For short term lighting needs, I use 6 volt batteries, a pigtail, and 6 vdc flashlight lamps. This rig can all be acquired at your local neighborhood hardware store. The 6 vdc lamp puts out sufficient light for playing cards around a table, light in the bathroom, night light for the kids to go to sleep by. The battery last approx 24 hrs in total.

For longer term events, I use Hurricane Lamps (coal oil), Coleman white gas lantern (pump type, uses the same fuel as my Coleman stoves), Coleman propane lantern, and my gas generator (plugged into my main breaker panel) which will light up a couple of rooms while I'm cooling down my refrigerators and freezer.

I also maintain a rotated supply of different sized batteries for flashlights and small handheld electronic games (keeps the kids occupied)

There is still the supply of candles for long term lighting when all the other options have been exhausted.