Picture lights and ceiling track lights

[endecotp]

While renovating my living room, I am considering fitting some lights to illuminate pictures on the walls. The problem is I don’t know exactly where the pictures will be, and won’t know until after everything else is finished.

One option is to somehow run wires horizontally in the wall a suitable distance below the ceiling in a way that will allow me to connect to them later. Does anyone have any thoughts about how best to do this? The wall construction is plasterboard and studwork with insulation. I could run wires behind the insulation and then try to fish them out through a small hole when I decide where I want the lamps, but there are so many ways that could go wrong.

I have also considered fitting tracks to the ceiling, from which I could easily fit lamps wherever I decide that I want them. But, are ceiling lighting tracks “acceptable” in a living room? I am told by someone with more taste than me that they “would make the room look like a 1980s office”. (I have a relatively low ceiling.)

Any thoughts anyone?

 

[Murdochcat]

Unfortunately you are in a chicken and egg situation. If you go ahead to run cables horizontally how would you know where to run the cables and where would the cable come from?

 

[Why Not Indeed]

Have you got access to the ceiling from above? If lights on the ceiling are acceptable in theory, then why not just leave a coil of cable in the ceiling and then fit some spots when you know where you need them? Something like this: https://www.screwfix.com/p/knightsb...-gu10-wall-ceiling-spotlight-matt-black/310GE

 

[endecotp]

Unfortunately you are in a chicken and egg situation. If you go ahead to run cables horizontally how would you know where to run the cables and where would the cable come from?

I’d run them the whole length of the wall, and they’d start from a light switch. The main challenge I see with that is how to make it possible to pull the cables out of the holes that I make to connect to the light fitting, i.e. how to incorporate slack. Whatever I do I can imagine that I’d end up digging big holes through the by-then neatly plastered and decorated wall…

 

[endecotp]

Have you got access to the ceiling from above?

No, it’s a flat.

 

[Murdochcat]

I’d run them the whole length of the wall, and they’d start from a light switch. The main challenge I see with that is how to make it possible to pull the cables out of the holes that I make to connect to the light fitting, i.e. how to incorporate slack. Whatever I do I can imagine that I’d end up digging big holes through the by-then neatly plastered and decorated wall…

Is there a neutral at the switch?

 

[endecotp]

Is there a neutral at the switch?

Yes, mostly :-!

 

[pete01]

Why dont you decide now where you want the pictures and wire it right now?

 

[sparkwright]

Picture lights and lighting tracks look naff nowadays.

 

[Murdochcat]

Yes, mostly :-!

What do you mean by “mostly”?

 

[sparkwright]

Another option, though you may not like it, is are recessed ceiling spots, which can be tilted at the pictures.

 

[SFK]

How about Paulmann lights

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08XN65QWY/

 

[pete01]

What do you mean by “mostly”?

Some have neutrals and some don't....maybe...

 

[pete01]

Another option, though you may not like it, is are recessed ceiling spots, which can be tilted at the pictures.

Or just have pictures that aren't illuminated, thats what I have anyway

 

[endecotp]

Why dont you decide now where you want the pictures and wire it right now?

That would mean choosing furniture.