Illuminating Architecture: Perimeter vs. Wallgraze Lighting
- DARYL AVERY SWANSON
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Within lighting design, the way light interacts with vertical surfaces can define the entire mood and scale of a room. Two of the most common, yet often confusing techniques are Perimeter Lighting and Wallgrazing. While they may appear similar, they require different approaches to achieve their intended effects.
DEFINING THE BOUNDARY: PERIMETER LIGHTING
Perimeter lighting is primarily used to enhance illumination and define the physical boundaries of a space. By placing light at the edge of the ceiling where it meets the wall, it produces a wash of light, making the room feel larger and more open.
Solutions like the 20 Linear Perimeter Flush provide a continuous line of light that acts as a visual marker, emphasizing the architecture without pulling focus to the wall.
This type of technique is best used for offices, hallways, and lobbies.
HIGHLIGHTING TEXTURE: WALL GRAZING
Wallgrazing is a more dramatic technique designed to reveal the soul of a material. By placing a light source close to the wall, the light casts a long shadow that emphasizes texture, making stone, brick, or wood pop with three-dimensional depth.
The ProTools 60 Linear Wall Graze uses narrow optics like the NL16 lens to punch light down the wall while keeping the source shielded from view. This is best used to feature walls, textured masonry, and to add tactile drama to a surface.
THE “SOFT GRAZE” INNOVATION
One of the unique offerings from Inter-lux is the Soft Graze option. This configuration sits between a hard graze and a standard wash. By extending the fixture slightly away from the wall, it softens the contrast. This is particularly useful for accommodating thicker wall materials or highlighting texture without the shadows of a traditional graze.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOOL
The decision between perimeter and wall grazing ultimately depends on what you want the eye to see. If the wall has a flat surface, perimeter lighting will make the space feel brighter. If the wall has character, wallgrazing can bring those details to life.
By using Whitegoods 20 Linear or ProTools 60, designers can keep a consistent visual language throughout a project by switching between these two effects as the architecture demands.
Download the full technical guide to the Whitegoods Linear collection to explore mounting options and design layouts for your next build:
