How to Use Wall Mounted Track Lighting to Highlight Your Home’s Decor

How to Use Wall Mounted Track Lighting to Highlight Your Home’s Decor

Track lighting allows you to highlight your home’s decor. They also provide an easy upgrade to any room without the need for complex installations or new electrical boxes.

Track lighting originates at a ceiling-mounted 120V electrical box. From there, you can run tracks based on your planned layout. The lights snap right into place on the tracks and can be angled to suit your design scheme.

Versatility

Track lighting is a versatile option that can be used to spotlight artwork or family photos in living spaces, illuminate workspaces in offices, or highlight kitchen islands and tables in dining areas. The flexibility of these fixtures is a significant boon for homeowners looking to add an element of style and functionality to their homes without complex installation or drilling into existing junction boxes.

Many manufacturers offer a variety of different options for tracking lights, from sleek track heads and pendants to multiple finishes and beam-spreads to suit a dynamic range of personal styles. Many of these tracks are also compatible with dimmer switches, offering additional function and control to the lighting layout.

When selecting a track lighting system, it is important to identify the placement of each fixture and the overall directional needs of the space. For example, homeowners will want to ensure that the track light is positioned high enough to provide proper coverage for their paintings or other objects on gallery walls. A good wall mounted track lighting rule of thumb is to mount a fixture 18 to 24 inches away from the wall for maximum effect.

It is also important to consider voltage when purchasing track lighting. Some manufacturers offer systems that are line or low voltage, while others require the use of transformers. To ensure that the correct voltage is selected, homeowners should check their home’s powerfeed and the junction box to make sure that the wiring is compatible with the chosen system.

Aesthetics

Wall mounted track lighting offers a more sleek aesthetic than traditional ceiling lights. They sit closer to the ceiling and are out of sight, providing more directional lighting for specific architectural elements or art pieces. They also offer the option to reposition them as your decor or room design changes. This means that no major home renovations are necessary if you want to change your lighting setup, instead just move the lights around or replace them with new fixtures.

In addition to the flexibility in positioning, the track light system is also available with a variety of styles and finishes that can blend seamlessly with your existing decor. They come in both metal and plastic to complement a variety of interior designs, from modern to traditional.

The lighting system can be adapted with a wide variety of adapters, allowing you to create unique configurations and shapes for your light fixture. These can be rigid in shape or flexible, and they include “L” and “T” adapters to allow you to bend the light fixture into any desired shape. Some of these are even designed to be curved, allowing you to create curves or full circular shapes.

You can further customize the look of your track lighting by selecting a bulb that has the ideal color temperature for your space. Warmer bulbs are better for ambient and task lighting, while recessed track light cooler temperatures work best as accent lights, drawing attention to artwork with a natural glow and helping colors pop.

Efficiency

Track lighting is an effective way to highlight artwork in a gallery wall, products in retail stores and many other items. Its simple and sleek design is a versatile addition to any space. When used with LED light bulbs it saves on energy and lasts longer than traditional incandescent or halogen bulbs. It can also be used to create a warm or cool effect depending on the desired atmosphere.

The power for the lighting comes from a junction box which is hidden in the ceiling, reducing the need to drill holes in your walls. This is a significant benefit for any home renovation project. There are a variety of tracks available to suit different projects, with lengths ranging from 3 to 6 metres.

When selecting your lighting system always check the wattage requirements of the lights you are purchasing and ensure that they do not exceed the amount of electricity the track can provide. Most systems have a limited number of lights you can fix to a circuit based on the amount of wattage they require.

To connect the lights to the track you can use an adapter plate or a connector to attach a single fixture directly to a junction box. The process will vary between designs but the general principle is that you twist the head to slot the prongs into the conductor channels on the track. You can then move the head as required to get your desired lighting effect.

Maintenance

Track lighting relies on a continuous, wall- or ceiling-mounted track for support and the electrical pathway that powers light fixtures attached to it. This design allows for a wide range of configurations that can spotlight a single piece of artwork or bathe an entire room in warm, soft illumination.

A common problem with this type of lighting is not planning the placement and direction of the light fixtures properly, which can create shadows or a less-than-ideal ambiance in a space. Another issue is using the wrong type of light bulbs, which can affect the color temperature and brightness of the lighting.

One way to minimize installation issues is to use a track lighting kit that includes all the parts necessary for your desired configuration. You can also purchase individual components of a track lighting system separately. Before installing the lights, ensure you have all the proper tools and safety equipment. This includes a voltage meter, tape measure, wire strippers, drill and safety glasses. Before starting, shut off power to the area where you plan to install the track by flipping the circuit breaker. If you’re not comfortable working with electricity, hire a licensed professional to handle the job. Before drilling, use a stud finder to locate the locations of the joists in the ceiling where you want to mount the track. Pre-drill holes, ensuring the mounting brackets are aligned with the joists and securely fastened to the ceiling.