Everything You Need to Know about Track Lighting 

Want to give your house a much-needed makeover without having to deal with costly and messy renovations? Then lighting is the easiest way to reach this goal. Proper lighting is no less than a facelift that helps you view your living space in a whole new light – quite literally and figuratively. However, you cannot just add or remove fixtures without considering the initial circuitry or layout. What you can do, is introduce track lights for modern homes.

As the name indicates, track lights are ceiling-mounted fixtures supported by a track or a rail. This backbone of a structure supplies power to individual fixtures attached to the track.

Today, we take a look at all things track lighting – from its different types to where to place track lights.

Types of Track Lighting Systems

Track lights offer absolute versatility through their different lighting head types (cylindrical, pinhole, cube, round back, etc.), bulb types (LED, halogen, incandescent, etc.), track shapes (H-track, J-track, L-track, etc.), and speciality features (dimmers, transformers, filters, etc.). However, track lighting systems can be categorised as:

1. Fixed Track, where the lightbulb head is attached to the track in a fixed position and cannot be moved. They can, however, be angled in any direction that you like.
2. Swing Arm Track, where the track lighting system has multiple “arms” that can swivel in any direction like a joint. While the lightbulb heads cannot be moved along the track, the arms offer a high degree of motion.
3. Standard Track, which is also known as linear track. This features a single track equipped with lights, which can move along the track. They are the simplest track light systems and are super easy to install.
4. Monorail Track offers a high degree of flexibility. On the one hand, the lightbulb heads can effortlessly slide along a track; while on the other hand, the track itself can be bent and shaped whichever way you like.

Benefits of Track Lighting

As you wade through this sea of information, you may wonder why you should bother with track lighting? Aren’t such items best suited for museums and art galleries?

Well, here are a few noteworthy advantages of track lighting that might change your mind:

1. They come in different shapes, sizes, and materials while offering varied lighting effects. As such, they can add to the aesthetics of your home.
2. They are highly versatile and flexible, and you can design them to suit your lighting requirements.
3. With ceiling-mounted lighting offering a layered effect to your home, you no longer have to expend floor space on lamps or other fixtures.
4. When used strategically, track lights can highlight or accentuate certain areas of your home and make them pop out.
5. Track lights are movable and can be moved according to your requirements, preferences, and decor – even if these variables were to change.
6. You can use power-saving or high-luminosity lights to orchestrate the desired lighting effect at your home.
7. Track lights are available in cool and warm shades, and some are even programmable to change colours.
8. You can link tracks together or connect multiple tracks to the same circuit, which makes them extremely flexible.
9. They are space-efficient and deliver more value regardless of size.
10. They are easy to install.

How to Incorporate Track Lights in Your Home?

The use of track lights for modern homes can be broadly classified into the following applications:

Accent Lighting

As the name indicates, this application of track light highlights a particular portion or section of the wall. You can use it to draw the viewer’s attention to a photograph, art, or any other statement piece. Accent track lights are best used with halogen light bulbs.

Wall Washing

Wall washing relates to the even illumination of a wall. It is typically used for non-textured, vertical surfaces (refer to wall grazing for the rest). The track lights are installed parallel to the wall and the light heads are evenly distributed along the track. Fluorescent or halogen bulbs are used for wall washing.

Wall Grazing

Unlike wall washing, which is subtle yet captivating, wall grazing offers a dramatic effect on a wall. It capitalises on the natural texture of bricks, stones, or draperies on the wall to magnify its texture. It not only captures and holds attention but also adds to the cosmetic value of the living space.

Ambient Lighting

By blending in a variety of light sources, you can use track lights to mimic ambient lighting. A bright track light in the middle, when surrounded by a series of dimmer lights can make the lighting appear natural and alleviate eye strain. You can even program it as mood lighting.

Track Lighting Care and Maintenance

Now that you understand where to place track lights, let’s round up the blog with a few tips on care and maintenance.

1. Do not switch on or switch off the track light frequently.
2. Replace lamp heads, bulbs, and other accessories from time to time.
3. Disconnect and remove the movable elements before cleaning or dusting the track lighting.

Track lights are the perfect lighting solution to modernise your home without committing to a standard, immovable fixture. Moreover, track light prices – from material to installation – are rather affordable. Not to mention, you enjoy absolute control over what to illuminate and how.

If you want to hop aboard this trend but don’t know how to incorporate track lights in your home, contact a HomeLane expert today and we will show you the way!