If you make an inquiry about uplighting, people may ask you when your wedding date is. This kind of lighting is a popular choice for receptions, bathing a venue in colorful lights to lend a hint of night club excitement to the big day.

Not all uplighting has to come in garish tones, however. In the home, the lights can be useful for lighting up shadowy parts of the interior or surreptitiously highlighting some of your prized items.

Uplighting was first introduced in 1949 by designer Harry Gitlin. Mitchell Owens, writing for Architectural Digest, says the light is usually about the size of a coffee can. It can easily be concealed as part of a design feature or hidden behind a piece of furniture, making it seem like the light is emanating from a mysterious source.

In general, uplighting is not meant to provide the same level of illumination as a table lamp or overhead fixture. Instead, it brings some light to the walls and creates a more pleasant mood.

However, this form of lighting is still useful for eliminating any lingering gloom in your home. The lights are particularly useful for casting more of a glow into the upper reaches of rooms with tall ceilings. Log Home Design says uplighting can easily be added to exposed beams to illuminate the upper reaches of the home, creating a more expansive feel.

Yanic Simard, writing for the home design site Houzz, says uplighting can be added either at a floor level or farther up on the wall. Simard says floor-mounted lights work best in contemporary homes, as they lend the aura of an art gallery to any objects mounted on the walls. If you place uplighting at a higher height, you can draw attention to impressive architectural features such as an arched ceiling.

The attention-grabbing nature of uplighting can work in other areas as well. Log Home Design says it can brighten up a kitchen or highlight a piece of art, collection of items, or other objects you'd like people to notice.

Uplighting is particularly useful in this regard for your home's landscaping. Dave Toht, writing for the National Association of Realtors' home improvement site HouseLogic, says the lights add drama to your yard by keeping trees, statues, or architectural features well-lit during the night. As an extra benefit, the lights can serve as an additional security measure.

If you decide to include uplighting in your home, consider which features you want to highlight or whether there are any rooms that need a little extra light. Start out small; a few lights may have a big effect.