Track Lighting – A Stylish Way to Illuminate Your Kitchen
Track Lighting – A Stylish Way to Illuminate Your Kitchen
Track lighting is an attractive and versatile choice for kitchens. It provides a lot of directional light, perfect for illuminating kitchen countertops, an island, or even a dining area.
Unlike typical ceiling-mounted fixtures, which have a junction box that powers each bulb, track and monorail lighting can rely on line voltage running through recessed tracks. This makes them DIY-friendly and easier to replace than other types of lighting.
Cost
Track lighting systems come in a wide variety of styles, designs and head options (heads are the fixtures that hold the lights). These features help homeowners easily find a system that fits their home’s decor. LED Wall Light Additionally, many track lighting kits are available that include everything needed to set up a basic system. This can reduce the amount of time and money spent on installing the system.
Installing track lighting in a kitchen requires shutting off the electricity to the circuit that controls your existing light fixture and removing it from its wall switch. Once this is done, the rest of the installation is fairly easy. The most important part of the process is identifying where you would like to mount the new lights and keeping track of colored wires that are connected to the original fixture.
Depending on the number and type of heads, the cost of kitchen track lighting can vary. Purchasing track lighting at holiday or end-of-year sales can help lower the total cost.
In general, track lighting costs less to maintain than recessed lighting. Since recessed lighting is anchored to ceiling joists, it can be harder to clean and may need more frequent maintenance. Also, the bulbs in recessed lighting require frequent replacement and are more expensive than LED bulbs that come with track lights.
Energy Efficiency
A kitchen track lighting system is usually more energy efficient than a ceiling fixture, but the amount of electricity that it uses hinges on the type and number of bulbs used. Traditional incandescent bulbs use a lot more electricity than LED track lights, and the type of bulbs you select will make or break the cost-effectiveness of this stylish lighting solution.
Another benefit of track lighting is that you can adjust light direction as needed. This feature makes it ideal for illuminating artwork on a gallery wall, highlighting a centerpiece dining table or other focal point in an open plan kitchen/living space. You can also add a variety of lighting settings to create an ideal lighting experience that’s both functional and beautiful.
If you choose to install a track lighting system in your home, consider buying a kit that includes all of the necessary components. These kits can save you time and money compared to purchasing each item individually. They may also provide greater flexibility in the style of fixtures and layout options for your track lighting system.
There are several types of track lighting systems available to homeowners, including monorail and rail track lighting. Monorail track systems have a single rail suspended below the ceiling, whereas rail track systems are connected to one another by metal rods that can be shaped into any shape you want. Both styles come kitchen track lighting in a range of designs and finishes, so it’s easy to find the perfect fit for your space.
Flexibility
In a kitchen that’s constantly changing, flexibility is key when it comes to your lighting choices. Kitchen track lighting fixtures offer this flexibility because they’re comprised of directional light bulb heads that can be moved around as needed. This makes them ideal for a remodeled kitchen where you need focused light to follow a recipe or prepare meals.
Additionally, kitchen track lighting fixtures don’t require an electrician to install. Homeowners can mount them themselves using a guide included with each kit. To start, homeowners need to turn off the power to the area where they plan to place their track lights. This can be done by locating the circuit breaker for that part of the house.
Once the lights are in place, the homeowner must then test them to ensure they’re functioning properly. If everything is working as planned, homeowners can feel confident their kitchen lighting upgrade is a success.
While recessed track lighting is often the most popular choice for homeowners, it’s not the only option. Another type of track lighting that can be incorporated into a kitchen is monorail track lighting. This type of track is more flexible than standard tracks because it allows for multiple light bulb heads to be strung together over countertops and seating areas. It also offers the versatility of having a system that’s compatible with dimmer switches, so you can change the mood for entertaining or low-light conditions.
Aesthetics
Aside from being a practical lighting solution, kitchen track lighting is also visually appealing. Gone are the days of clunky, utilitarian-looking track lights; today’s options offer sleek, modern designs that look as beautiful on your ceiling as they do in your kitchen.
With a wide range of design styles to choose from, kitchen track lighting can complement any style of home decor, from contemporary to traditional. Some homeowners even use track lighting to highlight collectibles and architectural elements in their kitchen.
In addition to choosing your light fixture design, consider whether you’d like your kitchen track lighting to have dimming capabilities. This will give you the flexibility to reap the benefits of bright lights while cooking, and then lower them for dining or relaxing. It’s an especially good option for open-concept kitchen/living spaces.
If you want your kitchen track lighting to have a more decorative look, consider using dangling pendants. You can get creative with the shapes and sizes of these light fixtures; you might choose larger shaped pendants over your island, and smaller ones to hang in less visible areas like above cabinets or shelves. Just make sure the total wattage of the pendants doesn’t exceed the wattage limit of the track system you’re installing them on. If you’re unsure, check with your electrician to ensure that the system can support the wattage of the lights you’re planning to use.
