4 Unique Accent Lighting Ideas to Consider for Your Home

Certain pieces in your home require specialized lighting. You might want to accent a specific art piece, highlight an elegant plant or draw a visitor’s eye toward quirky features like a mid-century stereo system. Here are several lighting techniques worth experimenting with before choosing the best lighting for your home.

Contrast Lighting

If your room or home is already well-lit, then you might consider a lighting fixture that contrasts with the room’s pre-existing elements. For instance, a sunny living room featuring a velvet chaise lounge might be well-suited for low-lighting that provides a hint to the sofa’s texture while inviting your guests to sit in a light-reduced area. In this instance, a floor light near the piece can offer amber lighting that contrasts with the sunshine streaming through the window.

Photo by Elad Gonen

Focal Point Lighting

Focal point lighting directs your guests’ eyes to the area of the room you most want them to see. Art lovers typically plan their in-home gallery wall with focal point lighting in mind. This is a wise idea. Many older homes lack the electrical capacity to handle multiple lighting fixtures. When planning focal point lighting, consult a professional electrician. They can assist in determining the most aesthetically appealing, yet practical outlet layout. They can also assist with rewiring when necessary. Finally, electricians can determine if your home’s panels and wiring can support your vision.

Photo by Murphy & Co. Design

Backlighting and Flexibility

Wall sconces, recessed lighting and cove lighting are some typical forms of accent lighting. However, other types of light fixtures offer a greater deal of flexibility than a solid wall feature or in-ceiling lighting.

Photo by Michael Abrams Interiors

Adaptability and flexibility are necessary when accent lighting is used for the display of oddly shaped items such as pianos, artwork, ceramics, bookshelves or houseplants. In these situations, elements like LED rope lights, light pucks, downlights and under-cabinet lights. The versatility of these lights means that you can place them in ways that create a backlight or a glowing focal light.

Wall-Washing

Finally, accent lighting can be used to illuminate entire wall sections. Wall-washing is a technique that requires the installation of eyeball lights. These bright lights create overlapping globes of illumination. You may have seen this lighting style used on brick walls or detailed mantels.

Photo by TG-Studio

Whatever option you choose, accent lighting is an important element of home decor. It is used alongside task lighting and ambient lighting to create layered lighting. This type of lighting makes a space feel like a home.