How to Use Glass to Brighten Up Every Space in the Home

If your home seems a bit drab and dull in certain areas, and you've tried all the lighting tricks you can think of, you might need to move on to using glass to brighten the space. This can mean larger windows and also glass inside the home, which can reflect light you bring and make a space seem brighter and even roomier. If you're not sure how to use any of these suggestions, work with a glazier to safely install these glass features.

In the kitchen

A glass splashback can bounce around light and immediately give your kitchen a brighter look. Glass is very easy to clean and very durable when used behind stovetops. You can also add a glass benchtop for even more brightness; very often a glass piece can even be applied right over the material you have currently. This can help to preserve and protect the benchtop while making it brighter and bolder and making the entire kitchen space seem bigger and even cleaner!

In the bathroom

Swap out your shower curtain for a glass door for the shower. This makes the bathroom seem brighter, as the glass will reflect light, and it also opens up the area around the tub. This is a good choice if you have light tile colors in the tub but are hiding them with a shower curtain, as the colors will also reflect what light you get in the bathroom. If you have the budget, you might also swap out your standard porcelain sink bowl with one made with glass. This too will reflect more light and make the vanity area look brighter and lighter.

In other rooms

Skylights are a good choice for rooms where the windows are very small or they're simply not getting much direct sunlight during the day. Even a small skylight can be installed over a back bathroom or office space, and this can make the area seem brighter without having to turn on all the lamps during the day.

A glazier can also offer glass that you use as decoration; a long line of colored glass against a dull wall in any room can give it some color that is bright and cheerful. You might also have a glass piece put over artwork you already have; remove a heavy picture frame and have the artwork set behind a plain piece of thick glass, and then add a spotlight under or over the piece. The glass will keep it bright and may even bring out the colors more than a thick, contrasting frame.