How to Brighten Your Home Using Glass

Out of all the materials out there, glass is already used in most of our homes. The use of glass in home decor is rarely thought of as decorative and is thought to be more utilitarian. Glass can come in several forms, from the glazing to countertops and decorative walls. Whether you enjoy using glass to bring in the morning sun, or a hundred other purposes, glass can be overlooked when customizing home interiors. Here are some ways to let glass brighten your home.

Add Windows and Glass Doors

Kitchens can benefit greatly from added windows, making the space feel brighter and larger. Image: Jose Soriano on Unsplash.

Large windows and glass doors are the primary way to introduce light into your home. Most often, you’ll need to combine several methods to get the amount of light you want. So, if the southern orientation of your home isn’t enough, consider adding another pair of double-hung windows on either side of your French terrace doors. This approach could also work on both sides of a fireplace, if it’s placed centrally on a wall.

The same rule applies to kitchens as well. One window above the sink may not be enough so if you’re planning a kitchen remodel, consider removing a large double cabinet and expanding the existing window. With exposed shelving and bright wall paint, your kitchen will appear brighter and larger.

In addition to kitchens and living rooms, other areas such as stairwells and landings can benefit greatly from windows and glass doors, as these are usually quite dark places where it’s easy to trip and get injured. Consider opening up your stairwell walls, if possible, with a couple of smaller windows and consider replacing your existing interior doors with glass-panelled doors. These will reflect and share the light between spaces and won’t shut rooms off.

Glass doors are an ideal way to add design flair and light to your home. Image: Elegant Doors.

Glass Furniture

Glass can be easily incorporated in many types of furniture and furnishings, such as tables, chairs, mirrors, and decorations and it’s only up to you to choose the ones you like the most. Dining tables with a glass top add elegance, style, and sophistication to a room. Furthermore, when paired with other materials like leather and wood, your interior gets more texture and depth.

Using Reflection

The number one trick of clever interior design is taking advantage of the presence of light. It has the power to illuminate a room and make it seem larger, more natural, and comfortable. When you use glass surfaces, they can enhance the views, brighten, and even obscure your home.

To get the most out of a surface, use high-gloss paint for your furniture and finishes and that little shine the paint contains will bounce light around the room. If you choose a lighter colour in the process, it will also add more vibrancy to an otherwise dark and dull room.

One thing that works particularly well in kitchens is installing a high-gloss, reflective material for your backsplash. Certain glass manufacturers can even produce a custom-fitted glass backsplash that will reflect natural light around your kitchen and match the rest of the decor perfectly while providing just enough brightness to open up the entire room.

Original Applications

Today's modern homes, like this home in Austin, Texas, often have walls of windows. Deep overhangs here minimize solar heat gain during hot Texas summers. Image: Digitized House. — Today’s modern homes, like this home designed by Austin architect Steve Zagorski, often have walls of windows. Deep overhangs here minimize solar heat gain during hot Texas summers. Image: Digitized House.

Modern home interior trends make use of glass surfaces in original ways, such as glass countertops in the kitchen and entire glass walls and partitions in bathrooms or glass panels instead of classic wooden or metal staircase railings. You might also consider using it in your master bedroom as well as a divider wall between your room and the master bathroom. It will maintain your privacy but still let enough light through.

In the early days of architecture and interior design, glass was only used for windows as a connection to the outside world. Today, it’s widely used as exterior sheathing in high rises and often replaces entire walls giving buildings and homes an original and contemporary appearance.

Creativity at Work

There are practically no limits with what you can do with glass in the interior, you only need to mind the cold and heat variations that can influence its properties. The solution can be using thicker glass panes in colder regions and going with dual panes instead of single-pane windows. Also consider triple-pane glass, which is coming into vogue for its high energy-saving attributes.

Glass is also a great solution in minimalist design where you can use it both as a decorative piece and a practical barrier against the outdoor elements. Whether you use it in small or larger quantities, your space will benefit when using glass materials. It works well as reflective kitchen backsplashes, dividing walls in bathrooms and bedrooms, French doors between the rooms, and large mirrors in the living room. Depending on your taste, find inspiration in these tips and brighten up your home with the flow of daylighting!

Guide to the Connected Home