Arrangement of ceiling spots in the living room / dining area

So basically, I can understand the expressed thoughts. I generally consider pendant lamps to be cozy. However, I don't want to make it too simple, because in our opinion, spotlights also have their charm.

The question that came to me while reading is, for example, what exactly distinguishes the spots on the Paulmann track from the spots in the ceiling. Because the light bulbs are almost the same!? Isn't there exactly the same shadow cast when the bulbs hang 10 cm lower on a track, or what exactly changes that? Of course, you can also place the spots in the kitchen a bit closer to the wall; as far as I know, there are no wall cabinets. There is only a hood above the stove, nothing above the worktop.

There are no restrictions as far as I know

Then you MUST place the spotlights so that they illuminate the workspace and not the space in front of the workspace. Imagine a light directly above you and then bend forward just slightly about 10 cm .. where is the shadow?

The advantage of a spotlight system with a rail is that you don’t have to decide on the exact spotlight positions yet.

And coziness seems to be a matter of taste .. spotlights at the dining table and on the sofa definitely don’t belong to it for me.

This multipurpose room has workshop hall lighting. Far too much. - One outlet above the table, one in the middle of the [WZ] area, two spotlights in the kitchen zone ceiling. Pendant lamp above the table, in the [WZ] area from Hufnagel an LED ceiling lamp dimmable by switch, which really work well and there are pretty models, the rest is provided by floor lamps.

I only see the charm of an open-plan office or a doctor's practice with too many spots. A wide distribution is sometimes good when cleaning or searching for something or checking, for example, the contents of a coat or clothing, so in the hallway. Also when ironing or in the utility room. We rarely have the skylight in the living room/kitchen on, but only suspended work lights or floor and accent lamps.

... and the light in the kitchen cabinet row should be positioned above the work surface, and not where you stand and then cast shadows on the work surface.

All lighting and kitchen planners disagree with that. The outlets are always placed exactly at the edge of the countertop. I also thought at first that this was stupid - but it works very well. I have not had any disturbing shadows so far.

You are not STANDING on an edge, but in front of it. Therefore, you will not cast any disturbing shadow in front of you. But with every little bit that you move a spot further back, it gets worse.