A Guide To Properly Using Accent Lighting In Your Space

Have you recently purchased a new piece of artwork?

Working on a complete remodel?

Looking to highlight a particular feature within your existing living space?...

Most people are familiar with the concept of accent lighting, but not many people understand how to get it “just right” in order to highlight the most interesting aspects of their home. Unlike task and ambient lighting, which serve their own purposes within a space, accent lighting works by creating a focal point on a specific area, highlighting a piece of artwork, craftsmanship details, or other features of a home.

The proper lighting can do wonders to a room. It can completely change the perception and feel of your space. But, getting it right is not always as simple as it seems. Working with a lighting design professional can help to ensure that your accent lighting adds depth to a room, gives it a unique personality, and creates the balance and mood you are looking to achieve within the space.

Here are 6 quick tips that can help you throughout your design and implementation process.

1. The less saturation the better

As is often the case in many design and remodeling projects, less is more. The same

concept helps with accent lighting. If your room is already lit with ambient

and task lighting, the addition of accent fixtures can cause you to over-

saturate the room. Making sure your accent lights are sized and placed properly, and the right intensity for the space will help to offset this risk.

2. Dimmers are your friend

Dimmer switches can give you unparalleled control over your desired lighting outcome. With

this small tool, you can set the mood within your room to suit any occasion. When used properly with accent lighting, you can add or take away focus from objects and areas as you please. Dimmer switches also allow the homeowner to save electricity by decreasing the intensity during times when the room isn’t as heavily trafficked, so making the initial investment can provide convenience and cost-savings down the road.

3. Light what you want others to see

This is a concept not thought of enough when lighting a room. With proper accent

lighting, you can direct attention to the things you want people to notice in your home. Conversely, accent lighting can also be used to redirect attention and focus from areas within your home that may have imperfections, such as worn or scratched flooring, chipped woodwork, stains, etc. By controlling the angle and direction of your lighting, you can get impressive results for your design and impressed reactions from your guests.

4. Don’t be afraid to let your creative side shine

Accent lights are not meant to be placed in the center of a room. Instead, hide the

lighting in an obscure place or wherever your creativity takes you. Accent lighting

that’s slightly hidden or that hits objects at varying angles is more effective in

your space. Recessed lighting is a great choice for illuminating objects from above while keeping a smooth finished appearance around the focal point.