Track lighting is a simple way to add lighting to an entire room or to simply provide accent lighting to highlight special features such as artwork or other areas in a room that can benefit from special attention. This type of lighting is installed on a mounting track fixed to your ceiling. The track can be custom configured to fit into the area desired and involves little or no remodeling since the track is mounted on an existing surface. The only requirement is that there is a power source such as an existing ceiling junction box.
Occasionally, the power source may not be in the location where you want to place the track lighting. A simple solution is to purchase what are called L or T track adaptors (also called connectors) that are unobtrusive and blend into the track lighting layout. These adaptors permit you to feed the electric from the power source to wherever the track lighting is set up.
Once the track(s) are installed, lighting heads or lighting cans are placed in the track and positioned to provide the desired lighting. Track lighting is very flexible allowing the actual lights to be twisted or angled in such a way as to provide just the right illumination.
As you research the lighting heads or lighting cans that are available, you will find that they range from fairly small fixtures to larger spotlight type lamps. Some individuals mix the type, size and power of the lights but for the most part, a uniform, identical set of fixtures will provide a more pleasing and professional looking layout.
Versatility is the key to considering magnetic track light. You may find a small area that doesn’t benefit from ambient lighting or other types of lighting such as table lamps, etc. This is often the case in hallways or other narrow, interior areas. A simple track lighting layout with just a few fixtures can provide just the right amount of lighting for these areas. Often set up on dimmer switches, track lighting can be adjusted to just the right level of intensity to get the job done. Again, track lighting is often an ideal option to highlight a piece of sculpture or other artwork that you would like to show off. You can reserve the use of this application to times when you have company over, leaving the special purpose track lighting off at other times.
Because of the types of fixtures available, track lighting can provide a feeling of warmth and intimacy in both small and larger areas of your home.
There are a number of other areas in the home where track lighting might be an appropriate addition. The bathroom is typically an area that has little ambient or natural light. A small strip of track lighting can be added near the shower. This will not only provide needed light in this area but will also create the illusion of the area being larger. Track lighting also works well above the bathroom mirror as an alternative to lights actually installed on or next to the mirror. The bathroom can provide a number of possibilities to highlighting task areas other than those mentioned above.
The kitchen and eating areas are often appropriate locations to install magnetic track lighting system. If you have an island in the kitchen, a small strip of track lights will do a nice job of illuminating this food preparation area. Some kitchens feature small counter-top eating areas that also lend themselves to track lighting.
Flexible track lighting is a fairly recent innovation that permits even greater flexibility than traditional track lighting. While many people don’t consider this type of lighting as attractive or stylish as traditional track lighting, it does provide an option that lets you install flexible lighting with a minimum of work. The basic idea with flexible track lighting is that the wiring is encased in flexible material (such as tubing) rather than on an inflexible rod. This permits this type of lighting to be used in a variety of ways and the lighter weight material often makes this a less expensive alternative than standard, rod type track lighting.