Wondering how to make track lighting look good? Track lighting ideas aren’t generally at the top of an interior designer’s list for current room styling. In fact, track lighting more often finds its way onto outdated decor lists. Track lighting, however, like its equally maligned brothers, wood paneling and ceiling fans, does have a place in modern interior design.
Because it is so flexible with both looks and functionality, track lighting is one of the most versatile home lighting fixtures. Track lighting can be your savior if you don’t want to rewire your home but you want to light an area that isn’t wired for a fixture. You can install track lighting to fit with the current wiring because track lights can extend so far from their wiring, you can get the light where you need it to be.
Not convinced? Check out these seven modern track lighting ideas to see how this old home decor veteran can make some new tracks in your home.
1. Focus on a Task
When it comes to true usable light, few light fixtures can beat track lights. One track of lighting can point in multiple directions, which allows you to aim the brightness right where you need it. In a home office space, for example, if you wanted to light two work areas, you’d generally need either two fixtures or a fixture and a lamp. Track lighting does away with this lighting duality. One fixture can serve many areas.
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2. Frame a Room
Getting a light to extend throughout a room often requires a powerful central fixture or a series of recessed lights. Another option that works well is track lighting installed in a square configuration instead of just a straight line. Especially ideal for confined spaces like smaller kitchens, this type of lighting allows you to use the ceiling for something other than a big light fixture. You can, for example, hang a rack for pots and pans in your kitchen and use track lighting around it.
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3. Illuminate Artwork
One of the most popular hall lighting ideas is using track lighting to show off artwork displayed on walls. Because other types of hall lighting, like pendants or ceiling mount fixtures, leave dark areas in the hall, beloved framed pieces can get lost in shadows. With track lights, you can aim the light directly your wall displays.
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4. Draw on the Ceiling
Low-ceilinged rooms aren’t ideal places for ceiling fixtures. Because a ceiling fixture large enough to generate the light you need will act as a sort of weight to bring the ceiling down, it’s best to leave these ceilings bare of fixtures. Although you can use lamps to light such rooms, getting enough lamps to properly illuminate these rooms can result in clutter. Track lights are a great solution to this problem. Because their visual weight is insubstantial, a track light fixture won’t pull the ceiling down. In fact, you can actually lift it a bit if you choose a curving track fixture. Such a fixture is like drawing art on your ceiling.
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5. Track Lighting Ideas for a Kitchen Island
Modern kitchens often use pendants to light up the island. However, pendants have a way of taking center stage in a kitchen design. Because they hang in your line of sight, they can upstage cabinets, countertops, and other kitchen design features. Track lighting isn’t such a drama queen. You can get track lights that curve in appealing, modern configurations. But instead of stealing the show, they’ll act as beautiful back-up for your other design choices.
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6. Spotlight Reflections
Track lighting might not be the first thing you think of when you’re focusing on bathroom light fixtures, but it can be a sleek and practical fixture for a cutting-edge bathroom. Install track lighting above your mirror, and you’ll have total control over how you light up your reflection. This type of lighting can be ideal for personal grooming like applying make-up or shaving.
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7. Highlight Minimalism
Modern minimalist design is exactly as its name suggests. This design style requires less instead of more. Pure open space and uncluttered expanses are the linchpins of this style. Therefore, most light fixtures can be too intrusive to work in these types of spaces. Track lighting, however, blends right into a minimalistic space. Providing just enough flair to augment room styling but not so much that it smothers it, track lighting can take the place of traditional hanging fixtures in areas like dining rooms.
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Hopefully, the above modern track lighting ideas have resuscitated your perspective on track lights. With a little creativity, you can use track lighting in any area of your home to insert some fresh character and efficiency into your space.
