A handrail assembly for lighting an adjacent area includes two stanchions for attachment to a surface, each stanchion including mounting structure; a bar for attachment to the stanchions, the bar having two ends and defining mounting structure at the ends; and a lighting element configured to be carried by the bar. The mounting structure of the stanchions and bars cooperate to provide two alternate mounting orientations of the bar within the stanchions. In a first of the orientations the lighting element is offset circumferentially in a first direction relative to a centerline of the stanchions lighting a first adjacent area on a first side of the stanchions. In a second of the orientations the lighting element is offset circumferentially in a second direction opposite the first direction relative to the centerline of the stanchions lighting a second adjacent area on a second side of the stanchions.