Table of Contents This PDF includes a number of Learn articles that we have written that we hope
will help you with your Track Lighting project. Moreover, please do not hesitate to
reach out to us with any other questions that you may have.
Have a bright day and good luck with your project!
Track Lighting 101
Track Lighting Ideas
How to Light a Vaulted Ceiling
How to Light a High Ceiling
Track Lighting 101 Track lights are one of the most versatile lighting systems because the individual
fixtures can be positioned anywhere along the track and then swiveled, rotated,
and aimed in any direction. It’s possible to create a variety of different effects, and
you can tailor the lights to best accentuate your room.
However, this also means it’s hard to know where to start! Consider this your
how-to guide for using track lights to create the perfect effect.
First, you’ll need to decide what type of light you want the track fixtures to
provide. Track lights are typically used in one of three ways:
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Accent lighting, highlighting a particular object such as a work of art.
Wall washing, evenly illuminating a wall. Should be used for non-textured
vertical surfaces.
Wall grazing, dramatically highlighting the texture in a wall. Should be used
for textured vertical surfaces like brick, stone, or draperies.
Made Your Decision? Now Just Follow The Guidelines
Below!
Accent Lighting (Best used with halogen light sources): Measure the distance from the ceiling to the middle of the object being lit.
Multiply that number by 0.55 to determine how far away from the wall you should
place the track fixture. For example, if you are providing accent lighting for a
painting that is three feet below the ceiling (measured from the ceiling to the
middle of the painting), you should place the track fixture 1.65 feet away from the
wall.*
After you’ve determined the distance from the wall, position the track fixture so
that the light makes a 30-degree angle with the wall/vertical surface you are
trying to light up. This is the optimal distance to prevent glare and minimize
shadows.
*If you are lighting any object that has the potential to produce direct glare (such
as a photograph with a glass frame), do not place the track lighting any further
than three feet from the wall.
Wall Washing (Can be used with either uorescent or halogen): Mount the track fixture parallel to the wall. If your ceiling height is 9 feet or lower,
place the track about two to three feet from the wall. If the ceiling is between 9
and 11 feet, place the track about three to four feet from the wall.
Then, space the fixtures the same distance apart as the track is from the wall.
Wall Grazing (Can be used with either uorescent or halogen): Any time you are aiming for the wall grazing effect, mount the track 6 to 12 inches
from the wall. Space the track fixtures 6 to 12 inches apart and aim them
downward.
The light source recommendations are based on how well various light sources
produce easily-focused light. Wall washing and wall grazing does not require as
much of a controlled and focused light source, but this quality is very important in
accent lighting.
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Track Lighting Ideas Residential
More and more often, track lighting is part of the kitchen lighting conversation.
One very popular use in the kitchen is as kitchen island lighting. With the advent
of modern track lighting designs, you can find pendant track heads and rails in an
array of types.
DIY track lighting is also very popular in the home. You can do it yourself by using
kits to accent artwork on walls in rooms or hallways. The availability of monorail
track kits and traditional aluminum track lighting kits makes it easy to pull off a
DIY project.
Commercial
If you have ever been to a museum, art gallery, or shopping mall, you have
probably seen some impressive industrial track lighting systems. The heavy duty
tracks are very popular for displaying works of art and merchandise.
Which types of track lighting could help you create a memorable experience for
your customers or attendees? For example, should you choose black track lighting
to create a more theatrical experience? Do you want hanging pendants with
vintage bulbs? Will your displays be changing? Track lighting allows you to
continually optimize the lighting in your commercial space.
Track Lighting Fixtures
Departing from the traditional utilitarian aluminum track, monorail track lighting
delivers versatility and functionality with a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Monorail systems are excellent for residential spaces. They look great with
pendants hanging over kitchen islands or accenting the most important places in
the heart of the home.
There are also fixtures that fall under the category of flexible track lighting. This is
a great option for creating a unique monorail shape for your unique space. But
remember, "flexible track lighting" is not always bendable by hand. Some require a
special track bending device. If you are not interested in customizing a monorail
yourself but are still interested in unique track lighting, you are in luck because
many come pre-formed into cool shapes.
Types Of Track Lighting Sources
Many track heads can accept halogen, incandescent, compact fluorescent (CFL),
or LED light bulbs. The kind of light source you choose should correlate to your
purpose for installing track lighting. Are you spot lighting art work? If so, think
halogen or LED more so than CFL.
One thing to keep in mind, though, is that not all track lighting heads are
compatible with all LED light bulbs. Always confirm with the manufacturer that
you are using light bulbs that work well with your track fixture.
If you do want to go LED, think about an integrated LED track system. It is true
that integrated LED track heads have to be replaced when the LED dies. But LEDs
generally last a long, long time. A typical user of integrated LED track lighting
might not have to worry about replacing the head for twenty years! At that point,
who knows what light bulbs will look like? The fact is that LEDs were not designed
to emit light from the kind of light bulb that Edison invented so long ago. There
are some great LED light bulbs out there, to be sure, but integrated heads better
play to the strengths of LEDs.
Is Track Lighting Out of Style?
In the 1990s track lighting became very popular. Then, without many variations on
the standard aluminum track, track lighting looked like it was losing some
popularity to other kinds of fixtures, like recessed swivel lights. But with modern
and contemporary track lighting, including bronze track lighting and flexible
monorail tracks, it has become very popular once again. Is track lighting out of
style? Heck no! Just search Google Images for "kitchen track lighting," and see
what pleasant surprises you get!
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Light Fixtures > Ceiling Lighting > Track Lighting
How to Light a Vaulted Ceiling Vaulted ceilings can be great assets to any building, giving rooms a much more
spacious, airy feel. But all that extra space can also be a challenge to light. What's
the best kind of lighting to use on a vaulted ceiling? We're glad you asked!
Start With Recessed Lighting.
If your ceiling has any kind of slope to it, it will almost definitely benefit from a
healthy spread of can lights. You really can't go wrong with recessed lighting in a
vaulted ceiling because their versatility, inconspicuous design and customizable
illumination. There are many kinds of recessed trims you can pick from, and we
recommend choosing fixtures with housings specially designed for vaulted
ceilings, like these. There are a lot of different ways to space your recessed lights,
so take into consideration what effects you want the light to have. You might
choose to spread recessed lights across the whole ceiling, or keep them mainly
around the wall border. There's no right answer here, and for extra help, check out
our blog post on laying out recessed lights. Recessed lights do great as the
primary source of illumination, especially when paired with interesting pendant
lights that create a beautiful layered look in your vaulted room.
Use Pendant Lights To Fill The Extra Space And Jazz Up
The Room's Style.
Pendant lights and recessed lights are the dynamic duo of vaulted ceilings, so
make sure you take full advantage of both! Pendant lights don't work in every
room, so if you have a vaulted ceiling, go crazy. If you prefer something a little
more practical (like a ceiling fan) or dramatic (like a chandelier), who's to stop you?
Your vaulted ceiling gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to what type of
space-filling light fixture you want, so go with your gut. The sky's the limit.
For More Challenging Architecture, Try Something Linear.
Strip lighting looks really nice with ceilings that are rounded, especially if you can
hide it behind some kind of lip. If your ceiling has rafters or some other
warehouse-esque unevenness to deal with, you might consider track lighting.
Track lights are very versatile and give nonconventional ceilings a hip, artsy look
that could be just what you were looking for.
Want More Natural Light?
If you can make it happen, skylights are awesome for vaulted ceilings because the
angle of your ceiling will let in more sunlight than a typical flat roof might. This is a
fantastic way to light any room without spending anything on energy bills.
Have specific questions about lighting your vaulted ceiling? Let us know!
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Learn > Lighting Design > How to Light a Vaulted Ceiling
How to Light a High Ceiling Large rooms can be nice, right? In them, you can spread out, or have parties –
they're so versatile and the decor possibilities are seemingly endless. But when
you're charged with making a huge space feel full and cozy - like a home - things
can get real. Suddenly, the room is an ocean, and you are drowning.
While you can add furniture and wall hangings to your heart's content, there's
nothing like a quality lighting scheme to fill a room without making it feel
cluttered.
Warm light bouncing off the ceiling and walls gives you control over the entire
area of your space. It will turn a huge cave of a room into a place that can envelop
you.
Here's how:
Divide Your Room Into Three Sections. Add Lighting To All.
If you're at all into art, photography, or design, you've probably heard of the rule
of thirds. Applied to a room, this rule has you split the wall into 3 equal, balanced
parts - the top, the middle, and the bottom. These are your three different "design
levels." Furniture or wall paneling can go at the bottom, art or other wall hangings
in the middle, and the top remains as is.
By adding lights to each of these layers, the space will feel fuller and more
cohesive, with focal points to diminish the room’s large, intimidating feel. Add
table lamps, step lights, or uplights to the bottom portion. Floor lamps, wall
sconces, or low-hanging pendants can go in the middle. The top should have
recessed cans, track lighting, or larger, higher hanging lights or fans.
Finally! You Can Make Your Hanging Light Dreams Come
True.
Speaking of hanging lights – you now have permission to go wild. In small rooms,
with lower ceilings, you can have a few small pendants, or maybe a modest
chandelier over a table. But in your room? Almost anything goes, because you
have the space for it. How about an elegant set of lanterns or a giant, modern
blown-glass pendant? Now is the time to make a statement.
Whatever lights you choose, they'll be able to fill up the top third of your room,
and add a nice focal point so filling the rest of your space won’t be quite so
overwhelming. Don't be afraid to light your room with multiple chandeliers of
different styles. This can help you subtly divide the room into different areas dining, lounging, etc.
Be Generous With Recessed Cans.
A high shadowy ceiling is a comfort to no one. That alone can turn an otherwise
beautiful room into a spooky cavern. However, recessed lights can fix this. Their
sleek, modern design allows them to provide great ambient lighting without
making the ceiling look too cluttered. You can use them on their own, or to
supplement the ambient light provided by a hanging fixture.
To get rid of those creepy shadows against the walls, install lights closer to the
edge of your ceiling. To pull focus on a single point, place cans in a square or circle
around the central fixture. You can install adjustable cans or even lights for sloped
ceilings, so you can have just the right lighting scheme.
Track Lighting Is Your New Best Friend.
Track lights are adjustable light fixtures mounted on an electrified metal track.
When you install these lights on your ceiling (even your sloped ceiling – dream
big!), you can turn them in almost any direction and adjust them whenever you
feel the need.
You can aim the track heads in different directions for even illumination around
the room, or to highlight certain areas or features. They can wash or graze you
walls with light – another way to eliminate shadows and/or highlight texture.
Have You Been Blessed With Serious Architecture? Flaunt
It, Please!
Coves, cathedral ceilings, beams, high display shelves, arches and the like need
the night kind of lighting to avoid that uncomfortable, imposing feeling. Accent
fixtures like tape lights, rope lights, and puck lights in the right places will add
texture and warmth to an otherwise bare-looking space.
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Learn > Lighting Design > How to Light a High Ceiling