IN THIS POST
– What is Recycled Glass
– Uses of Recycled Glass
– Recycled Glass Countertops
– Recycled Glass Backsplash
– Recycled Glass Floor Tiles
Are you considering incorporating recycled glass products into your home décor but don’t know how to go about? Well, you’re in luck because we have brought you a comprehensive guide detailing different ways to use recycled glass in your interior design.
As you may already know, glass is completely recyclable. This means using home décor items and building materials made from recycled glass is as environmentally friendly as it gets. In addition to that, the reflective properties of glass and its translucence give it a unique look along with making your space look bigger and brighter.
However, before we discuss different ways to use recycled glass in your interior design, let’s take a look at how it is actually made.
What is Recycled Glass?
Recycled glass products are made by melting broken glass tiles, beverage bottles, and other glass items.
After removing their labels and cleaning them properly, these glass products are broken into smaller pieces and put into furnaces, where they are melted at a temperature exceeding 1000 degree Celsius. The molten glass is then stamped, pressed, and hand trimmed to reach its finished form before being cut into tiles, slabs and other building materials.
One of the biggest reasons behind the growing use of glass in interior design in Pakistan and other countries is obviously its eco-friendliness. Instead of filling up the landfills, glass products are recycled to create new materials and décor items. Another reason why a lot of homeowners prefer using recycled glass for decorations is that it looks exquisite and can instantly elevate the overall aesthetic of your home. Recycled glass products also add visual depth to any space.
If you are considering decorating your home with recycled glass, you will easily find recycled glass in a wide range of designs, styles and colours. You can even find it in both glossy and matte finishes, providing you with more options to choose from.
How to Use Recycled Glass In Your Interior Design?
There are quite a few ways you can use recycled glass in your interior design. For example, you can use recycled glass jars for your potted plants or recycle glass bottles at home to use them as flower vases. You can also use glass bottles for decoration around your house by painting them to complement the colour palette of your home and placing them in open shelves.
To put it simply, there are countless ways you can try using recycled glass for home décor. However, we’ll be focusing on three main uses of recycled glass in homes – including recycled glass countertops, glass backsplashes, and glass floor tiles.
So, let’s get rolling.
Recycled Glass Countertops
Installing recycled glass countertops can make your kitchen stand out from the rest of your home. To produce glass slabs for kitchen countertops, manufacturers mix molten glass with resins and cement binders to increase its durability. Most glass slabs also feature a charming mosaic of glass tiles and colourful shards of broken glass. This creates a terrazzo look that adds to their distinctiveness and beauty.
On the other hand, if you are not a fan of colourful glass countertops and would rather choose something in a solid colour, you can simply opt for homogeneous recycled glass countertops.
Meanwhile, you can learn more about eco-friendly kitchen countertops in our detailed guide on the topic.
Pros and Cons of Recycled Glass Countertops
Here are some of the most noteworthy pros and cons of installing recycled glass countertops in your kitchen.
Pro: Recycled glass countertops can give your kitchen a trendy yet elegant look. It also pairs well with most other materials, including natural stones and stainless steel.
Pro: Owing to their non-porous nature, glass tiles do not stain or absorb moisture. You also won’t have to worry about discolouration and mould infestation when it comes to glass countertops.
Pro: Recycled glass is an eco-friendly material for your kitchen countertop. If you want to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint on the planet, then you might want to consider using this green product in your home.
Con: Glass countertops are prone to chipping, scratching and cracking. That means placing items like hot pans and pots directly on the surface can cause the slab to crack. These countertops can also get scratched rather easily if not treated with care.
Con: The cost of recycled glass countertops is higher than that of most other materials. Moreover, opting for handcrafted or custom-made options will drive the prices up even further. It can also be very expensive to repair.
Recycled Glass Backsplash
Glass tile backsplashes are available in a large variety of colours and shades. Usually, homeowners prefer installing smaller glass tiles in mismatched hues to create a charming mosaic look. Another widely-used option is to install 4-by-4-inch glass tiles to create the subway tile backsplash.
You can find mosaic glass tiles in different shapes, including the long and slender ones, the vintage round ones, the traditional square ones, and the modern octagonal one. Installing glass tile trimmings and decorative edge pieces around your backsplash is also a great idea when it comes to decorating your home with recycled glass.
Moreover, here are some beautiful backsplash ideas to spruce up your kitchen.
Pros and Cons of Recycled Glass Backsplash
Pro: Recycled backsplash look gorgeous and can complement all popular countertop materials in your kitchen as well as the bathroom.
Pro: Since glass tiles are non-porous and stain-resistant, you won’t have a hard time cleaning grease marks off them. They are also relatively easy to maintain.
Pro: Backsplashes made of glass tile can reflect light and create an optical illusion of bigger space. They are also very aesthetically pleasing.
Con: Recycled glass backsplashes are trickier to install. Since they are mostly transparent, you need to be very careful while applying the adhesive because it’s almost impossible to hide a mistake.
Con: Like other recycled glass products, glass backsplashes are also costly. Therefore, it is recommended to only use recycled glass in your interior design as an accent feature.
Recycled Glass Floor Tiles
Recycled glass tiles are one of the most eco-friendly flooring options for your home. Along with being environment-friendly, these glass tiles also add a hint of elegance to your bathroom décor, making it look like an upscale spa. You can also buy these tiles in different colours to create striking patterns.
It is important to mention that most interior designers recommend installing smaller glass tiles to create a mosaic effect in the bathroom. This is because the extra grout joints can help make the surface less slippery.
Here is a comparison of ceramic vs glass tiles for bathroom showers that you might find helpful.
Pros and Cons of Recycled Glass Floor Tiles
Let’s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages of using recycled glass tiles in your home.
Pro: You can find recycled glass tiles in almost every colour imaginable. That means you won’t have a hard time looking for the perfect shade of tiles to complement the rest of your home décor
Pro: Since glass tiles are usually transparent or translucent, they can add depth to an otherwise plain space.
Pro: These recycled tiles are a perfect fit for the bathroom as they are impervious to moisture, stains, rot and mould.
Con: Recycled glass is not easy to install. You will most likely have to hire an expert to help you out with its installation.
Con: Glass tiles can get scratched rather easily, so you will have to be extremely careful while cleaning them. The buildup of soap residue and grime will also be very noticeable on these tiles.
That’s a wrap for our guide on how to use recycled glass in your interior design. If you have any more recycled glass decor ideas, please feel free to share them with us on blog@zameen.com.
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