Accent Lighting
From Swikipedia
Introduction
Accent Lighting provides concentrated light to spotlight an object or area where extra attention is needed or a task has to be performed. Accent lighting also adds drama to a room by highlighting objects.
Brief Description
Accent Lighting gives texture, focus and shape to general lighting, adding depth and shade, with shadows in some corners and pools of light in others. It's formed by a mixture of halogen spotlights, down-lighters, up-lighters, tracks and table lamps. With the latter, use opaque shades that direct light down and prevent it spilling out. Tracks are great for lighting different areas of a room.
Once the basics are in place, decide which possessions to highlight, whether it's glass, a favourite picture or a table decoration.
• Glass: light from below or behind. From below, place a row of low-voltage halogen spotlights beneath the shelf or a fluorescent strip hidden from view in a casing. From behind, use fluorescent strips not halogen, which doesn't give the right effect.
• Books: clip a spotlight on the underside of the shelf or put wall washers into the ceiling.
• Pictures and paintings: it's tricky to light paintings well - and if they're behind glass there is an additional problem of glare. To avoid glare and give an even distribution of light, use an 'eyeball' light that can swivel, and set it to 'flood' (a broad beam). One could also mount an adjustable spotlight on a ceiling track and point it at a focal point in the painting.
• Plants: read the care instructions to check whether the plant loves sunlight or needs to be kept out of it. For a large pot, put an up-lighter or a spotlight recessed into the floor behind it. The light bounces off the floor and the ceiling and diffuses back into the foliage of the plant to create unusual shadows. One can also buy tiny light 'spikes' that fit into the pot.
References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/lighting_types.shtml#accent_lighting
