How can you update trac lighting

Dee Dee
by Dee Dee
I can't remove the trac because I have cathedral ceilings and do not want to have to repaint the whole wall. It is the original track lights with 5 or 6 lights. Need an update.

  5 answers
  • Peg Peg on Oct 10, 2017

    I have a trac light in my office and it was this icky beige color. So I painted the main track part white and painted the actual lights that hang down from the track a bright white. It really made the room pop.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 10, 2017

    Look for new shades or paint with glass paint the ones you have if they are glass. Or if Metal - Metallic Spray Paint.

    • Dee Dee Dee Dee on Oct 11, 2017

      Thank you! That was my thought too. They are metal (White) I was thinking a Nickel - metallic spray paint. The track is white too. Don't you think I need to do track and shade? Appreciate your reply!

  • 17335038 17335038 on Oct 11, 2017

    What kind of bulbs are in the fixture now? You didn't say how old it was, but I'm going to guess that maybe they are halogen? Do they get really hot?


    If you are going to paint the glass shades then this will impede somewhat how bright the light is. It will also cause the glass to get hotter. I would suggest that you change the bulbs to LED, as they give off virtually no heat.


    In fact just changing all light bulbs in a room to LED and having a dimmer switch installed is one of the fastest ways to update the look of a room. Your colors in the room will look fresher, more clear, and there will be less shadows with the new LED bulbs.

    • Dee Dee Dee Dee on Oct 11, 2017

      Thank you for your reply. The track lighting is 25 years old. Has the bar across the wall with white metal globes. It using regular bulbs but I could change to LED and just paint all the track and globes to a metallic color. I am using a brushed silver hanging light fixture in that same room ... What you think?

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Oct 11, 2017

    Yes! Why not.........

  • 17335038 17335038 on Oct 11, 2017

    Yes, the brushed silver is more of an updated color than the white. With the LED lightbulbs you wouldn't have to go with heat resistent paint, because as mentioned already, the LED bulbs give off virtually no heat, especially compared with traditional incandescent bulbs heating up metal.


    LED bulbs come in different lengths of the neck, depending on the brand. Make sure that you get bulbs with the right length to screw into the globe part so that they don't hang out too far out of the bottom. The light will be too glarrish on the eyes and it will look like the bulbs are falling out. Depending on availability of choice where you live, this stage might take a couple of tries and returns back to the stores.


    How are you planning to not get paint on the ceiling if you spray paint the fixture?