Aged Brass lamps styled in Malene Birger’s Mallorca home interior, © 2025 Louis Poulsen.

What is accent lighting?

Your home should use three types of lighting for a layered effect: ambient, task and accent lights. Ambient and task lights set the mood while remaining functional. But what are accent lights? Accents exist to enhance your decor. Even the most thoughtfully designed room will be lacking without additional accent lights. They give your artistic choices more impact. Use accent lights to highlight artwork, and family photos. Or to make a room appear larger or smaller. With many versatile options, accent lights can pull a room together. Sometimes the accent lighting acts as decorative objects that add to the room's aesthetic design.

How to implement accent lighting 

After installing your ambient and task lights, you are ready to plan your accent lighting. When implemented correctly, accent lighting draws your attention to the object it is highlighting rather than itself. For this reason, accent lights should be subtle. 

VL Ring Crown Table Lamp placed on windowsill with soft glow, © 2025 Louis Poulsen.
PH 80 Floor and AJ Mini creating soft light in reading corner, © 2025 Louis Poulsen.

Types of accent lights 

After deciding what features to highlight and where to place your accent lights, you can begin choosing from several fixture types.

Some are easy to install or move around, while others can be angled toward multiple areas of your room. Consider the strengths of these accent lighting examples when planning your lighting scheme. 

Above Pendant in Black above round dining table, © 2025 Louis Poulsen.

Explore more

Visit a showroom in New York or Miami to see our light fixtures in person, and browse online to see our full selection.
For expert styling advice, follow us on Instagram. 

Sources 

  1. Young, E. What Is Accent Lighting? Lights Online. Retrieved October 23, 2025, from https://www.lightsonline.com/blog/guides/what-is-accent-lighting/ 
  2. Creative Accent Lighting Ideas to Illuminate with Purpose. Visual Comfort & Co. Retrieved October, 23, from https://www.visualcomfort.com/inspiration/creative-accent-lighting-ideas-to-illuminate-with-purpose/ 
  3. A Guide To Properly Using Accent Lighting In Your Space. Chloe Winston Lighting Design. Retrieved October 23, 2025, from https://www.chloewinstonlighting.com/tips-for-using-accent-lighting-properly 
  4. Sharma, A. What is accent lighting? This often overlooked design idea might be exactly what your home is missing. Livingetc. Retrieved October 23, 2025, from https://www.livingetc.com/advice/what-is-accent-lighting 
  5. Yang, I. (30 August 2020). What is Accent Light in Interior Design? Gantri. Retrieved October 23, 2025, from https://www.gantri.com/stories/accent-lighting-explained