Best complete track lighting kits according to redditors

OK. Let's make that the focal point of the room.

1.Above the bar only, maybe a few feet out. Remove the drop ceiling. Leave it for the rest of the room, if you like. Once you pull the ceiling, paint the structure above in flat black, to make it kind of disappear. You want the headroom to make it stand out from the rest of the basement.

2.For lighting, use micro spot lights on the bar itself. Something like this would really make a statement:

https://www.amazon.com/Tech-Lighting-800CBL5PN-Accent-Nickel/dp/B002N2W90M?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

3.People need a foot rail to feel relaxed. You can buy or make one for not too much money.

4.Behind the bar you need a focal point. I am assuming that you'd have a TV somewhere else, so that is out. But what if you built four shelves, two one each side, with a space in the middle. Then find a place that makes neon signs, and create a special, one-of-a-kind sign for your bar. I am a Don Henley fan, so my retreat is called "The Sunset Grill". See if you can come up with something unique.

5.Every bar needs tunes. I propose that you do not put a bookshelf system behind the bar. I suggest that you start looking at Ebay, CraigsList, 2nd hand stores. What you want is an old jukebox. It would be better is it didn't work. What you want is the shell. Then you could outfit it with Blutooth, Pandora, streaming media off your home network.

Hope this gives you something to think about. You are really lucky. This is going to be a blast to build.

I use these and they work great.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DI4D1?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00

Something like this

Before we get to the tips, I think my best advice would be to formulate a plan. This is the style you want. This is the furniture you need eventually If you can't afford it all at once, don't fret over it. Use what you got but continue to put a few bucks away here and there and save up for what you want.

As to actual tips


Tip 1) The smaller the coffee table, the better. This one is gigantic and takes up too much space in an already small room. I would consider a chest instead of a coffee table maybe. Work with what you can find, but you don't need something as massive as this. This dude's coffee table is made for a big as great room. Not a 1 room apartment.

Tip 2) NO FREAKING CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON THE WALLS. If you like Christmas lights as a room aesthetic, get a fake ficus tree and a string of 50 lights and use the ficus like a christmas tree. If you want accent lighting but don't want twinkle lights, get floor uplight cans and stick them in the corners. There are also small aimable spotlights you can put on the floor to uplight art or framed posters you have on the walls

Tip 3) Paint. A fresh coat of paint does wonders. And don't cheap out either. Get the top of the line paint/primer one coat paint. Its a little more expensive but it goes on easier and looks better.

Tip 4) Don't have as much bookshelf space as this guy. One of them is almost completely unused. The trick to making a living/sleeping space work is to store as much out of eyesight as possible.

So if you need some storage, get a TV stand that is a buffet cabinet. This gives you closed cabinet storage. Our accumulated clutter is better behind closed doors than out in the open.

Tip 5) use available storage to the maximum. See how this guy has storage space on top of his kitchen cabinets that he is not using? Use that space.

Track lighting. Usually they're placed on the roof. Similar to these.

Flexible track lighting is what you need to shop for. You bend it to the shape you want, usually around some blocking.

You may have to research how to extent the ceiling standoffs.

Inside is likely a transformer. This appears to be for low-voltage cable lighting like this. Why it's there I can't guess.

https://www.amazon.com/800CBL5PN-Electronic-Surface-Lighting-Halogen/dp/B002N2W90M

If you're looking for something different take a look at these low voltage cable lights.

I installed them in my kitchen and they never fail to get compliments.

Nevermind, I found it online and supposedly you do need a suction cup to change the bulb. https://www.amazon.com/Lithonia-Lighting-LTKMSBK-MR16GU10-3R/dp/B00KQK6TUY

Ok...ProTip

Before you replace a light like these (flush round ceiling lights) measure the diameter. Often times, when you have lights like these up for long periods of time, they can discolor the ceiling around them because of the heat of incandescent lamps. That leaves a sort of ghosted on circle of discolored ceiling.

So don't go ordering a bunch of stuff because you might pull the light down and find your new light is not wide enough to cover the discoloration.

The simplest solution is to buy a light that is as wide or wider than your current one.

This is a pretty decent aged bronze bulkhead light that is 12 inches wide. There is even a 16" version too.

Something like this with exposed edison lamps would work too I think

Here's another option

As for the track, Maybe something in bronze instead of nickel

Realistically though, you just need to get into google shopping and just search for the color you are looking for and set your price requirements. You'll eventually stumble upon something in your price range.

I had a lighting problem in my basement and chose a simple plug in track lighting set. It works great.
This link is not the exact one, but gives you the idea. Probably even cheaper at a local hardware store like Lowe's.

Lithonia Lighting LTKMSBK MR16GU10 3L BN M4 Mesh Back 3-Light Halogen Track Lighting Kit, 27", Brushed Nickel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00P2V6WEU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hETQCbDV4K9EH