I don't have any of these lights you're speaking of, but you realize that it probably has no real circuitry right now-just batteries and maybe a regulator. To add something that will read and decode IR will be a pretty big addition--if it doubles the bill of materials cost/ adds three dollars, is it worth it?

What about a hard-switch on a ten-foot wire that can be stuck to the wall in an easy location?

Maybe a laser pointer and a photo sensitive switch could work and be cheaper.

Not really much simpler, really.

You would need a logic circuit (probably a small micro controller) in any case. An IR remote might be a bit more flexible,and probably cheaper than a laser transmitter, its sensor, and necessary optics.

Still, and IR receiver and a micro (even in sleep mode) would draw some power.