Glass display cabinets are a wonderful way to turn your beautiful belongings into design features without leaving fragile items at risk of damage.

But shoving your chosen objects in a haphazard mess won’t do your belongings – or your glass cabinet – justice. Instead, you need to carefully curate it, ensuring items complement each other and make a cohesive whole that draws attention for the right reasons.

Sound like a complicated ask? Worry not, in this post we’ll give you some easy-to-follow tips so that once you’ve picked the perfect display cabinet for your space, you can make sure the treasures inside look their best too.

Start with a clean clear space

If you’re arranging (or rearranging) your glass display cabinet, it’s the perfect opportunity to carry out a deep clean.

Start by emptying your cabinet. Wipe down the shelves, or base with a soft microfibre cloth, making sure to get into the corners. A damp cloth or spritz of cleaner will help keep dust on the cloth rather than in the air, but doing this first will stop displaced dust from dirtying spaces you’ve already cleaned.

When this is done, clean the glass. Using a specialist glass cleaner can help you minimise splashes and streaks, but still take care not to use too much.

After damp cleaning make sure to buff it dry with a very soft cloth – if possible, leave it to dry naturally as well. Moisture left inside an enclosed glass space is likely to fog or dampen the class and could even damage the items inside so get your cabinet as dry as possible before refilling it.

You don’t want any moisture left inside an enclosed glass space as it may fog the glass, or be unable to evaporate.

You should also clean the items you’re planning to display.

Find a theme for the contents

Try to see what connects the items you keep in your glass cabinet. It could be something as straightforward as their age, material or style.

Examples of ‘themes’ you could use include wood, porcelain, coastal, Wedgewood, coloured glass, brass, Victorian or even just colour.

These groupings can in turn create an overarching aesthetic feel for your display. For example, collecting together items made of wood can help build a rustic feel, while metal items with sharp lines can help create an overall sense of modernism or minimalism.

Once you’ve found these themes, organise the content of your display cabinet in line with them. If you have a range of different aesthetic objects, pick a theme for each shelf. Where possible, making your entire glass cabinet display follow a single theme can create a big impact.

 

You can also use contrast within these groupings to create a focal point.

Embrace odd numbers

Tempting as it might be to stay tied to symmetry, grouping items in odd numbers often looks better (and leaves you with more options on what to display together.)

There is still symmetry in threes, fives and sevens (just graduated) and it looks a lot more cohesive when using items with subtle differences. These differences become features instead of issues.

If you have a lot of identical items, then pairs and even numbers can create impact but odd numbers give you more freedom to shuffle items around.

Mix up size and height

If possible, try to include objects of different sizes in your display. Particularly use varying heights.

Avoid blocking smaller items with taller ones, but build a gradient within the display space. Photo frames, vases, bottles, jugs or crockery can all help add height and make your cabinet look more multi-dimensional.

If all your items are similar in size or height, stagger their placement more (and use odd number groupings) to stop the display feeling flat.

Change up textures

Another way to add more dimension to a glass display cabinet is creating contrast with textures. Pairing something rough, such as unfinished driftwood with something silky smooth like sea glass, will emphasise the tactile nature of your displayed items.

This will, in turn, add interest to the items in your cabinet by engaging with an extra sense (touch). Your mind will factor in a tactile appreciation from seeing it, even without actually experiencing it through touch.

Light it carefully

If you want the contents of your cabinet to really shine, you need to light it correctly. With a glass cabinet, that is easier to do than other cabinets, but it may still need work.

With a fully glass display cabinet, your items will already enjoy the maximum amount of ambient light possible, but is this enough? Even if your case isn’t hemmed into a dark corner, it might benefit from its own light source.

A light fitting directly above can help minimise shadows but isn’t easy to install. A lamp takes minutes to set up, but lighting from only one side will leave your cabinet cluttered with shadows.

Fitting lights inside the cabinet gives you the most control but even then, you need to decide how to fit them. Directional spotlights let you control the angle of the light but can be more fiddly to calibrate while using LED striplights can keep the light cast consistent but aren’t visually appealing in themselves.

Weigh up your options carefully and find the one that works best for you.

Don’t skimp on objects

Fear of creating a cluttered cabinet might make you wary of how many items you include but don’t go too far in the other direction. If you have too few items in your display cabinet, it can leave too much empty space, leaving it feeling bare and the items inside feeling scattered and disjointed.

The perfect display sits somewhere in between. Usually, though, that does involve more objects than you’d imagine.

One of the benefits of glass display cabinets is that they feel less messy and overstuffed than something with a solid back. But the downside of this is how easy it is to leave a glass case feeling empty.

Following our other tips (grouping items, varying heights) will help with this too but it is important not to be too sparing with contents. Make the most of the space you have and the benefits of this type of case by using plenty of objects.

And to ensure an eye-catching display – get a custom-made glass display cabinet….

If you want to make sure your display case is a truly stylish statement, a custom-glass case is always the best option. We can make a bespoke glass cabinet that meets your exact measurements, so you can make sure it fits the space it’s in perfectly. Whether you want to slot it into an awkward nook, or make sure it matches the overall dimensions of your room without looking dominating or dwarfed, we can help. Speak to us today to find out more.

 

4 Creative ways to repurpose old windows

We recently looked at how sustainable glass is as a building material. One of the main conclusions we drew was that the sustainability of any material can be decided by what happens to it, once it reaches the end of its lifespan.

While glass can be recycled, this isn’t always the easiest way to dispose of it. But there are other ways to squeeze extra life from your windows when they’re no longer providing the insulation or performance that you need. 

Here are a few creative suggestions of ways you can reuse your windows to get even more use out of them, rather than relegating them to the recycling plant.

 

Creative ways to reuse or repurpose your windows

Traditional-style windows with beautiful glazing bars can be the hardest windows to say goodbye to. Often expensive, these windows can take on a new rustic charm as they age and actually increase their appeal. With a new lick of paint, or even more deliberate distressing, they can become a beautiful centrepiece in your home. 

A photo frame

Printed photos are becoming something of a dying art, and a sideboard scattered with small photo frames can look like clutter in a minimalist modern home.

A window with glazing bars comes with its own inbuilt dividers to help you house several related photos. Whether you have a selection of captured family memories or a more artistic collection of prints, a window frame can help tie them together as one cohesive wall decoration that frees up your surface space and has its own design identity.

If you’re repurposing a rustic-looking timber frame, then sepia or desaturated photos will carry on the aesthetic, while a more contrast-heavy black and white set fits perfectly with thinner aluminium frames.

Mirror

If the glass in your window is the problem, not the frame, pop it out (then recycle) and replace the panes with mirror panels instead. This works just as well for plain window frames, as it does for ones with decorative mullions, transoms or glazing bars.

It can work with any sized frame too. As large mirrors with sturdy frames can be quite expensive, reusing your window frame as a mirror frame can actually be very cost-effective as well as an attractive design addition.

Best of all, a strategically placed mirror can completely change the look and feel of a room. You can maximise the sense of space, increase the natural light and make your living space a happier place to be. All out of a functional item that is no longer fit for its original purpose.

Headboard

Another wall decoration idea for reusing old windows is to mount them behind your bed as a headboard.

This is great if you have a very large window or a couple of smaller ones that can be used together. Make sure they are securely mounted to the way with heavy-duty hangers, and remove the glass for maximum safety but this can be a beautiful and unusual addition to your bedroom, especially as the wall above a bed is often left plain.

Again, the frame can be matched to the look of your bedroom too. Timber frames can be stripped back and refinished to match the look of your bedroom furniture whether that’s painted or stained. Aluminium frames can also be repainted with a little care, and the clean lines and finish will still add a stylish twist to a more minimalist home.

Build A Greenhouse

If you’re looking for a more functional use for your old windows, using them to build a greenhouse will really make the most of their remaining practical features.

While an old double-glazed window may not still have the insulating power you need to keep your heating bills down and home warm, they will do a far better job than most cheap greenhouses or polytunnels.

The amount of windows you have access to will dictate the size of greenhouse you can achieve, but even if you only have one or two you can use them as a roof for a small growing box that will let sunshine flood in and protect fragile plants from frosts.

Keep your home sustainable by recycling your windows

A well-insulated home is a more sustainable home, and this means having double-glazing units that are performing at their peak, as well as finding a new use for the old ones once they’ve started to fail.

If you’re looking to update your glazing, speak to us today to secure high-quality replacements that will pay for themselves.

Look at any modern apartment block and you are likely to see French windows and a protective Juliet balcony. They are becoming more and more common across cityscapes and beyond, yet they are somehow still quite unknown. 

In our last blog post, we shed some light on the most commonly asked questions around Juliet balconies, but there was one question we couldn’t answer – whether a metal or glass Juliet balcony is the better choice.

We can’t answer this because there is no definitive answer. It depends on so many factors from where it’s being fitted to your own personal tastes. There are a lot of aspects to consider.

In this post, we won’t tell which is right for you either. What we will do is give you the information you need to work out which suits your own particular needs best. We’ll cover the practical benefits that each material offers, alongside a couple of design tips to help you find the best choice for your home. 

What are the benefits of a glass Juliet balcony?

When it comes to modern Juliet balconies, glass is easily one of the most popular choices. This makes sense as glass Juliet balconies do have a lot of benefits, including:

• Maximum light flow
• Low maintenance
• Long life span
• Protects against the wind
• Safety
• Visually appealing

Maximum light flow

One of the main reasons to use French windows or doors in an apartment is to let more natural light flow inside. Fitting them with a transparent or frosted glass Juliet balcony will help your doors deliver the highest possible light levels.

Frameless glass Juliet balconies are practically invisible (minus the mount system and potential handrail) and this makes them the perfect fit for this job. You get all the strength and maximum safety, while still getting the full benefit of that extra window space.

Low maintenance

As with any glass panel, a glass Juliet balcony is very low maintenance. Other than cleaning (which can be done at the same time as your windows, either by yourself or a window cleaner) it needs no real upkeep or maintenance.

In fact, checking the fittings are still secure is the only ongoing work you need to worry about throughout the duration of your balcony’s life.

Long-life span

Another benefit that comes with the sturdiness of toughened and laminated glass is that you can expect a long life span for your balcony. Even with minimal maintenance, glass Juliet balcony systems will last for many years, decades even, without showing any real sign of degrading.

Give it a quick clean and your glass Juliet balcony will look as good as the day it was installed for decades.

Protects against the wind

This practical benefit only comes to play if you use your Juliet balcony in front of an open door but it can be important. As a glass Juliet balcony is made out of a solid glass panel, it minimises the wind that gets into your living space when your doors are open.

As Juliet balconies are usually used at height, this can be quite a big benefit. You don’t have to worry about strong gusts blowing into your home and making a mess or bringing a chill. It will also offer a little protection against rain, if you don’t notice a downpour the moment it starts

Safety

The solid nature of glass brings another benefit with it too – it increases the safety the balcony is already providing. While the gaps in a metal balustrade will not be wide enough to allow anything large to slip through it, it is still helpful to have a solid panel too.

Visually appealing

Glass panels can be used to make an attractive decorative feature for your home. Well suited to modern apartment buildings, offices and even homes, they are a great way to add a touch of interest to the exterior of a building. They break up big expanses of brickwork, adding a little more dressing to windows without cluttering.

Though their clean, crisp lines are perfectly suited to more modern and contemporary building designs, they are simple enough to be flexible and can be used for older buildings too. You can further increase their visual appeal by choosing sandblasted or obscured glass – without sacrificing any of the light that gets in.

What are the disadvantages of a glass Juliet balcony?

The only real disadvantage to a glass Juliet balcony is that they can be difficult to clean. While the inside of the panel can be cleaned from inside your home, it is only possible to clean the outside using either ladders or window cleaning poles from the ground up.

However, this is the case for most windows too. If you have a window cleaning service already they will likely clean the glass of your balcony as standard, making this a much smaller problem too.

What are the benefits of a metal Juliet balcony?

If you’re looking to install a Juliet balcony, and glass doesn’t immediately appeal, chances are metal will be your other choice. As a material, it does have enough benefits to rival glass, so it’s easy to see why many people plump for metal instead. These benefits include:

• Very easy to maintain
• Robust
• More design flexibility
• Visually striking

Very easy to maintain

A high-quality metal Juliet balcony can be even easier to maintain than a glass one is. Powder coated steel and aluminium both need minimal upkeep to keep them at their best – a simple wipe down with a soft cloth soaked in warm water and soap to remove any dirt build-up will suffice.

As metal balconies are not solid, this task can often be done from inside your house too, making it something you can do yourself without any special tools or extra effort.

Robust

Another benefit this type of balcony will share with a glass Juliet balcony is durability. Admittedly, the exact robustness you get will depend on the metal you choose. For example, while a powder coating will last a long time, if it does get scratched or damaged it can leave the metal underneath at risk of rust. This is not a concern with a sleek aluminium balcony, however, this metal is more likely to be scratched or scuffed.

In either case, your balcony is unlikely to get damaged for many years so this should not be an overriding concern.

More design flexibility

One of the great things about a metal Juliet balcony is how flexible the design is. Unlike a glass balcony that is somewhat limited to a more sleek, minimalist look, there are options to suit a more traditional period home or a modern one.

For example, a decorative black option, with scrolled ironwork and a matte finish will look quite at home period homes, perfect for protecting large Victorian windows. However, if you have a more modern home then a sleek brushed aluminium option has a thoroughly modern look that will keep it

What about wooden Juliet balconies?

When it comes to standard balcony balustrades, wood is a popular choice. As such we knew we ought to cover it here, though it is not a common choice for use in Juliet balconies.

This is because wooden balustrades share the same major disadvantages as metal ones. Being opaque they interrupt light flow, which is something of an issue as Juliet balconies are often used to help let more natural light into a property.

The nature of wood means the bars of wooden balustrades are likely to be even thicker than on a metal version. It will block the light even more from entering your room.

Another disadvantage of wooden balustrades is how much maintenance they need. Unlike metal balustrades which only need very occasional cleaning and upkeep, or glass which needs cleaning but little else, wood needs to be carefully and regularly looked after in order to maximise its life span.

To protect it from the elements you will need to refinish the wood every couple of years with either a fresh coat of paint or varnish. If you don’t it will become vulnerable to moisture and it may rot or warp. If this happens, the integrity of the balustrades will weaken, leaving them at risk of breaking.

Due to the positioning, it is also a lot harder to maintain a wooden balcony, particularly if you need to sand it or fix it.

Is a metal or a glass Juliet balcony better?

As we started this post by saying, there is no definitive choice between a glass and metal Juliet balcony. Is entirely up to your personal choice. We hope, however, that this post has given you some guidance on that choice so you can see more clearly which is the correct option for you.

If you decide a glass Juliet balcony is the right choice for you, then our range of glass balustrades and balconies are durable, attractive and perfect for any home. Speak to us today to find out more about what we can offer.

 

Is glass a sustainable building material?

In 2024 there really is no excuse for not considering the environmental impact of the purchases you make for your home. Whether you’re looking at decorative items, practical ones or even structural ones, sustainability should be part of your thought process – even if it isn’t the final deciding factor.

But making informed decisions can take a lot of research. Hours of weighing up your options. To save you sinking your time and effort into finding out the environmental cost of glass from multiple sources, we thought we’d put together a quick handy guide ourselves.

We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of glass from a sustainability standpoint, as well as answer some commonly asked questions around the issue to help you decide if glass is an environmentally sound choice for you.

Why is glass a sustainable building material?

As a sweeping generalisation, it is reasonable to say that glass is sustainable. It is a great option not only for building but also for packaging materials. Here are a couple of reasons why it can have a lower environmental impact than many other materials used in the building industry.

It is incredibly strong

We talk a lot about the strength of glass alot here at KLG Glass, but have you ever thought about the environmental benefits this strength brings.

It’s strength means that glass has a long lifespan as a far as building materials go. 

When you replace windows, it’s usually because the frames are breaking of the seal on your double glazing is failing. The panes of glass only need replacing if they are forcibly broken. Left untouched, glass barely weakens or discolours – even over decades. In fact, high-quality glass walls  also have a lifespan of over 50 years.

To give you an idea of just how durable glass can be, think of all the decorative glass in historic buildings. Canterbury Cathedral contains a stained glass window that has been shown to date back to the medieval period. 

Of course, modern glass is not built to last this long but it still has an impressive lifespan.

It is infinitely recyclable

Another benefit of the strength of glass is that it’s considered ‘infinitely recyclable’. As it doesn’t degrade through normal use (or while being recycled) it can be recycled then reused indefinitely – theoretically forever. Recycled glass stays as strong as virgin glass too and has even more potential uses as it can be used as aggregate too.

It is 100% recyclable

As a material, glass is also entirely recyclable. This means plants do not have to filter out any glass waste as part of the recycling process. This makes recycling glass more straightforward and means it uses less energy to carry out. Less energy means a smaller carbon footprint – which is always a plus for the environment.

It uses minimal natural resources

Another benefit that comes with a material that is infinitely recyclable is that it uses fewer natural resources. Making virgin glass does use a lot of natural resources, but recycled glass uses barely any. This averages out to use fewer raw materials than wood, for example, which needs fresh material every time.

Are there environmental drawbacks to glass?

Glass is an impressively sustainable material if it’s used correctly. However, behaviour in the real world means that the question ‘Is glass a sustainable material?’ is slightly more nuanced.

If we want glass to be truly sustainable, we need to use an efficient manufacturing process . We also need dispose of it in a sustainable way (recycling it). If these aspects are ignored, the sustainability of glass is greatly reduced.

How sustainable is glass production?

A large part of a glass product’s environmental footprint depends on how it is made. 

To make glass sand, soda ash and limestone need to be melted at an incredibly high temperature. This is very energy-intensive and not particularly sustainable. It can also give out a high level of carbon emissions. 

However, steps can be taken to combat both of these. If you use cleaner energy in a more efficient way and reduce emissions, the benefits are clear – the issue is that not all manufacturers take these steps.

But even allowing for environmentally unsound production, glass does still benefit from how easy it is to recycle. This takes place at a much lower temperature so it uses a lot less energy – and creates fewer carbon emissions.

All these variables make it difficult to say definitively if glass production is fully sustainable. It can be done more or less sustainably depending on the choices you make, like which raw materials, processes and energy you use, while this sustainability is also increased if glass is kept in a permanent cycle of reuse after it has servied its purpose..

Can you recycle all glass?

Another flaw in the sustainability of glass is that we can’t recycle every type of glass. For example, mirrors have a reflective coating on them that stops them being – even once the coating is removed.

Other glass types, like window panes, can be recycled but need to be processed in a particular way. Window panes are often made of toughened glass – a glass is subjected to high heats to strengthen it. In turn, they need a much higher heat to be recycled than standard glass bottles or glass containers, so they can’t go into the same recycling bin as glass packaging. 

You can still recycle windows though, you just need to find a specialist glass recycling point – usually found at local recycling or waste disposal points. Unfortunately a lot of people don’t bother to seek these out, and use this as an excuse to simply chuck old windows into a skip. If you’re replacing your double glazed windows, it’s important to take them to your local waste collection site to get them recycled.

Does glass ever biodegrade?

Perhaps the biggest reason to recycle glass is what happens if you don’t. Research suggests it can take thousands of years – upto four thousand in fact – for glass to break down and biodegrade. That is actually around 8 times longer than plastic takes!

If dumped in landfill or discarded in soil, glass can also be very hazardous to people and wildlife. If it breaks, those sharp edges are a high risk until eroded and softened.

Both of these facts make it incredibly important to make sure you recycle any glass you’ve used. According to the BBC glass recycling rates in the UK sit at around 75%. Unless we increase this, it is hard to consider glass a truly sustainable material.

Is glass sustainable?

When it comes to the materials commonly used around the home, glass is easily one of the most sustainable for many reasons. Its strength, durability and attractive looks also make it incredibly versatile and there are plenty of places you can use it as more sustainable option in every room, including for a shower screen, a work surface and even a balustrade (bannister).

If you’d like to introduce more glass to your home, our high-quality products are built to last and bring eye-catching appeal, contact us today to find out more.

Does your bathroom feel small, cramped and dark? This is common when it comes to bathrooms. Usually the smallest room in the house, they are spaces driven by function first then aesthetics.

In fact, it is so common that we recently shared a post stuffed full of suggestions on how to make your tiny bathroom feel bigger and brighter.

One popular choice for opening up bathroom space is using a clear shower screen. Unlike shower curtains that severe your space into shrunken sections, a clear screen lets natural light flow throughout the whole bathroom. Combined with the clear sight lines it gives across the space, it maximises the sense of space as much as possible.

When you factor in how much easier it is to clean a screen than a curtain, plus the increased durability of a hard screen, picking a clear screen is a no-lose situation.

But choosing a screen isn’t the end of your decision. You need to choose between an acrylic shower screen or a glass one – though they might sound interchangeable (a shower screen is a shower screen after all) there are quite a few differences that each material brings.

To help you make an informed decision about which screen material is best for your bathroom, we’ve put together another shower screen post. We’ll cover maintenance, durability, cost, safety and even sustainability of each material to help you find the right shower screen for you.

Is an acrylic or a glass shower screen better?

Looks

When it comes to how your shower screen looks, glass shower screens are always going to be the best option.

The smooth, unblemished surface will always create a higher-quality appearance than acrylic which can have warping or visual distortions even from day one.

Also, a glass screen gives you the freedom to personalise your design. Sandblasting or etching on your shower screen can help you tailor your screen to meet any bathroom design, whether that’s by repeating a pattern seen elsewhere in the room or just adding a bit more style to the scene itself.

Best of all, glass screens keep their aesthetic appeal a lot longer. Even if your bathroom is recently decorated with sparkling taps and flawless grouting, scratches on your shower screen can make the whole room look tired or old. Scratches can even be mistaken for soap scum or dirt very easily and this will quickly drag down the look of your bathroom even further.

Safety

Another benefit of a toughened or tempered glass shower screen is its strength. It’s very unlikely to break in the first place. If it does, it will do so in a safe way – shattering to smooth crumbs so you don’t need to worry about cuts or scrapes.

This said safety is one area where acrylic shower screens have the advantage. They are a lot hard to break, and will usually crack before they snap so you can replace them before they become a real safety issue.

Glass shower screens are also heavier than acrylic screens, which can affect their safety, especially if the fittings start to fail.

Maintenance

When it comes to cleaning and maintaining your shower screen, glass screens are an easier choice than acrylic.

When cleaning acrylic screens, you should only ever use mild soap, water and a soft cloth or sponge. Acrylic is quite soft, which means anything abrasive – both in terms of surfaces or liquid cleaners – can easily scratch it.

In comparison tempered glass has a tough durable surface that stands up to harsh cleaning chemicals without warping or scratching. If you swipe water off the surface with a squeegee after every use, you’ll only need to give your screen an occasional rub with glass cleaner to keep it looking its best indefinitely.

Durability

Overall, glass shower enclosures and screens tend to be more durable than acrylic screens, though this is a nuanced answer.

As we mentioned above, it is almost impossible to break an acrylic shower screen. This could suggest that a glass shower screen is less durable, but this is only half the story. They might not break completely, but acrylic panels are a lot more likely to get scratched, damaged or warped and need replacing earlier than a glass screen.

Acrylic can also turn slightly yellow when exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods. While you can treat acrylic to slow this process down, glass is naturally UVB resistant so you don’t have to worry about it ever taking on an odd yellow tinge.

Sustainability

Glass is one of – if not the most – sustainable materials currently in use. Glass can be infinitely recycled so it never needs to end up as a waste product. And even if you don’t recycle it, glass is made of naturally occurring elements so it won’t break down into microplastics like acrylic does.

Thanks to its robustness, a glass shower screen is also likely to last longer than a plastic one. Combine this with the fact it can then so easily and endlessly be turned into something new, and glass clearly wins out as the more environmentally friendly option.

Cost

If you’re on a very tight budget, then an acrylic screen may be your only option. As they are weaker, less attractive and have such a shorter lifespan, acrylic shower screens tend to be a lot cheaper to purchase than glass ones.

Of course, in many ways, this is a false economy as the shorter lifespan of an acrylic screen just means it needs replacing sooner than a glass one. Acrylic is also easier to damage which can shorten its lifespan even further.

In the short term, an acrylic screen can feel like a cheaper option. In the long term though, glass wins out.

A shower screen to suit your bathroom

When it comes to picking the right shower screen for your home it’s always a subjective choice – and this includes choosing between acrylic and glass. It’s all about what appeals most to you.

But for us the answer will always be glass. Glass panels can upgrade any shower area and open up small bathrooms, adding style and function that survives for years.

Here at KLG, we’re committed to providing excellent quality glass products, quickly and at great prices. So if you’d like a bespoke glass screen that shows your bathroom at its best advantage, contact us today.

 

The DIY-filled days of spring and summer may be fading into memories, but in autumn and winter, a whole new set of decorating habits begins. Between the draped cobwebs and dancing ghouls of Halloween, and the trailing tinsel and twinkling fairy lights of Christmas, at some point this season you are probably going to give your home a holiday makeover. 

Of course, when it comes to these decorations you’re looking for temporary options. Short-term additions that will create a festive feel to suit the season. Even if you replace your spooky selection with a Christmas one, those decorations will be taken down in only a few weeks.

Temporary decorations can be difficult. You don’t want any holes, marks or dents to be left on display all year until your boxes come back out of the loft and you decorate again. 

And nowhere is more important to avoid damaging than your windows. Unlike wooden doors or walls, you can’t smear some putty or splash a new coat of paint onto glass panes. 

Accidentally scratch or chip your window pane and the surface is permanently scarred. Even worse it will be weakened, reducing the lifespan of your windows considerably.  Either way, it will set you on a short path to replacing your window which, in the case of a replacement double-glazed window unit, can be expensive.

But fear of damage shouldn’t stop you from adding a dash of holiday fun to your windows. We’ve already explored damage-free window decoration ideas for Christmas, so in this post we’re broadening our focus to methods that could be used for Halloween, Christmas or any other time of year. Read on to find out 5 methods you can use to decorate your windows temporarily, without worrying about what will happen when the decorations come down.

5 Ways to Decorate Your Windows Without Damaging Them

Specialist Window Decorations

The easiest way to temporarily decorate your window is to find a set of cute ‘window clings’. These are specifically designed to be used on windows and are made of a material that creates its own adhesive force – usually static electricity or a ‘gummy’ sticky surface.

The benefit of window clings is that they only lightly grip the surface of the glass. This means they won’t damage or mark the surface, but should still stay put until you remove them. They’re also adjustable, so if you decide you want to shift them around you can. As they create their own adhesive force you can even reuse them. 

Best of all, because the whole surface of the design is connected directly to the glass, they’ll look almost as good through the window as they do from the inside. They aren’t particularly costly either!

The downside is that you have limited design options to choose from. They are very popular so you will find plenty of shapes, colours and designs on offer – particularly during peak seasons like Halloween or Christmas. However, you won’t have complete creative freedom with your decorations and some people may find this limiting.

Glue dots

Self-adhesive glue dots or sticky dots are another great option for temporarily decorating your windows.

They are designed to leave no residue on the surface after they’re removed. Even on glass.

Another benefit is that they are quite small and transparent, so they won’t interfere with the look of your decorations. They’re not quite as good as ‘clings’ for that double-sided look, but they’re still good – you’ll probably not even notice it from a distance.

The main downside of sticky dots is how weak they are. They won’t grip glass as well as they do with rougher surfaces so they might drop heavier decorations. The glue will degrade over time too, so you won’t be able to reuse them or rely on them long-term. 

They’re fine for paper decorations or anything lightweight but don’t use them to hold up anything fragile.

Depending on the brand, they may leave a little residue behind too, though this should be easy to clean off. 

CommandTM Hooks/Strips

Much like glue dots, CommandTM strips are made to be easily removable if you decide you want to take your decorations down. They are also designed to work on all surfaces including glass, and are available in a variety of sizes – this gives you the freedom to use heavier decorations safely.

Using them on windows isn’t straightforward though. You will need to make sure to buy the correct type, as not all CommandTM strips can withstand direct sunlight. They may also struggle with dampness, so if you tend to get condensation on your windows that might be an issue (though you should stop condensation whenever possible anyway!).

However, get the relevant type of strips and you’ll have plenty of freedom to hang any decorative items you want, without worrying about weight restrictions. They’re great for winding garlands, fairy lights and other string-based decorations.

Suction Cups

Suction cups make a fantastic choice for decorating your windows. They are usually reasonably priced and are reusable so even more cost-effective. This also means they’re adjustable so you can reposition them as many times as you want – great for people who like to fiddle with their arrangements till they’re perfect.

Suction cups are also available in a range of sizes so you can find some that are suitable, whatever size you’re decorations are. They’re also versatile because you can add various attachments to them such as hooks, hoops or line to hold your decorations.

This makes them equally good for winding garlands on or dangling 3D decorations from. This range of size options means you can even use them to hang heavier items too.

One of the main drawbacks of suction cups is that they are quite big and bulky which can affect the look of your decorations. Even smaller ones will stick out slightly, and they won’t work particularly well with small or flat decorations.

Make Use of the Window Frame

Don’t want to touch the surface of your windows at all? You can still decorate by hanging your decorations from the window frame instead.

While we wouldn’t recommend hammering nails into the frame itself, small pins could be used in the brickwork around them. Even better, CommandTM strips will create a much stronger bond on brickwork than glass but will be just as easy to remove so they won’t cause damage there either.

The window sill is a safe, secure setting for any bigger, heavier or more delicate decorative items 

Finally, if you want to use dangling decorations like a curtain of fairy lights, a garland or even a lightweight wreath, you can always attach them to your curtain rail or pole and artfully trail them down.

What shouldn’t you use to decorate your windows?

If you want to make sure your decorations don’t make a permanent mark on your glass, make sure to stay away from blue tack, sellotape and glue. Although you will be able to remove them, all three are likely to leave some kind of residue that will be difficult to clean off.

You should never a strong adhesive like super glue or Gorilla GlueTM. These aren’t strong enough to make a permanent decoration on your window, but it is also impossible to completely clear the residue off at a later date when you remove the decorations.

How do you stick something to a window without damaging it?

If you’re looking to decorate your windows without damaging them there are a number of options open to you, it’s just a case of finding the one that works best for you. 

But if the worst does happen and your windows do end up getting damaged, you don’t need to worry about replacing your whole window and frame. Here at KLG Glass, we can make bespoke double-glazing units to fit inside an existing frame to help you keep waste (and costs) to a minimum. Speak to us today to find out more.

When it comes to glass, most people think of it as a functional material rather than a decorative one. Beyond the beauty of antique-stained glass and the beautiful colours it casts across a floor, people tend to choose glass for its practical properties rather than its visual ones.

But there is another way to add a design flourish to your home when you use glass. Sandblasting (or frosting) glass is a great way to turn a functional choice into a design-led one. It can add an unusual or even unique appeal to your home using an everyday item that might otherwise feel plain or dull.

In fact, a sandblast glass design is one of the most simple-but-effective ways to add a splash of creativity to your home.

In this post, we’ll explore some of the creative ways you can use sandblasted glass to add a flourish to your interiors. We’ll look at options for every room from your general living space through to your bathroom and even kitchen. 

But, as sandblasting can be a confusing term, we’ll start by explaining exactly what sandblasting is and how it’s carried out.

What is sandblasted glass?

Sandblasted glass is a decorative type of glass that uses two different textures or appearances on its surface to create a design.

The term ‘sandblasting’ refers to how the look is created. An abrasive material (originally sand) is ‘blasted’ as the surface of the glass. When it hits the glass it corrodes the surface, turning it milky white and reducing its transparency. This look is also known as ‘frosted glass’.

For more information on how sandblasting glass works take a look at our deep-dive blog post.  

A common misconception about this type of glass is that a whole pane has to have the same appearance. But actually, you can use this method to create shapes or patterns on the surface by leaving some of the glass clear, some white.

Using this type of glass opens up a whole world of design possibilities, letting you add interest and turn a functional object into a design feature.

How to use sandblasted glass to add to the look of your home

1. Turn your internal doors into a design feature

If you struggle with dark rooms, glazed internal doors are always a smart choice. They’ll help you increase light flow even when doors are shut, helping your home feel brighter and even bigger.
But a brighter space isn’t the only benefit glazed doors can bring. Sandblasting can add an intricate design to the glass so your doors closely match the design of your room.

You can echo a specific pattern from your soft furnishings or feature wallpaper, or go for something more abstract that just brings a little more visual interest to your door design. 

Stripes and geometric shapes sit perfectly in modern or minimalist designs, following the crisp lines that dominate these aesthetics, while floral patterns sit wonderfully in rustic interiors.

2. Make your home feel bigger and brighter without sacrificing privacy using glass partitions and room dividers

With a free flow of light and sightlines that make even small spaces feel airy, it’s easy to see why open-plan living is such a popular concept. But there is a price to pay for such spacious interior spaces, and that is privacy.

This is where frosted and translucent glass partitions come in. They can help you pull back some privacy by obscuring sightlines while still letting light flow. 

As well as being a practical compromise to a completely open space, a bespoke sandblasted glass room divider can make it a design contribution too. 

3. Add a unique twist to your kitchen splashbacks

A coloured, patterned or printed glass splashback can be a beautiful focal point in any kitchen. But another way to up its visual appeal is to use decorative sandblasted glass.

Again a great way to echo other patterns you’ve chosen, but in a more subtle and soft way if you want to make them too eye-catching. Especially if you don’t want attention drawn immediately to areas that tend to get dirty easily.

Of course, another benefit of a sandblast, semi-transparent surface is that the texture will help disguise dirt or streaks. This is particularly important in a splashback, which is impossible to keep clean all the time.

In fact, it’s a brilliant way to make a glass splashback a more forgiving kitchen choice.

4. Enhance your home’s kerb appeal

First impressions count, particularly when it comes to your home. Visitors and even passers-by will make unintentional judgements about your house, and even you, without even passing through the door and it’s important to make them positive. 

Important, but not exactly easy. Finding unusual or attractive design choices for the exterior of your home can be difficult – especially without a large front garden.

Adding frosted glass on your front door or even installing sidelights or a small glass porch can help you turn a dull door into a grand entrance.  It will even improve the look of your hallway by flooding it with natural light – fantastic for a room that can easily feel dark, narrow or cramped.

As sandblasting on glass doesn’t affect its stability, you don’t have to worry about it limiting the security or safety of your door either. In fact, it may actually improve it – obscuring the contents of your home will make potential intruders less likely to target your home.

5. Create a bathroom design statement with a frosted shower screen

When it comes to a room as small as a bathroom, every decision you make impacts the design. And while a novelty shower curtain might be cute at first, even something so small can start to grate when it clashes with a carefully crafted interior.

A sandblasted glass shower screen is understated enough to stand the tests of time, but also gives you space to show your design skills. Popular bathroom themes like botanical or nautical looks are easy to capture using sandblasting, while subtle abstract patterns can slip seamlessly into period properties or contemporary styles.

Best of all, glass is a perfect material match to the intense humidity of a bathroom. It’s easy to maintain and clean and it won’t rot, warp or grow mould. It will hold up to most harsh cleaning chemicals and still last for years.

6. Add some creative sparkle to your mirrors

Don’t rely on a fancy frame that’s difficult to clean and sucks up space to increase the visual appeal of your mirrors. A sandblasted border can help you add an extra design element while still keeping your mirror sleek and understated. 

In small spaces like bathrooms and hallways, a mirror will help increase natural light and even make your room feel bigger. With sandblasting, you can make sure your mirror is tailored to the look of your room without having to take up precious space with a clunky frame or creating a feeling of clutter.

Sandblasting can also help diffuse lights, so if you choose to backlight your mirror it can help soften harsh edges and make a warmer glow.

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Glass is often relegated to being a purely practical choice, but there are plenty of decorative choices you can make too. Sandblasted glass is a fully flexible choice, with plenty of functional benefits as well as practical ones.

Here at KLG Glass, we can include bespoke sandblasting with almost all of our glass products. So if you want glass that reflects your personality, contact us today to discuss your design plans.

 

Glass display cabinets are a wonderful way to display items and show your belongings at their best. They’re also a versatile piece of furniture. Secure enough for commercial use, safe enough for home use and visually flexible enough to fit into any design scheme.

However, as with all furniture choices, if you pick the wrong glass cabinet your whole design scheme can get thrown off. And make the wrong choice around glass types, or what locks, lighting and shelves to use and you can even impact the security and safety of the items you’re displaying.

Picking the right display cabinet is essential. Luckily, there are only a few decisions you need to make to find the case you need, and this blog post is here to help you make them. We’ll cover the size of your cabinet, how to tailor it to suit your interior and look at how the lighting and security you pick will impact your items.

So whether you’re looking for a display case to showcase your achievements, a cabinet to show your products at their best angle or a curio cabinet to protect a carefully curated collection, here are some tips to help you find the perfect glass display cabinet for your home.

Size and space

Buying a bespoke glass cabinet opens up a world of size possibilities – don’t waste the opportunity by randomly guessing what you need.

First off, measure the space the cabinet will sit in. If you’re looking to fill a specific nook or alcove, then a custom cabinet means you can get an exact fit. Take the time to get accurate measurements and make sure to double-check them.

You also need to consider the size of the overall room you’ll be putting your cabinet in. When you put a large cabinet in a small room, it can feel imposing and shrink the size of the room so it feels cramped and cluttered. As with all furniture, you need to find an item that suits the space it’s going into.

With this type of cabinet, you can go a bit bigger than standard as one of the advantages of glass cabinets is their transparency. They keep sightlines clear which continues the flow of rooms and creates a sense of space. However, you still want a cabinet that is proportionate to the room – anything too big can still dwarf the space.

The final size to consider when picking your cabinet is what you want to keep inside it. If you’re planning to house a specific item or collection, you obviously need a suitably-sized cabinet. This includes thinking about how many shelves you want, and how far apart they should be.

The perfect material

Glass cabinets should always be made with toughened or laminated glass. Otherwise, you’ll sacrifice the safety and security of your home – not to mention the contents of your cabinet.

This is because toughened glass is up to 5x stronger than standard glass and is able to withstand harder impacts. And toughened or tempered glass will also crumble into smaller pieces if it does break, rather than sharp or jagged shards.

However, depending on your budget there are other options you can explore to improve your cabinet. For example, low-iron glass will give the clearest view of your cabinet without a green cast, but it does come at a cost.

Similarly, using glass with UV protection will help keep your important items safe from harmful UV rays but comes at a much higher price point.

If you are looking to seriously cut the costs of a display cabinet, you could also explore options for acrylic cabinets. These will offer some of the benefits of glass display cabinets, such as increasing light flow and giving 360° views, but they are much lower quality.

Aesthetic appeal

When it comes to furniture, looks are always important – glass display cases are no different. Though one of the benefits of glass cabinets is that they keep their contents as the focal point, you can still make a couple of choices around the look of a glass case that will help it suit different surroundings.

For example, the exposed edges of a UV-bonded glass case could be too harsh in a warm, cottagey living space. However, a case with glass sides and a wood frame sits much more comfortably in homely surroundings.

Similarly, if you’re looking for a minimalist or modern look, a brushed aluminium or steel frame nicely matches the clean lines of contemporary styles.

These decisions are always a matter of personal taste and are dependent on your existing interior design. But it’s important to consider all your options and make sure your cabinet suits its surroundings as well as any items it houses.

Lighting options

If you invest in a glass display cabinet, you want to make sure the contents always look their best. This means carefully positioned lighting to showcase its contents.

Decide whether you want the flexibility of lights outside the cabinet or the control of integrated lighting. What about the specific, directed light of spotlights or more diffused, consistent beams from a strip light? Consider the size and shape of items and where shadows will be cast – do you need additional lights to compensate?

Even the choice between a warm or cool-toned bulb is going to have a big impact on the look of your displayed items.

Spend time thinking it all through BEFORE purchasing your cabinet, and you’ll have a lot more flexibility in your options. Leave these decisions until after your cabinet arrives and you might not be able to implement the best option.

Added security features

Items kept in glass display cabinets tend to have a high value – be that sentimental or monetary.

When it comes to storing your prized possessions, it is sensible to explore additional security options. Obviously, the type of glass you choose will impact security, as will the thickness. Another

easy way to up the security that your display glass cabinet provides is with locks.

It is possible to get separate surface locks that you can fit onto your cabinets after purchase. These are available at a range of price points but start relatively cheap and are a good option if you change the use of your cabinet in the future.

However, if you know that you want that added peace of mind from day one, in-built locks are often the best choice. They are of higher quality, last longer and look less obtrusive than locks added after the fact.

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As with all furniture, you should always make a carefully considered choice when you’re picking out a glass display cabinet. They have an important job to perform – showcasing their contents at their best – and choosing a case that is too big for the room, incorrectly lit or made of the wrong materials is likely to hinder that job.

If you’ve decided on the exact specifications for your custom glass display case, speak to us today to turn your dream design into a reality.

 

 

There are plenty of practical reasons to pick a glass balustrade. However, the decisions we make about our home furnishings are often driven by more than logic.

When picking out something to add to our home, we often think about the visual impact first. Does it match the style of its surroundings? Is it in keeping with the theme of the house? And, most importantly, do you like how it looks?

These are much more subjective factors. No one can tell you what your home should look like (or what it shouldn’t). But when it comes to glass balustrades or bannisters, they have interior design benefits that help them fit in with a whole range of styles.

If you’re convinced of the practicality of a glass balustrade, but not so sure they match up aesthetically, here are a couple of design benefits you can expect when you pick them.

Improve the flow of natural light

One of the biggest benefits of using glazing is always the way it lets sunlight shine in. Whether you’re talking about doors, shower screens or bannisters, turning parts of your home transparent means that the whole room or space will be lighter.

With glass balustrades, this is particularly important. Hallways often have limited light sources, with windows few and far between. Anything you can do to increase the natural light in these spaces will make a big difference, and a glass balustrade can help share uninterrupted light between upstairs and downstairs.

This shared light is equally beneficial for staircases that are located inside rooms as well.

Increase sense of space

The transparency of glass doesn’t just increase the light in a room either. The uninterrupted sightlines will make a space feel much bigger as well as brighter.

This is obviously a great benefit for narrow or angular hallways, as it can stop staircases from feeling like they severe the space. Instead, it can create a sense of flow, helping upstairs and downstairs come together.

It can have an even bigger impact on staircases or landings inside actual rooms. Even though stairs aren’t exactly usable design space, glass balustrades can break down the barrier between the staircase and the room helping it feel like there is more distance from wall to wall.

While this doesn’t give more space to put furniture in, it still creates more space in the room, helping it feel bigger and more open plan.

Flexible with other materials

Thanks to its lack of colour and its smooth, sleek texture, glass is incredibly flexible from a visual point of view. While you may automatically picture a glass bannister with a metal handrail, frame and fixtures, you don’t actually have to limit your designs to suit steel.

Though sleek, smooth steel or aluminium make a beautiful complement to a glass balustrade, glass can also make an attractive contrast with natural materials like wood. From the drama of dark hardwood to the gentler tones of softwood like pine, glass can look just as stunning against wood as it can with metal.

Even better the smooth, clean surface of glass makes a perfect counterpoint to the textured grain of wood. Both materials can make a stunning design statement in themselves.

Support a modern, minimalist look

Team a glass bannister with a wooden frame and it can look perfectly at home at home anywhere – even in a period property or cottagey aesthetic. but when it comes to a cutting-edge contemporary home, you’ll struggle to beat a glass bannister to match your design.

Minimalist decor is all about clean lines and an unfussy design – and you won’t get cleaner or sleeker than glass. Pair it with a metal frame to create contrast, or go frameless for ultimate minimalism.

As we mentioned before, picking glass will also help you create a sense of space and increase light which are both key parts of a contemporary interior aesthetic.

Add a decorative flourish

Find the right balustrade and you can even create a decorative focal point with your glass bannister itself.

Rather than plumping for clear glass, pick out pattered, frosted or obscured sandblasted glass. This type of glass is just as robust, strong and easy to maintain as standard glass but the treated glass will add its own visual texture too.

You can even choose to have your own design added to the glass. Here at KLG, we can create patterned glass that matches the design of fabric, wallpaper or even tiles. So if you have a feature wall that’s papered in a distinctive style, we can help you echo that look elsewhere being tied to colour choices.

Sandblasted glass adds its own visual appeal but it will slightly obscure sightlines. However, it still maintains 97% light transmission so it will still help your rooms feel bigger and brighter.

Lift your staircase with a glass bannister

If you want to refresh your stairs with a staircase that shares natural light and helps your hallway feel bigger, then a glass balustrade is a wonderful option.

Here at KLG we make bespoke balustrades to fit any size or style of home. Speak to us today to find out more.

Choosing the best type of kitchen splashback is a difficult decision. You need one that combines aesthetic appeal with design flexibility to match your kitchen. You need a wipe-clean surface that can hold up to the ravages of your kitchen and hold its good looks without endless maintenance.

It’s important to get the right material. In many cases, that material is glass. We’ve already answered some general questions about glass splashbacks, but sometimes it can be hard to know if it’s right for you. So in this post, we’ll help you decide by answering some more in-depth questions.

What glass is best for a splashback?

When it comes to a kitchen splashback, you need to use toughened glass. Standard, non-toughened glass can be fragile, prone to cracking, chipping and even shattering. Toughened glass (or tempered glass) is treated to make it strong and durable enough to withstand the stresses of your kitchen.

Toughened glass can easily take the knocks, catches and scratches that are an inevitable part of cooking. It is still lightweight enough to fix easily in place and stay secure, and obviously has all the good looks you’d expect of glass.

Can a glass splashback crack from heat?

Another benefit of toughened glass is that it won’t crack in the heat of your kitchen. Even if you have a gas hob, where the flames are mere inches from the wall, a glass kitchen splashback is heat resistant enough to endure.

The important thing is to make sure there is enough space between the hob and the glass splashback. If your hob is fitted too close to the splashback you risk shortening the life of your splashback as the rapid change when the heat from your stovetop begins and ends, will weaken it.

What size should a glass splashback be?

Any kitchen splashback should be at least the same width as your hob. This will protect your walls against any food splatters your cooking splashes out, and will also give your kitchen walls a balanced look.

However toughened glass is so strong, you can also choose a much larger size, the whole length of your work surface for example. This can be great visually if you go for a bright, bold colour and will also protect an even wider space from food splashes.

One brilliant thing about glass splashbacks is that they come in any size. Here at KLG Glass, our glass cutting service means that you can buy a beautiful and bespoke splashback that is the perfect size for your kitchen – whatever size that might be.

How thick should a glass splashback be?

On average a glass splashback should be 6mm thick. This makes the glass strong enough to stay resistant to heat, scratches and bumps while also being thin and lightweight enough to be fixed to the wall without needing too much effort or extra fixings.

If you prefer, it is possible to get thick glass splashbacks of around 8mm. However, the downside of thicker glass is that your kitchen splashback is heavier. It will need more secure fixings and you may be limited on how large you can make it without reinforcing your walls.

6mm glass splashbacks do offer the perfect combination of convenience, appearance and strength which is why this is the thickness we always recommend.

How long will a glass kitchen splashback last?

Glass splashbacks are so strong and durable, they will last for over a decade – potentially two.

Unlike tiled splashbacks that might chip or come loose, or acrylic kitchen splashbacks that could scratch or weaken, glass will take many years to weaken enough that it needs replacing.

It is more likely you will want to swap out your splashback for aesthetic reasons before practical ones. Though, an added benefit of glass splashbacks is that they will look just as good as the day they were installed for most of their life too. They are so easy to clean and maintain, you won’t need to worry about them looking old or tatty either.

Are glass splashback still in fashion?

The wonderful flexibility of glass kitchen splashbacks means they will never go out of style. Whether bright, bold primary colours or subtle earth tones are popular, you can match your kitchen splashback to the latest trend when you pick a glass one.

And if you need any more glass splashback design inspiration, check out our post to see just how flexible these kitchen splashbacks can be.

Are glass splashbacks worth it?

At the end of the day, the only person who can decide if glass is the right splashback material for your kitchen is you. Compared to other splashback materials, glass has plenty to recommend it, but if you need to know more you can always contact our team with any questions you still have.