something in, you swap the cover. There are little prongs on the back that rest against your outlet screws—that’s how it steals power for the LEDs without blocking your sockets.
It’s got a sensor that detects when it’s dark, so the thing just runs itself. There are no buttons or switches to mess with.
You can get them for GFCI outlets (those with test and reset buttons in bathrooms and kitchens), regular duplex outlets, or decorator outlets. I bought a 2-pack of the GFCI type for about $46.
I tackled my bathroom GFCI first because that’s where I needed help most. Getting up at night meant either dealing with the bright vanity lights or stumbling around blind. I wasn’t convinced this outlet cover would solve anything, but I decided to chance it to find out.
Installing the GuideLight was easier than expected
A five-minute DIY project that requires no electrical experience
I’m not an electrician, but this was pretty easy. The first thing I did was flip the breaker for the bathroom outlet. You’re not touching any wires, but you should still kill the power when you’re working around outlets. I used one of those outlet testers to double-check I’d flipped the right breaker.
Once I knew the power was off, I took out the screw holding the old cover plate.
The old cover came right off. I positioned the new GuideLight cover, so the prongs on the back touched the outlet screws, then tightened it down with the screw it includes. This took about five minutes in total.
When I turned the breaker back on, the light kicked on immediately since it was already evening. That was it—no wire work, no cutting, and nothing complicated.
After the first one went smoothly, I moved on to the hallway outlets. Those were standard duplex outlets, so I grabbed the regular Duplex GuideLight version. They installed just as easily, and by the third one, I had it down to a couple of minutes.
The benefits that made it worth every penny
Perfect lighting levels and aesthetic appeal
The light output is perfect for what I needed. The LED strip along the bottom puts out a soft glow that hits the floor—just bright enough to see where you’re walking without being harsh. I can make it from my bedroom to the bathroom now without touching a single light switch.
During the day, the GuideLight doesn’t look special. Just another outlet cover on the wall.
The automatic sensor has worked perfectly since I installed it a few months back. I don’t think about them during the day. They click on at dusk and off at dawn. There’s no maintenance, no batteries to swap, nothing to flip.
My kids ignore them completely since there’s nothing to yank out or fiddle with. The cover sits flat against the wall, held by a screw. My kids lost interest immediately.
The real payoff is the feeling it creates in the house. You know how nice hotels have soft lighting at night—where you can find your way around without it being pitch black or hospital-bright? I’ve got that now in my own house. The first night I installed them, I got up to use the bathroom and just walked there—no fumbling for switches, and no squinting in the dark or being blinded by lights. It’s a small thing, but man, it felt nice.
My plans to upgrade even more outlets and switches
Expanding the SnapPower system throughout the house
The success with the GuideLights got me looking into SnapPower’s other products. They make a similar version for light switches called the SnapPower SwitchLight. It features the same LED nightlight, automatic sensor, and easy installation, but made for your light switch cover plates—they even make styles that fit over smart switches and the USB outlets I recently installed.
I plan to get a handful of these for the holidays. They make great stocking stuffers—useful, not expensive, and most people won’t buy them for themselves. I’m going to put them in our entryways, garage, and at the top and bottom of the stairs.
My goal is to get this soft nighttime lighting everywhere it matters. The whole setup will cost me $100–$200 more, which seems like a lot, but they should last several decades.
A small investment that made a big difference
The best home upgrades aren’t always expensive remodels or fancy smart home gear. Sometimes you just need a smart solution to something that’s annoyed you for years. The SnapPower GuideLight did everything I needed—it keeps my kids safe, looks normal, works great, and sure, it costs more than a nightlight, but you’ll never have to worry about it. If nighttime stumbling drives you crazy, or your kids treat plug-in nightlights like toys, spend the $23 per cover. The installation takes five minutes, and you’ll feel the difference immediately.
