Building Components
9 Types of Glass That Let Light In While Maintaining Privacy
From pleasing texture to decorative colour, these options allow spaces to be screened while still feeling airy and open
Frosted or corrugated, coloured or textured – these types of glass let through diffused light but obscure visibility, giving a blurred vision of what lies beyond. Browse these nine examples, which are perfect for everything from room dividers and shower enclosures to stylish kitchen cabinets and internal glazed doors.
For a frosted-glass effect without the sandblasting, window film can also be applied to glazing – either patterned or plain – to create a similar look.
2. Reeded or fluted glass
This is a decorative glass with vertical grooves that give it depth, texture and distort the view of whatever is behind it. It’s also referred to as rippled or ribbed glass. Along with internal doors and room partitions, reeded glass is a great option for cabinets.
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This is a decorative glass with vertical grooves that give it depth, texture and distort the view of whatever is behind it. It’s also referred to as rippled or ribbed glass. Along with internal doors and room partitions, reeded glass is a great option for cabinets.
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Its subtle surface delicately obscures the view through the glass pane, so the contents of a room or cupboards look softer, while maintaining a light and airy feel in the room.
3. Stained glass
Decorative stained glass obscures the view even more while still filtering sunlight through it. Stained glass consists of coloured glass pieces precisely cut and arranged to create floral, figured or abstract designs that have a unique, handcrafted look. It can be used in windows, doors or partitions.
Browse more beautiful entrances to inspire your own
Decorative stained glass obscures the view even more while still filtering sunlight through it. Stained glass consists of coloured glass pieces precisely cut and arranged to create floral, figured or abstract designs that have a unique, handcrafted look. It can be used in windows, doors or partitions.
Browse more beautiful entrances to inspire your own
4. Coloured glass
Glass can also be coloured by adding different kinds of metallic oxides while it’s in a molten state. The difference between stained and coloured glass is that, while stained glass uses coloured glass to form ornate designs or patterns, coloured glass itself tends to be plain, single panels.
Displayed here are coloured-glass slit windows that splash chromatic light inside the house while providing privacy.
Glass can also be coloured by adding different kinds of metallic oxides while it’s in a molten state. The difference between stained and coloured glass is that, while stained glass uses coloured glass to form ornate designs or patterns, coloured glass itself tends to be plain, single panels.
Displayed here are coloured-glass slit windows that splash chromatic light inside the house while providing privacy.
5. Corrugated glass
Corrugated glass is one of the most resilient and durable types of glass. It’s bent into waves in a furnace and is thicker and less likely to shatter than flat glass. Views through are distorted, but it can also be frosted to provide extra privacy.
Corrugated glass is one of the most resilient and durable types of glass. It’s bent into waves in a furnace and is thicker and less likely to shatter than flat glass. Views through are distorted, but it can also be frosted to provide extra privacy.
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6. Textured or patterned glass
These glass styles have a design impressed into the pane, lending a decorative touch to a screen. There’s a huge number of patterns to choose from, ranging from barely there to three-dimensional, traditional to contemporary, so you can select the level of privacy you’d like.
These glass styles have a design impressed into the pane, lending a decorative touch to a screen. There’s a huge number of patterns to choose from, ranging from barely there to three-dimensional, traditional to contemporary, so you can select the level of privacy you’d like.
7. Glass bricks
Decorative and functional, glass bricks let in natural light and provide visual texture in a home. They’re available in different styles, thicknesses and even colours. The advantage with glass bricks is you have the option to create straight or curved walls, which means they also lend themselves nicely to rounded shower enclosures.
Decorative and functional, glass bricks let in natural light and provide visual texture in a home. They’re available in different styles, thicknesses and even colours. The advantage with glass bricks is you have the option to create straight or curved walls, which means they also lend themselves nicely to rounded shower enclosures.
8. Etched glass
Glass etching, also known as French embossing, is the technique of creating art on a glass surface. The design is created by applying acidic, caustic or abrasive substances to a glass pane to etch the surface. Along with restricting views, it can add to the aesthetic appeal of a space.
Glass etching, also known as French embossing, is the technique of creating art on a glass surface. The design is created by applying acidic, caustic or abrasive substances to a glass pane to etch the surface. Along with restricting views, it can add to the aesthetic appeal of a space.
9. Reflective glass
With this glazing, a metallic coating is applied to one side of the glass to give it a mirror-like appearance. It blocks views inwards from outside, but allows views out while also letting in light and restricting glare. It’s mostly used on facades to create dynamic exteriors.
Your turn
Have you used any of these types of glass in your home? Let us know in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen for more design advice? Check out 3 Design Tricks to Make a Narrow Bathroom Look Larger
With this glazing, a metallic coating is applied to one side of the glass to give it a mirror-like appearance. It blocks views inwards from outside, but allows views out while also letting in light and restricting glare. It’s mostly used on facades to create dynamic exteriors.
Your turn
Have you used any of these types of glass in your home? Let us know in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Keen for more design advice? Check out 3 Design Tricks to Make a Narrow Bathroom Look Larger
Frosted glass, also known as translucent glass, neatly obscures visibility while still letting light in. It’s made by sandblasting or acid-etching one surface of a clear glass pane, creating tiny indentations that create a semi-opaque finish.
Sandblasting can be controlled to create decorative patterns, such as geometric lines, hatching or swirls. The opacity ranges from mild to heavily blurred.