Making the customers and the merchandise look good Lighting A Retail Store Lighting is one of those aspects of construction that typically gets little thought until the last minute, and then it's the first item to be trimmed down when the budget gets tight. But lighting has a tremendous impact on how a small commercial project is perceived and how it works. Good lighting draws attention to the products and makes customers feel comfortable. Bad lighting draws attention to itself. Some Basics Whether the lighting is for a store or a home, there are three basic ways it functions. Accent light. This is light that is specifically used to highlight objects (merchandise, art, plants, etc.). Accent lighting needs to be highly flexible if