So, if you’re searching for inspiration and wondering how to make your interiors feel more sophisticated, here are ten stylish ways you can use custom glass in your home design.

1) Glass Mirrors

One of the most common glass items found in every building, mirrors can be used for vanity purposes in bathrooms and bedrooms, but they can also be hung in hallways, living rooms and pretty much any space that needs more light.

Not only do mirrors help you see how you look before you leave the room, but the silver backing also boosts the brightness of the area by reflecting lots of light.

While mirror glass typically isn’t toughened, it’s available in a range of styles other than the classic silver, including tinted dark grey or bronze for ultra-modern or vintage aesthetics. You can also opt for an aged finish if you prefer mirrors with antique character.

Of course there are different shapes available too, from traditional round and rectangular mirrors to contemporary pebble and pond mirrors.

2) Glass Splashbacks

Quickly becoming popular in kitchen design, glass splashbacks are must haves if you want to protect kitchen walls from food splatters without needing to do more than wipe them clean.

Made from toughened glass that’s resistant to high temperatures, a glass kitchen splashback is the perfect space saving solution for covering the wall behind your hob. This robust material will remain unfazed in the face of hot splashes and steam.

No more unsightly stains, bubbling paint or warped wallpaper, with a glass splashback whichever finish you choose will continue to look as good as new for a long time.

Best of all, there are various styles to choose from, including back painted glass, glitter glass or digitally printed glass with a high quality image. You can even choose a custom photo if you prefer, so your splashback can double as glass wall art.

3) Glass Table Tops

Whether they’re for dining indoors or outside, getting important work done, holding bits and pieces by the front door or putting down drinks while you’re watching TV, tables are essential items of furniture that no premises can go without.

Wood has been the dominant table material for thousands of years, with metal becoming popular in more recent centuries, but in the twenty first century glass table tops are the ultimate finishing touch for any table frame or base.

You can use a sheet of custom cut toughened glass as the table top itself or purchase a bespoke toughened glass topper to protect the surface of another table top underneath.

However you use them, toughened glass table tops are guaranteed to look trendy yet elegant, giving you a functional and fashionable surface you can rely on.

4) Glass Shelves & Sills

Do you want to make the most of vertical wall space for storage, without a bulky cabinet or chest taking up floor space? The best way to store items safely in an aesthetically pleasing display is not just with open shelving, but open glass shelving.

Glass shelves are minimalist but tough, and can easily be mounted to walls. You can choose frosted or tinted glass for stylistic effect or opt for low-iron glass for an ultra-clear look that creates the illusion of ‘floating shelves’.

They can be installed anywhere you like, but glass shelves work best in small spaces like bathrooms, helping to keep toiletries organised without adding to the visual clutter.

Maybe you prefer to use your window sills as shelves for flowers and ornaments? You’ll be glad to know that you can add painted glass window sills with a smooth finish for easy cleaning!

5) Glass Bath & Shower Screens

Does your bathroom feel outdated and in desperate need of a refresh? The simplest solution is to take down the old shower curtain for good and replace it with a sleek and shiny glass screen.

Whether you have a walk-in shower, a wet room or a classic shower/ bath combo, sticky plastic curtains and careless splashes will no longer be constant concerns once you install a glass shower screen or glass bath screen.

A standard clear glass panel gets the job done, but if you want to truly elevate your bathroom interior design, you could choose a tinted glass shower screen for a cutting-edge style boost or a frosted glass bath screen for additional privacy.

You’ll also have the option of fixed screens for security or hinged screens for easy access, with a selection of fitting styles and finishes to enhance the look, such as chrome or brass.

6) Glass Balustrades & Surrounds

Forget opaque fencing, wooden balusters or metal railings, whenever you want to enclose an area or protect people from drops between floor levels without obstructing the view, the go-to choice for modern barriers is toughened glass balustrades.

With framed systems supported by metal posts or frameless systems providing a seamless appearance, any area will look high-end when surrounded by sleek glass balustrades.

They work as effective safety barriers to prevent falls while also transforming staircases, landings, mezzanines, terraces and more with their upscale streamlined style.

Glass balustrades can be used internally for impressive visuals or outside for various practical uses. For example, decking balustrades or pool surrounds made from clear or tinted glass can uplift the area while providing long lasting safety with weather resistant materials.

7) Glass Balconies & Window Barriers

In a similar fashion, glass balustrades can be used as balcony balustrades to prevent people falling from a height, while also opening up the view beyond thanks to their transparency.

Many balconies can be quite small, such as those found in apartment buildings, so it’s even more crucial to choose a balustrade material that doesn’t compromise the scenery or make the available floor space feel even smaller.

That’s where toughened glass panels come in as the ideal alternative to metal balcony railings, though they can be combined with metal fixtures and handrails for extra safety if desired.

When updating architectural features that can increase property values, one of the most popular possibilities is transforming an upper floor window into a Juliet balcony. This involves fitting a glass balustrade across the full length opening to turn it into a faux balcony.

Additionally, glass panels can be used as internal window safety barriers, which increase protection without blocking views the way metal bars or opaque barriers would.

8) Glass Partitions & Walls

Whether you want to separate a space with a slimline divider or create a corner room or three-sided room in a larger open space without the hassle of constructing permanent walls, glass partitions are unbeatable for their ease of installation and practical use.

Rather than comparatively low balustrades that are typically waist high barriers, toughened glass partitions can be up to 3m tall or more so they can be used in place of full height walls.

This offers incredibly efficient solutions for open plan floors in offices or homes, for example, where you may want to partition different areas for specific purposes.

Creating a bespoke glass room is easy when you go to toughened glass suppliers, who can cut the glass panels to your custom size requirements and supply the fittings for the system too.

If you want more privacy than clear glass allows without sacrificing the improved light flow between spaces, then you can opt for frosted satin glass for partial obscurity.

9) Glass Doors

Of course if you’re constructing a glass room that uses glass partitions to enclose a space next to an existing wall, you’ll need a door to get in and out. Fortunately, glass partition systems come with glass doors as part of the package, with matching fittings.

You can also purchase glass doors individually if you just want to replace a standard door in your home or business with a slimmer and less obstructive glass version.

However, this typically means that you’ll have to buy the fittings to install it separately, too, but any reliable glass manufacturer should also stock these parts for sale.

This also gives you more freedom to choose different fittings to suit your preferred aesthetic, such as round instead of square, matt instead of polished, or black or gold instead of silver.

10) Glass Floors

Last but not least, one of the rarer glass applications, which is all the more striking for that, is replacing traditional flooring with glass panels. Walking across a glass floor with nothing underneath might seem scary, but it’s called ‘walk-on glass’ because it’s safe to do so.

This type of glass is both toughened and laminated for extra strength, ensuring it can bear loads to a specified capacity that will make it suitable for its designated usage.

Glass flooring is mostly used in settings where there is an interesting view below, but there shouldn’t be a way for anyone below to view people through the glass above, as this would obviously cause privacy concerns for people standing and walking on it.

Some uses, such as glass stair treads and landings, are best applied in private settings where there is less foot traffic but the staircase area would otherwise feel dark and narrow.