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Home Decorating Lighting Design Dilemma

Are track lights outdated?

last year

I am trying to get good light in a dark, North facing den/office/tv room with one little window. There are currently two tracks, l-shaped, with 5 good-sized lights form th 80's, which throw great light in this room, but are there more modern alternatives? Thanks everybody.

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Comments (4)

Paul F.
last year
The new design track light fixtures are great. LED changed everything... so you don't have to have a 'good sized" fixture anymore for great light. If you want to switch it up, check into retrofit fixtures.
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PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
All the light need NOT come from the ceiling. Try adding table and standing lamps. Call an electrician and look into recessed lighting for the ceiling as well. If that's not possible? Yes there are lots of new track options. But lighting is layers. Low medium high in any room.

That would be the room we can't SEE: ) Add pictures to a comment box.
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Comments (1)
I haven't been too impressed with the quality of lighting fixtures offered at the big box stores. They seem adequate for rental properties, where tenants are likely to damage them in a few years anyway. It's not for everyone, but you might try shopping garage sales in older neighborhoods for fixtures. When young folks buy old houses they often want to "update" them. They then replace high quality 40-60 year old fixtures with big box store junk. A few dollars and a little rewiring, and you have a fixture good for another 40-60 years of service. But I have to admit, you're not too likely to find track lighting this way. :)
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Congratulations on the new condo! While recessed lighting looks sleeker than track lighting, I don't see any urgency in replacing the track lighting since you have other remodeling priorities (unless you really, really hate it). Unless this is a flip and you need to please some buyer in the near future, replacing the track could easily wait for a year or two. If the track only bothers you a little, you could look at keeping the track but replacing the track heads. There are only really three types of tracks, so once you figure out which standard yours is, you can buy heads that work on it, with a different look and maybe a different beam angle (I see "hot spots" on the cabinets from the current heads). Do you expect to sit at the counter a lot, or only occasionally? Backless stools generally aren't as comfortable as ones with back support. I love the look of the ones you chose, though.
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Please help with kitchen lighting.
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Comments (9)
Are your walls really painted gold? That doesn't do anything for your cabinets. Changing the paint will help with the lighting. The faceted crystal is so overly fancy for a kitchen IMO. https://www.amazon.com/Monroe-Tier-Flush-Mount-Chrome/dp/B07H8K6YVZ fixture https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/The-Monroe-Round-Clear-Crystal-Chandelier-Antique-Brass-Finish/21792900/product.html?recset=a5bc8364-fe94-4df2-8e7e-3281d68f3949&refccid=C52HUHTZRPYIESCENYLGWL2EMY&recalg=927,925&recidx=2
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Track Lighting - All or Nothing with Old Lights
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Comments (3)
The bulbs are incompatible with your dimmer. Remove the dimmer and replace it with a switch. Philips sells a "fake" dimmer you can attach to -- but is not actually wired to -- the wall (Philips, HD). The track lights are fine.
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PRO
CDR Design, LLC
last year
Can you show us a photo? Many would say track lighting is off-trend. However, in my opinion, they can look sleek and minimal, even if installed in the 80's.

Thanks.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I agree LED track can be awesome and sometimes track light is the perfect lighting to get light where you need it. I have LED track in my kitchen I love it I can aim the light right where I need it and very minmal to look at . Yes pics are always helpful post here in a comment DO NOT start another post. I o agree in any space lighting needs to be at different levels in the sapc eso table lamps . floor lamps and ceiling light .
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