Track Lighting Shopping Guide

Overwhelmed by the options available when it comes time to choose your track lights? Have no fear. This simple shopping guide is designed to point you in the direction of how to choose the track lighting that will work best for you. Choosing your track lights doesn't have to be a headache! Step One: Consider where the track lighting will be placed. Before you even consider the variety of track lighting on the market, think about the room where you plan to put it. How large is the room? How high is the ceiling? Will the track lighting be used as ambient light or as a direct light source for activities such as homework or cooking? Depending on your answers, the type of track lighting you'll need will vary.

Step Two: Envision your lighting layout.
Once you've nailed down the basics about your room, you can take a look around and try to envision what layout of track lighting would look best. If your room has low ceilings, you'll want to consider small track heads or recessed lighting to avoid creating a closed-in feeling. Also consider whether you want straight tracks running the length of the room, or if you'll need L-shaped connectors to handle corners and curves. You may also want to consider hanging the track lights in one of the other popular layouts, which include grid (criss-crossing tracks all over the room) or T and H-shaped track layouts.

Step Three: Choose your track style and track heads.
Now that you have an idea in your mind of the general layout of lighting your room requires, it's time to take a look at what's available. Limit your browsing to the track lights that will work in your setting to avoid confusion. If you need a low-profile light system, look for single tracks and track heads with small heads; in a larger room where you want a more dramatic feel, consider suspension kits that will lower the track lighting from the ceiling. If you want track lighting that will light the entire room efficiently, look for swiveling track heads.

Step Four: Make final measurements and purchase.
Before you actually buy the system you're eyeing, make sure to measure your room carefully and compare those measurements against the track lighting itself. Check to see that you get all the right track connection pieces- for example, if you're building a track lighting system that runs all the way around the room, you'll need four L-shaped pieces to form the corners. Measure the drop distance from the ceiling, if any, and compare it to the height of your ceilings. Check the size of the track heads so that you can imagine what they'll look like in your room before you order them.

And that should do it. Paying attention to these simple steps while laying out your system, and correctly choosing the pieces you need the first time, will make ordering and installing your track lighting system fun and simple.