With so many different terms and techniques in lighting design it can be confusing to decide what to do where, and whether it’s the right technique for that location. You have probably heard the terms wall grazing and wall washing intermixed. These are two very different techniques which should be understood and defined. You can learn more about wall washing in the previous Lighting Design Techniques blog.
What is Wall Grazing?
Do you have accent walls with a textured surface or textured wall paper in your current home? Or are you planning for it in your new home? Wall grazing is meant to illuminate those special details. Wall grazing with a light fixture is the use of a tight beam of light to ‘graze’ an intended texture and enhance it creating depth and shadows.
A wall grazer is a linear type fixture that should be mounted in a recessed pocket, so the fixture is hidden in order to focus on the textured wall. One key item to keep in mind is to hold the fixture short of any perpendicular walls so you don’t get a harsh beam of light on either end.
When to use Wall Grazing
Wall grazing should be used in very specific areas and locations as it is an accent type of lighting application. As previously mentioned, if there is a textured wall (e.g. brick wall, 3D plaster application, etc.), it would be a great area to apply the wall grazing technique.
Wall grazing should be used strictly on areas where there is an intended texture. Let’s say the drywaller makes a mistake or there is poorly installed drywall. If there is wall grazing application at that location, it will just exemplify the poor installation.
There are fixtures that are both wet rated and damp rated for interior and exterior applications as well, so this can be done to highlight the front entryway of the house or used to highlight the back wall of a living space. This truly is a great design application for any area of your home that will give it a little something extra.
What to Plan for When Wall Grazing
Placement and preplanning for wall grazing is crucial, so it turns out appropriate and doesn’t look like an afterthought. What will be necessary is to make sure a recessed pocket is framed in your ceiling for where the fixture can live. The pocket should be 4 inches to 6 inches high and 4 inches deep. The fixture itself will need to be mounted about 2 inches off the surface of the textured wall material, and it is recommended to specify a fixture on rotating brackets to have the ability to aim after the fact. Communicating with the builder and architects during the framing of your home is important to make sure the details are there for this type of application.
Final Thoughts on Wall Grazing
Wall grazing is a simple and inexpensive way to make that special wallpaper pop or that textured brick wall come to life. With some pre-construction planning and communication with your design team, your great space will feel extraordinary. Reach out to Lighting by Design at (415)-883-7700 for luxury lighting design at an obtainable cost for your new home.
