While it is beautiful, durable and versatile, glass often remains under-used in interior design and home renovation projects. That’s because many homeowners don’t know how to make the most of it (apart from exploring obvious possibilities).
Glass can be both decorative and functional, giving you many directions to go in to. And if you need a bit of additional inspiration, the following guide will present some fun and trendy glass projects worth considering.
If you want some originality, choose a glass finish that’s different from the standard clear one.
Alternatives give glass elements more visual appeal and uniqueness. You’ll easily find a range of possibilities on the market. Some of those alternative finishes include frosted glass, coloured glass, stained glass and even textured glass (ideal for statement pieces and artistic installations).
Making a simple change from clear to frosted glass will produce various benefits. It can be used to deliver some privacy or to highlight the cool matte finish that’s so different from the one of clear glass. Frosted glass can be used for so many interior design elements – table tops, banisters, separators and partitions, cabinet doors and bathroom elements.
Interior design elements don’t need to have a functional role in other to add outstanding appeal to the space.
A glass statement piece gives you the wow factor. It can look super cool because of the material’s ability to sparkle and interact with light. It’s also futuristic and a lot more modern than various alternative kinds of light.
Your glass statement piece could come in the form of a massive chandelier, a stained glass window, a glass sculpture or an entire hanging installation. Look online for pieces that you like and you can commission the creation of your own custom glass masterpiece. Various local artists can work with the material and produce something unique to display proudly in your home.
Incorporated into furniture, glass gives you clarity, minimalism and ease of maintenance. It adds a degree of lightness to pieces that may otherwise appear chunky.
There are lots of options worth checking out.
Table tops, shelves, closet doors, cabinets featuring glass elements, storage units and even glass chairs are available. Most of these look really cool and modern. When picking, however, don’t just feel drawn to visuals. Make sure that the design will also guarantee functionality and comfort. Some pieces look outstanding but they’re simply too fragile for intense everyday use. That’s why you may want to prioritise glass furniture that’s further reinforced with metal and wood.
Glass can’t be the most traditional ceiling or flooring material. That’s why it can produce impressive results when used on these large surfaces.
Adding glass pieces or a large glass panel to the ceiling (be it cleared, frosted or stained) will usually result in a really interesting effect. You can even conceptualise an entire visual illusion (having ceiling and floor elements working together to reflect and refract light in a distinctive manner).
Having a portion of the floor covered in glass or glass tiles will create a fun accent. You can have a traditional hardwood floor with a portion cut out for the installation of a glass panel. Looking like a window or a pool of clear water, it’s instantly going to break up the monotony of having a single kind of flooring material covering the entire area.
A glass wall acts as a partition and it gives you full control over the amount of privacy the respective functional zone is going to have.
You can use a glass wall to separate the living room from the dining area. That’s a cool concept because you still get a sense of privacy while the two parts of an open floor layout are actually visually distinguished from each other.
The type of glass and whether you go for a single panel or numerous pieces of glass will also have to be determined on the basis of the desired effect. Mix different kinds of glass for the most fun and exciting outcome.
Because it covers a relatively big area, the kitchen backsplash does make a visual statement. It also needs to be very functional – the material is positioned behind the sink and the countertop, protecting the wall from splashes and staining.
Glass tiles are an excellent material to consider for your backsplash and they look a lot more innovative than classic options like marble and mosaics.
You’ll find all kinds of glass tiles on the market – translucent, coloured, large, small…. You can feature one kind or mix a few together for the creation of a fun custom pattern.
The best aspect of having a glass backsplash is that it’s so incredibly easy to clean while also being tremendously durable.
As you can see, glass is an incredible material you can use conventionally or in completely unorthodox ways. Contact Home Guide to conceptualise the best home renovation for your space and to also have it carried out in a professional, reliable way.
