I would probably just cut the walls and run the outlet. Drywall repair is not a big deal. You can probably even do it with only one small patch. Search how to do it but basically you use a scrap bit of wood on the back side to to bridge the gap then screw the patch into it.

I would cut a small hole above the existing outlet probably 4-6 inches go sideways though probably 2-3 studs based on your drawing then stick an outlet in the closet with a old work box, for your 12v lighting.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-14-cu-in-PVC-Old-Work-Electrical-Outlet-Box-1-Gang-B114RB/100404027

You just need a long flexible drill bit to go sideways.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Klein-Tools-3-Piece-Flexible-Drill-Bit-Kit-53721/203913339

Another option is what's on the other side of the closet if its another room there might be an outlet on the other side if so this gets way easer. As you can bascily cut a hole in the same wall cavity (between studs)as existing outlet and the hole will be where the new outlet is. You just make Shure you use you don't cut in the exact same spot as the existing outlet.

Awesome, thanks for the reply! Let me check the dry wall approach. I was just trying to avoid extra work... Haha. But if it is the right way, I'll do it right instead of cutting a corner.

2nd approach you mentioned does not work here because the other side is just stairs and no power. But I have another closet which needs similar work and it has power on the other side of the wall. I can easily tap into it. Thanks for the idea!

>basically you use a scrap bit of wood on the back side to to bridge the gap then screw the patch into it.

Extra credit: chamfer off the edges of the hole with a box knife. When you attach the wooden backing, do a few wraps of painters tape around the ends that will be outside of the hole (I guess you'd say the "overlap" but it's an "underlap" or a "behind-lap", right?) Now the backer is inset a couple mm. When you screw the drywall patch to it, it'll be recessed a tiny bit, much easier to mud over it with no "hump". I don't use tape for small holes, like outlet-box sized, and never get cracks this way.

This is the right way to go, but can be a bigger project. Drywall repair is not a big deal, but it can lead to painting the entire room which takes much longer. If he has leftover paint and it was painted in the last decade, it probably doesn't matter.

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Awesome. Good tip!

Thanks. Exactly what I try to stop. We painted the wall recently (and the closet idea came as an after thought).

You could also bridge off the current recepticle and go back up the wall, over the top, and down the wall in the closet. Then just add a old work 1 gang box and you'll have a regular outlet in your closet. A little more work, but a lot safer and up to code.

True. Thanks for the idea. This is doable since I don't have to cut the wall and can access the walls easily since I'm upstairs. Awesome.

Haha, 1930's house with failing steel supply pipes and un-grounded outlets. Man, I've gotten good with the drywall patching! For small holes, like 1" - 2", I keep a roll of fiberglass mesh tape around - wad it up with some drywall mud and cram it in the hole; when it gets a bit stiff it makes a good backing to fill the hole up, a lot faster than tiny patches or trying to build up a glob on a ceiling (where gravity likes to F with ya!)

This is Ontario specific, but you cannot install a receptacle in a closet unless it has a single specific use case. This is proven during the ESA inspection when you would tell them it's only there to provide power to the closet lighting.

If the floor is out, a decent method is to extend an existing receptacle, drop the romex down to the floor plate (just above it), still running it through holes drilled in the vertical studs. If your trim is tall enough, you don't even have to patch anything.

Just run it to the spot you want, put in a rework box, and you are done without having to do any drywall work. Fish the romex through the holes you drill in the stud bay, add nail plates, and do all the work through the hole you cut for the new box.

You could also add a receptacle on the outside of the closet also, directly across from the one you want to add inside the closet. You are in there already and nobody has ever complained about too many receptacles.

Nice. Thanks for the comment about Ontario code. Yes, it will be only for the lights and possible to prove. Thanks for the idea about running the wire too!