From the humble beginnings of a “style” that defined a decade, spot and track lighting has re-emerged with trend-setting options designed to overcome lighting challenges and enhance a room’s drama and flair.

In fact, think again if “spot lights” conjure the image of clunky plastic designs and oversized light bulbs that seemingly cheapened the look and feel of most rooms.

Given its versatility and ease of installation, rail lighting, a more stylish, trendier version of track lighting, has become an intricate component of many residential and commercial environments.

First of all, the style options have never been more diverse and now include a wide assortment of lighting systems available in numerous finishes ranging from the contemporary colors and/or metals to antique nickel and bronze. In addition, the latest configurations have also been developed to comfortably and artistically include nearly any number of pendants, sconces and directional fixtures, which stylishly meet most functional lighting needs.

Furthermore, the mundane fixtures of yesteryear have been replaced by a wide
variety of designer looks that include glass shades in a range of colors, shapes and sizes that can complement nearly any décor style. Even the descriptive names of many of the fixtures have become more aesthetic and enticing as noted by the amber rhapsody, blue ellipse, caramel swirl, vanilla crème and opal rain offerings included within the Ambiance® Lighting Systems product line.

Another major benefit of today’s rail lighting is its unrivalled ability to meet complex design needs. Once a common staple of many homes, offices and commercial outlets in the 70s and 80s, spot lights and track lighting lost significant ground to recessed lighting in the 90s due to its ability to effectively deliver equal parts of general, accent and task lighting in a low-profile manner.

However, in recent years rail systems have re-emerged as the choice of many professionals given its new, updated style options that provide the utmost in flexibility. In fact, rail lighting has become the choice for many professionals needing to fulfill three tasks with a single lighting system. This includes adding drama and flair to virtually any contemporary or traditional setting, while solving intricate architectural problems with a system that meets all the room’s lighting requirements.

For instance, the best lit rooms in any home or office include three forms of lighting to fulfill any number of tasks and activities. This includes ambient or general lighting to facilitate movement and entertaining; task lighting to aid the completion of tasks such as homework, cooking and reading; and accent lighting, which creatively highlight artistic elements and other notable items.

As examples, kitchens, dining areas and office spaces are among the multi-use areas that can benefit from layered and dramatic lighting effects. So, why not combine rail lighting, which can easily be bent and positioned within nearly any space, with conventional lighting techniques to create layered lighting effects that readily accommodate the varied needs of these areas?

In addition, when used with dimming controls rail systems can also easily turn the common into the uncommon. This includes delivering enough light during the day to read or cook and then lowering the brightness at night to entertain with soft, glowing atmospheres that resemble candlelight.

As for the performance of other tasks, here are some other examples of the ways a well-placed rail system can be used to set moods and accommodate nearly any event, while creatively attracting attention to certain areas:
• Pendants and sconces placed above island areas and tables make them more useable for simple tasks while creating the illusion of a larger space;
• Rail lighting mounted two to three feet from the wall and aimed to highlight a particular area creates a wall washing effect that evenly showcases larger artistic elements such as murals and paintings; and
• A single light offering three to five times the ambient light in a space will dramatically showcase and draw attention to that object.

In conclusion, rail lighting systems, such as Sea Gull Lighting’s Ambiance® Rx Lighting System, can add style and drama to nearly any décor, while offering designers and other lighting professionals the ability to customize lighting solutions to meet specific architectural and design requirements. Whether using a pre-assembled kit or a build-your-own rail light package, these lighting systems are also easily installed with connections to existing electrical outlets as well as readily reconfigured to accommodate expansions and new needs.

Furthermore, these systems can also be designed with low-voltage or ENERGY STAR® qualified fixtures to create additional energy savings for users that are as interested in reducing energy bills and saving the environment as they are in style. For those less comfortable with low-voltage systems, Ambiance Transitions is a line voltage lighting system offering the same flexibility and design rewards as other rail systems, but operates on 120 volts eliminating the need for a transformer.

In addition, when installed properly, low voltage lighting can produce more than two times the amount of light as incandescent track and rail systems, while creating a $7.50 per lamp energy savings based on 1,000 hours of operation at a 10 cents per kilowatt-hour rate.

All of which provide smart, exciting choices that do not underestimate the ability of lighting to affordably make over a room without costly renovations.

About the Author:
Jody DeVine is a marketing industry veteran that has been with SeaGull Lighting for the past seven years. She is responisble for the company's overall brand strategy, advertising and public relations programs, as well as driving the channel marketing initiatives that serve SeaGull Lighting's lighting showroom partners. DeVine is also deeply involved in the marketing efforts for the Monte Carlo Fan Company.