But new styles have brought track lighting back to a well-deserved prominence in lighting design schemes.

Track light designs generally use a thin, rectangular support with a channel down the center. That allows for a sturdy hold on the lamps while providing a means for moving them along the rail. That gives flexibility to direct the lights exactly where they’re wanted.

That directionality is key to using track lights well. Because of their nature, they don’t make for a good option for overall ambient lighting. But they’re perfect for their intended applications: accent or task lights.

‘Task lights’ are just what the phrase suggests. They’re lights to allow someone to accomplish a task that requires illumination. That can be anything from working at a bench to assemble a ship in a bottle to giving adequate light to make a large drawing.

Accent lights, by contrast, are intended to provide one or more spots to illuminate a wall, a work of art or a piece of furniture. Sometimes an accent light simply provides an atmosphere, where track lights provide a light display against an otherwise plain surface. In other applications they may highlight a fine stereo or direct light onto a decorative element on a wall or table.

Track lights can do all that. Today, they do it with more style choices than ever. Thanks to advances in CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lights), as well as better output and lower prices for LEDs, track lights are available in more options than in the past.

Not only do those bulb options create different lighting effects and save electricity, they produce much lower heat than incandescents or halogens. That opens up more design choices for shades and covers. When the bulb creates no risk of melting plastic or heating metal to a dangerous temperature, track heads can be smaller, use different shapes and materials, and offer a much larger array of design choices.

Still, many traditional design principles of good track lighting continue to apply.

Since their purpose is chiefly accent or task lighting, track lights should be placed about 18-36 inches above the surface to be highlighted. If they’re directed downward, it’s important to keep them angled away from viewers eyes. If they’re predominantly angled up, they have to be close enough to bounce ample light without being so close as to create just a bright spot. The figure recommended is a comfortable compromise, adjust it for your particular application.

Keep in mind that, depending on the exact circumstances, deep shadows can result from track lights. That may be just what is wanted in particular applications, or it may not. Every individual room will require using good taste to get the lighting scheme just right. Fortunately, that never goes out of style.