How to Use Track Lighting

When most people hear the words track lighting, they think of just one or two circumstances where it might be appropriate. Most think that in order to use track lighting, you need a very large room or hallway, perhaps with vaulted ceilings. The truth is that track lighting comes in a wide variety of sizes, styles and designs, making it appropriate in just about any setting. Using Track Lighting in Living Rooms Track lights can be used in any living room. If you have a very large room with high ceilings, consider using track lighting to illuminate the entire room by installing it all the way across the ceiling. If, on the other hand, your living area is relatively small, track lights can be used to highlight a certain portion of the room or to provide ambient light in addition to other overhead lights. Consider using track lighting above a reading area or along a wall where artwork is hung to create extra light where you need it most.

Track lighting is also versatile enough to fit in with your living room's existing lighting scheme. Install track lights in the center of the room if you've already got lamps around the perimeter, or vice versa. Track lighting can also be installed on a circular track around your ceiling fan.

When installing track lighting in the living room, your best bet is to choose flexible track heads that can be pointed in various directions, especially if your living room is used for multiple purposes. That way, for example, if you have a family gathering in the room, you can disperse the light evenly all over the area; if, on the other hand, you are watching television, you can turn the lights away from the screen so that they provide illumination without creating glare.

Using Track Lighting in Kitchens
Track lighting is perhaps the ideal choice of illumination for today's kitchen. Versatile, easy to use, and with a clean modern look, track lights make working in the kitchen much easier than conventional fixtures. Install track lights that run parallel with your kitchen countertops to illuminate the work area without casting shadows. Install a strip of track, or even a curved circular track, above the kitchen island to provide space for homework and food preparation. If you have high cabinets with counter space underneath, consider recessed track lights below the cabinets so that the dark area below can stay lit. The uses for track lighting in the kitchen are practially endless.

If you install multiple tracks in the kitchen, try to wire it so that each track can be controlled separately, if possible. That way you can turn cabinet lights or countertop lights on and off as needed, without having to waste electricity by illuminating the entire room.

Using Track Lighting in Other Rooms of the House
Track lighting is a great choice for long hallways, master bedrooms, or bathrooms. Install track lighting in dens, workrooms, and offices. The key is to customize the lights based on the room itself. If it's a fairly small space with low ceilings, use recessed lighting or track lights with small heads and a high suspension. Larger rooms let you go all out, with dramatic lights that sweep along the length of the ceiling and add architectural interest. Wherever you choose to put your track lighting, keep in mind the basic scheme of the room, and select lights based on the room's design as well as your typical activities in the space.