Placing linear or narrow-beam luminaires a few inches to about a foot from a wall or facade so light skims across it. Stone, brick, timber and textured plaster come alive, but so does every flaw in drywall, which is why grazing smooth painted walls is a classic design mistake. The technique is common on exterior facades, columns and feature walls.
Grazing the drywall in the corridor shows every tape joint, switch it to a wash or the GC will be patching for weeks.
Also heard as
- wall grazing
- graze lighting
Related terms
Wall washing
Lighting a wall evenly from top to bottom with asymmetric luminaires set back from it, to make the surface glow uniformly.
Scallops
The arched pattern of light and shadow that downlights draw on a wall when mounted close to it.
Tape light
Flexible LED strip on an adhesive-backed reel, cut to length and used in coves, shelves and under cabinets.