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LED track lights are increasing in popularity as design trends shift toward modernization. With so many opportunities to use it, from retail track lighting to art gallery track lighting to track lighting at home, you can easily jump into this timeless trend for yourself.
What Is LED Track Lighting?
Invented in the 1960s, as the name suggests, LED track lighting consists of lights that are installed onto a track. On the rail of the track, the lights can freely slide back and forth. The angle of illumination can also be easily adjusted to shine in the exact direction you’d like it to. More often than not, LED track lighting is used in areas where accent lighting is needed.
Track lights are most commonly seen in the following applications:
- Hotel lighting
- Shop lighting
- Residential areas, especially in dining rooms, living rooms and hallways
- High-end clubs
- Museum lighting
- Art gallery light
What Are the Benefits of LED Track Lighting?
LED track lights have many perks to using them. Below are some of the main draws of this style of lighting.
- Simple to install. One of the biggest perks of this type of light is how easy it is to install. You can replace old light fixtures just by replacing them with track lighting fittings without the need for invasive installation.
- Easy to customize for the layout of any room. The track portion of the light can be placed most anywhere according to what else the ceiling is involved in, so you can usually adapt it to however your room is laid out. When installing it along walls or in the centre of the space, you are in total control of where it ends up to provide the desired illumination.
- Cost-effective and energy efficient. If LED lighting is known for anything, it is that it is energy efficient. Because it outputs most of its energy as light instead of heat, you get more bang for your buck with each LED bulb you have. This can not only benefit the environment but may also significantly reduce the amount you are spending on energy bills every year.
- Easy to reconfigure and change. Over time, your tastes in interior design are likely to change. With track lights, you don’t have to worry about having to completely rewire lighting. You can easily change your lighting as your room shifts in style by just adjusting the track heads.
- Varied size options. No matter what room in the house or shop you want to use track lights, it is made possible by the different lengths the tracks come available in. You can use each length separately or place them side by side to create long stretches of light with ease. Their space-saving nature also makes them particularly well suited for smaller areas.
How To Use LED Track Light Fittings in Your Home
Track lighting is versatile in that it can be used both as an accent and task lighting layer in a space. One of the ways to use them is to highlight points of interest. From architectural features to artwork to cozy nooks in your home, ceiling track spotlights can draw the eye to a certain area by bolding illuminating it.
You can also use track light fittings as task lights. Placing them over workspaces, reading nooks or sitting areas can provide plenty of light to see.
In residential settings, there are a virtually endless number of ways you can incorporate the modern style of track lighting. Below are a few key ways to do so in various rooms of the house.
Kitchen Track Lighting
In the kitchen, many tasks take place. From snacking at the breakfast bar to doing homework to preparing food, adequate lighting is important, and track lighting is a superior choice. You can install track lights that line the length of the food prep counter or bar to provide plenty of illumination. Over long tables, track lights create a modern look and shine light evenly over the entire area below.
If your kitchen is quite spacious or you have high ceilings, you can add double rows of track lighting to ensure the fixtures don’t get “lost” in all of that vertical space. Pairing track lights with pendants can add even more decorative flair to your kitchen through variety.
Kitchens with low ceilings can also benefit from track lighting due to the ability to make a room seem more spacious. This will also keep light fittings close to the ceiling, so there is no risk of hitting one’s head.
Hallway Track Lighting
Hallway track lights can completely transform the way a corridor looks. Since corridors tend to be long and narrow, they can be too dim and create a safety hazard without proper lighting. Even lamps and mounted wall lights paired with ceiling lights aren’t always enough to compensate for the layout of a hall.
Ceiling track lighting installed the length of the hallway, either in the middle of the ceiling or along the wall, can solve this problem. It can also make the hallway seem more spacious and eliminate the risk of a tall person bumping their head on overhead lighting.
Hallways are often a place where artwork is displayed. Track lighting shining on the pieces can update your space and give it a modern gallery feel.
Bedroom Track Lighting
A brilliant way to use track lights in your bedroom comes in the form of accent walls. By installing track lights behind the bed shining back on the wall, you can create a gorgeous glow across its entire length.
Lounge Track Lighting
In a lounge, mood lighting is key. Such atmospheric lighting is not something that you can obtain using your typical large ceiling fixture. Instead, track lights can be used over seating areas or to light up wall areas or artwork. This can create a moody vibe that is perfect for relaxing alone or with guests at night.
How To Use LED Track Light Fittings in a Hotel
Track lighting systems can be used similarly in hotels, especially for task and accent lighting. Some ways to use spotlight track lighting in a hotel include:
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- Reception desk. Installing track lighting over the front desk can stretch light out across the entire area. This not only creates a well-lit space that guests will be comfortable approaching in the middle of the night; it also gives employees enough illumination to easily see so they can comfortably do their jobs.
- Modern accent walls. Currently, hotels tend to have a defining feature of some sort in their lobbies. Whether that is art or an architectural feature, track lights can be used to draw the eye to them. In this way, you can quickly modernize your hotel and make a good impression on your guests.
- Communal spaces. Track lights in dining areas, reading nooks, conference rooms and sitting areas can create a welcoming atmosphere while keeping the space well lit.
- Using track lights with lower lumen counts in dark hotel hallways can ensure that plenty of light is spread throughout it without being too bright and aggressive on the eyes.
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How LED Track Lighting Can Improve a Retail Store
Shop display lighting is important if you want to make abundant sales. Without it, details of the items you are selling can go missed. When shopping in person, there are no product descriptions to inform your customers about the goods available. You must instead rely solely on visual cues to convince them to buy.
With track lighting, you can illuminate walls with special items for sale, end racks and more. The ability to customize the track light angles not only helps you avoid shadows; it also gives you the ability to change the direction of the lighting when you vary your displays.
In a boutique shop that has high ceilings, track lights can be installed at a height that shines plenty of illumination while adding visual intrigue to all of that empty space. You can even use it to highlight a customer help desk, so those in the shop can easily find their way to ask for assistance.
Why LED Track Lighting Is the Popular Choice for Museums and Art Galleries
Museum track lighting and art gallery lighting are crucial in a space that is primarily a visual one. The point of these institutions is to show off artifacts, artwork and other physical items clearly in a way that can be examined and admired.
Track lighting is commonly used to this end because of its versatility. With the ability to change the direction of the lights, illumination can be shown on any art piece, structure or other item no matter where it is positioned.
Since exhibits are constantly being changed, having versatile and customizable lighting is crucial in museums and art galleries. With it, the orientation and direction of the lighting can be shifted to ensure that it illuminates the new piece as well as it did the former.
Outside of practical reasons, it can be used to create mood lighting in a gallery. You can also use it in various levels of brightness to guide the movement and journey of a visitor throughout the gallery in a way that you prefer the art to be seen.
Which LED Colour Should You Choose for Track Lights?
Colour temperature is a way to measure the colour of a light. This is measured in units Kelvin. With a higher Kelvin rating comes a cooler colour, and with a lower one comes warmer shades. There is no one answer to this question, as it largely depends on the type of space you need to light.
Most often, restaurants and homes use 3000k to 3300k warm white light. Retail settings tend to go from 3000k to 4000k due to the clearer colour it offers. In an art gallery or museum, you will commonly see 5000k lighting. You can purchase bulbs to fit any of these settings for your track lighting systems in the colour option of your choosing.
5 Creative LED Track Lighting Ideas
Perfect for minimalist modern spaces, the LSP195 16 Watt Black And Gold LED Track Light is a sleek and subtle track light that has a sophisticated finish. Its black body with gold trim gives it a luxurious air that makes it great for art galleries and museums. It also works well in high-end shops or elegant kitchens. This light shines 1400 lumens of your choice of cool or warm lighting colours, so it is versatile enough for use in most settings.
If you want something subtle and out of the way, the LSP228 16 Watt Slim Style LED Track Light is a great choice. It has a thin, disc-shaped body that does not have a bulky look and can be installed anywhere without being distracting. Thanks to its black and white colour finishes, you can work any number of the fittings into any space regardless of decor without clashing. The product can even be used to create artistic contrast.
For a track light that draws the eye, the LSP226 5 Watt GU10 Hexagonal LED Track Light is the answer. This track light features a hexagonal shape and offers a geometric appearance to create modern appeal. Available in multiple neutral finishes and either cool or warm light, you can easily work this into any type of space, regardless of decor or purpose. It shines a total of 400 lumens, making it especially ideal for creating mood lighting.
The LSP190 20 Watt LED Track Light Fitting makes a bold statement all on its own, making it a nice addition to your home decor. It has a ridged edge along its cylindrical body that gives it visual intrigue in its own right. Perfect for home, shop or museum lighting, it comes in your choice of warm or cool lighting. This fixture shines a total of 1600 lumens of light, which also makes it particularly well suited for shops and museums.
Keep it simple with the LSP176 30 Watt LED Track Light Fitting. This track light fitting has a sleek cylindrical shape available in white, silver or black finishes to suit any location. With 2400 lumens of either warm or white light, you can count on it to properly illuminate large areas of intrigue, such as dramatic architectural structures.
