Glass is a popular design material used in modern buildings, homes and offices. There are different varieties of glass available in the market that are specifically meant to spruce up the interior décor. Some of these types have amazing properties that render it well for certain requirements such as the ability to block noise and sound. In this blog, we will take a close look at the different types of glass used in interior design.
Benefits of Using Glass in Interior Design
Glass has been used in décor since ages due to its transparent and clear surface. In interior spaces, glass is added to introduce a sense of luxury and opulence. There is quite a variety when it comes to application of glass in interior design. Designers and professionals believe that glass is a magical material that can be moulded into many forms to create the desired effect in interior design. From fused, blown, molted to cast, glass can be an inspiring design material for interior spaces. For your convenience, we have shortlisted a few varieties of glass that can be used in the interior décor.
- Spandrel glass
- Blown glass
- Textured glass
- Tinted glass
- Reflective glass
- Acoustic glass
- Clear glass
Let’s discuss these in detail.
Spandrel glass
It is used to disguise anything that obstructs the natural design flow and doesn’t look aesthetically pleasing such as columns and walls etc. It comes in a variety of colours so that it blends in with the rest of the interior décor. Naturally opaque, spandrel glass creates a uniform, neat look. It is called spandrel because of its highly malleable nature as it can easily bend between curves of the columns and give a fine appearance. Five times tougher than annealed or normal glass, spandrel is also used in kitchen walls to hide the cabinets.
Blown glass
Hand-blown glass is a beautiful decorative glass technique that comprises blowing on molten glass with a blowpipe which forms bubbles in glass. This when moulded creates an artistic décor. One of the most popular examples of blown glass is the ceiling of Bellagio’s lobby (a hotel in Las Vegas). The master glassblower Dale Chihuly created ‘Fiori di Como’ which is a colorful blown glass ceiling made out of 2,000 pieces in 1998.
Textured glass
This is one of the most decorative glass types and the texture is used for many purposes apart from presenting a beautiful décor. Textured glass surfaces have an embossed design on its surface. It is mostly used as room dividers, shower screens and also to spruce up your living space. Textured glass blocks the view, but doesn’t affect its light transmission, which means light can filter through the glass.
Frosted, embossed and decorative glass all fall in this category. There are a variety of textured glasses to choose from.
Tinted glass
Best used to block sunlight entering your house, tinted glass is a popular option considered by most homeowners. There are different pros and cons of adding tinted glass to your home. Available in various colours, tinted glass is mostly used in windows to provide protection from blazing heat which can warm up the interiors of the home.
Reflective glass
More or less like tinted glass, reflective glass also reflects heat. But unlike tinted glass, which is coloured, reflective glass is a clear glass with a metallic coating that reflects heat. It prevents heat loss from the interior of the building and also doesn’t allow heat gain in the building. The metallic finish to the reflective glass also blocks the view of people standing in front of it.
Acoustic glass
Noise can be a major disturbing factor in any building. When talking about acoustics, one thinks of a solid panel that surely blocks the noise but also blocks natural light from entering. With an acoustic glass pane, the light can easily enter the building but blocks unwanted noises. It looks aesthetically pleasing and yet creates a perfect soundproof room! It is commonly used in home offices, study areas, sunrooms and home libraries.
Clear glass
It allows 80-90% of the light to pass through and is therefore popularly used inside rooms to divide spaces. Clear glass is also used in furniture, in door knobs, in making lamps, large chandeliers and large decorative vessels exuding luxury and style.
We hope our guide to the best types of glass used in interior design will prove useful to you. If you are planning to incorporate glass in home décor, then you should take a good look at our detailed pieces on the subject:
- Pros and cons of tinted glass windows
- Uses of glass in house décor
- Guide to mosaic glass tile flooring
- How stained glass can add to your home’s aesthetic value?
Don’t forget to write to us at blog@zameen.com and we will surely get back to you. Subscribe to the Zameen Newsletter appearing on the right hand side of the page. Stay tuned to the Zameen Blog, the best real estate blog in Pakistan.
