An exemplary illuminating vehicle assembly includes, among other things, a lens having an outer perimeter, a diffuser beneath the lens, and a light source configured to emit light that passes through the diffuser to illuminate the lens. The light source is disposed outside the outer perimeter. An exemplary illumination method includes, among other things, transmitting light from a light source through a diffuser, and transmitting light from the diffuser through a lens. The light source is outside an outer perimeter of the lens.