Using Track Lighting as a Useful Design Tool

Using track lighting in innovative and unusual ways has come into being currently since you can now place track lighting on walls as well as ceilings. Cable and monorail use has modernized many installations in ways not possible just a few years ago. It's time to reconsider track lighting.

Older light systems were pretty much limited to a center ceiling fixture and floor lamps. An occasional single hanging light could be found but not frequently. These items have either been totally replaced or added to with contemporary track lighting adding to the localized nature of a modern system.

Having the ability to put your light in exactly the spot you need light is a great advantage. In the past your only choice was to make the light brighter. Locating the light precisely gives you design advantages like color and shading. Moreover, as the light heads become smaller and the lights are giving off more light these advantages are expanding the usefulness even further.

While the new systems have become more narrow in width, they have also become more flexible in the monorail design. Curved tracks are available and these give a lift to creativity as a new pattern is crafted. Ribbon style arrangements can now be made adding to the variety in a design toolbox.

Pre-shaped tracks can be found in metal or even glass configurations for various combinations of ideas. Add hand shaped tracks to this mix and you have a huge variety of ways to satisfy the needs of of your own ideas about the décor of a room or just one area of a room.

Advanced lighting fixtures are particularly useful in a kitchen. Areas where certain work is being done benefit greatly from this style of lighting. In addition, the overall atmosphere of the kitchen can be modified or even changed by artful use of the various track shapes and dimensions. If you have a center island or a dimly lit pantry, track lighting can brighten and emphasize these useful spots. Any remodel should certainly involve track lighting in the planning.

Having the ability to vary the light brightness and location is also a big advantage in the bathroom. Applying make-up, skin treatments and low light relaxing tub baths are a few of the things that can be enhanced by using track lighting in the bathroom. Once again, your own creativity can find additional ways to make the lighting more enjoyable.

Keep in mind that track lighting is not intended to be the only light source in a room. It won't give enough total light for entire room lighting. Also, when using lights on a wall, it's a good idea to make the spacing about 2 feet or so, in order to get a good spread of the light effect.

Contemporary track lighting systems can give your rooms quite a variety of looks and add a nice feel to some previously drab and dim areas. Use track lighting, you will be glad you did.

*Eric Strandberg LC, Demystifying Track Lighting, LightingDesignLab.com