Need a lighting system that is easy to assemble, affordable, and easy to break down after a showing? Gallery track systems have many advantages for gallery and home art hanging. This system allows ease of transport and minimizes risk of damage to art or even theft due to added security. These hanging systems can also pair with LED lighting for increased lighting efficiency while reducing energy use at the same time.

Gallery track systems are typically made of three parts: wall tracks, cable hangers, and hooks. Professional art galleries typically consult on the most versatile and sturdy systems, but homeowners have been known to DIY systems of their own using hardware that is easily obtainable at hardware stores.

Mounted Wall Tracks

A stable wall mounted track is the first component of gallery track system. These tracks can vary in size and weight capacity, so its important to take this into consideration when choosing you wall mount. Hanging a large, ornate 20 x 20 portrait or a small 8x10 collage? Choose your track accordingly. The tracks, usually aluminum, are the rail on which paintings will travel, so the amount of paintings that need to be hung and length of the room will be deciding factors for purchasing wall tracks.

Cable Hangers

Cable hangers are made with sliders that fit within the wall tracks. Similar to a railway system, these cables effortlessly attach track to hooks eliminating the need for heavy lifting for readjustment. Two cables are recommended per picture. These are easy to find at any hardware store, and generally come in packs of ten.

Hooks

This part of a gallery track hanging system holds pictures in place. Attaching to the end of the cable hangers, these gadgets are often times adjustable, allowing easy change of picture position on cables. Most hook come with buttons that allow easy adjusting of picture height, and differing levels of security depending on need. For example, high security hooks make slipping or theft almost impossible. Less secure hooks can be used in the home where lightweight pieces are usually hung.

Lighting

This is probably the best part of gallery track lighting. New gallery track hanging systems are able to accommodate lighting systems that reduce energy use by using a smaller, more efficient LED light. These track lights are simply clamped onto tracks, give pictures a more direct light than if they are lit from the ceiling. Due to the adjustable hanging cables and hooks, adjusting the lighting for gallery track systems may never get any easier!