I hear you on the headlamps—sometimes they just make things worse when you’re trying to see into a corner or under a cabinet. I’ve had the same problem with shadows, especially when I’m working on plumbing or electrical stuff. The magnetic lights are handy, but I’ve found they don’t always stick where I want, especially on painted or uneven surfaces.
One thing I started doing is keeping a small rechargeable lantern in my toolbox. It’s not super bright, but it throws a nice, even light and you can set it down anywhere. For really tight spots, I’ve actually used my phone’s flashlight wedged into a glass jar or taped to a broom handle—kind of a hack, but it works in a pinch.
Curious if anyone’s tried those LED strip lights you can stick up temporarily? I’ve thought about grabbing a roll for emergencies, but not sure if they’re worth it or just another gadget to keep charged.
I’ve actually tried those stick-on LED strips during one of my “surprise” power outages—figured it couldn’t be worse than holding a flashlight in my teeth. They’re not bad for quick jobs, but I found the adhesive can be hit or miss, especially on old plaster or dusty wood (which is pretty much every surface in my house). They do throw a nice, even light though, and you can snake them into weird spots. Downside is, if you forget to charge them, they’re just fancy tape. Still, better than tripping over a toolbox in the dark...