Can Track Lighting Be Used for Bookcase Headboards?

Adding Track Lighting

• If you are adding track lighting to an existing bookcase headboard, you’ll need to decide where to place the lights and how to run the cord to an outlet. For headboards made of composite or laminate materials, it is easy to make a small hole in the back for the power cord to exit, but heavy tracks may be too heavy for the relatively thinner material. Denser materials will support the weight of track lights without problems, but you may need to run the cord over the top of the headboard or down the side to a wall outlet. You can also install small light emitting diode (LED) track-style lights that are battery operated.

Building in Track Lighting

• If you are building a headboard and want to include track lights, you have more options for placing and wiring them. Figure out how you will use the lights -- to read in bed, to watch TV, or simply as light for the room -- and position the lights so they will illuminate the spaces you want. Include an exit for the power cord in your plans; you can even channel the wiring through part of the headboard itself to avoid having dangling wires near the lights.

Track Lighting Options

• Track lights come in a wide variety of sizes and types. You may prefer two large lights to four small ones or may want to have softer or brighter light. Most track lights now take compact fluorescent light (CFLs) and LED bulbs as well as traditional incandescent bulbs, so you can also select bulbs that reduce the amount of energy you use. Headboard bookcase lights can also be set on a timer, so they are on and waiting for you at a certain time or turn off at a predesignated time at night.

Protecting Rare and Old Books

• Regardless of what style of track lighting you install, make sure that unless you are using low-heat bulbs, such as LEDs, you keep book pages away from the lights themselves. High-powered lights can be very hot, enough to singe and damage paper or the plastic on library book covers. If your books are rare or old, use ultraviolet (UV) filters on any lights that will come into contact with the books to avoid fading them.