Light Up Your Kitchen With Brilliant Track Lighting
With its flexible positioning and accent lighting capabilities, track lighting can illuminate any kitchen beautifully and functionally. Read on to explore the ideal types, layouts and brands of track lighting to brighten up your kitchen.
Whether you're cooking up a storm or hosting lively dinner parties, the right lighting transforms any kitchen. Track lighting offers adjustable fixtures perfect for spotlighting kitchen islands, illuminating task areas, and creating a welcoming ambiance.
Low Voltage and Line Voltage: Choosing the Right System
Track lighting comes in low voltage and line voltage options. Low voltage uses a transformer to convert standard household 120-volt current into 12 or 24 volts. The lower voltage allows for smaller, thinner tracks and heads.
Line voltage fixtures connect directly to your home's wiring for more light output. But low voltage's smaller scale makes it ideal for tight kitchen spaces. Low voltage also allows for more flexibility in track layouts.
Monorail, Cable, and Rail Track Styles
Monorail tracks are the most popular kitchen option, offering a single straight line of light. For a more decorative look, cable tracks feature twin rails held together by small cables.
Rail systems have multiple parallel tracks for endless layout possibilities. Their modular design works well when lighting multiple zones like islands and countertops.
LEDs: The Top Choice for Kitchen Track Heads
LED track heads are ideal for kitchens. Their superior brightness, energy efficiency, and longevity make LED the smartest option. LEDs stay cooler than halogen and use 80% less energy.
For ambient lighting, LED track heads offer wide floodlighting capabilities. More focused spotlights accent task areas perfectly. Mix and match for the ultimate in versatility.
Positioning Your Kitchen Track Lighting
Illuminate Your Island with Track Lighting
Islands beg for great track lighting. Positioned well, tracks here provide both lively accent lighting plus essential task lighting for food prep and dining.
Focus track heads over the central island space for general illumination. Add adjustable spotlights to highlight countertops, pendant lights, or decorative backsplashes.
Under Cabinet Tracks Showcase Your Work Areas
There’s no better task lighting than under cabinet track fixtures. Line your cabinets and counters with compact tracks and aimable heads to cast light right where you need it most.
Stagger the track along the cabinet underside for full coverage across your prep and cleanup zones. Use angled spotlights in extra busy areas.
Perimeter and Ceiling Tracks Brighten the Full Kitchen
Take a perimeter approach with tracks lining upper walls to wash vertical surfaces in uplighting. Enhance displays in glass-front cabinets or spotlight open shelving and accessories.
Ceiling tracks add overall illumination and depth. Align them with islands and countertops to amplify lighting layers. Mix in recessed cans for ambient lighting.
Shopping for Quality Kitchen Track Lighting Brands
For quality assurance, look for track lighting designed and rated specifically for kitchen use. Seek out durable metal constructions and finishes like matte nickel or antique bronze.
WAC Lighting, Kichler, Progress Lighting, and Hampton Bay offer a wide range of stylish kitchen track lighting to fit any budget or design aesthetic.
Buy complete track lighting kits so all components integrate seamlessly. Include extra fixtures and heads to illuminate your kitchen perfectly now and in the future.
Achieving the Optimal Kitchen Track Lighting Layout
Bounce light off ceilings and walls to avoid the cave effect. Mix in other fixtures like recessed cans and pendants with your track lighting.
Follow the kitchen workflow to spotlight key zones. Don't forget the dining zone next to the kitchen. Approximately 50 total watts per square foot provides sufficient kitchen illumination.
With the right layout, track lighting transforms any kitchen into a brightly lit cookery or sleek entertainment zone. The lighting flexibility and accent capabilities make track lights an essential component of kitchen designs.
Just follow the kitchen lighting best practices and your kitchen will glow with track lighting brilliance day or night. Adjust tracks over time as your kitchen lighting needs evolve for lifelong brightness.