Accent Lighting
Accent lighting is directional lighting used to highlight a specific object, surface or feature, creating contrast rather than general illumination.
Lighting design generally works in three layers. Ambient lighting provides the base level of light in a room. Task lighting serves a specific activity, such as a benchtop or a desk. Accent lighting is the third layer, drawing the eye deliberately.
Typical accent applications include grazing a stone or textured wall, uplighting a tree in a courtyard, lighting artwork, or concealing a strip within a shadow line so the light source itself is invisible.
Accent lighting is what makes a space feel considered at night. Without it, a room lit only by ceiling downlights tends to read flat, because there is no variation in brightness to give the space depth.