Designing with Decorative Art Glass for Beauty and Function

Designing with Decorative Art Glass for Beauty and Function

Nancy Gong, Glass Artist > News & Blog > Architectural-Art-Glass > Designing with Decorative Art Glass for Beauty and Function

Nancy Gong Architectural Art Glass Paradise

There are many purposes for glass art décor. It can be used for functional purposes, such as windows and skylights, or for aesthetic purposes, such as sculptures and stained glass. Glass can also be used to create a feeling of openness and space in a room.

Decorative art glass embellishes a space with beauty, pattern, texture, and emotion. Its use contributes to how we feel and function in an environment.

Decorative art glass transforms a space by creating a perception of expansiveness. Beauty can be presented in a quiet or spectacular way to create a feeling of calm or excitement in addition to a connection to a particular theme. 

The design can be left open for interpretation or to tell a particular story.  

The Use of Decorative Art Glass in Architecture & Interior Design

Pattern and texture can connect to architectural or other interior design themes, such as science, nature, or industry. They can be used to reinforce the theme or provide a contrasting element. 

For example, a nature-themed room might use patterns and textures that mimic those found in nature, such as leaves or bark. A room with an industrial theme might use patterns and textures that are more geometric in nature, such as those found in metal or concrete.

Studies have shown that “biophilic design”, (designs that provide a human connection to nature) increases productivity by contributing to a positive environment. 

Decorative art glass is often used in interior design to add a touch of elegance or beauty to a space. It can be used to accentuate features in a room, such as a fireplace or a piece of furniture, or it can be used to create an overall atmosphere of sophistication.

In a health care settings, decorative art glass can create a calming and relaxing atmosphere. Art glass can be used to add color and visual interest to the space while helping to promote positive energy and healing.

Decorative art glass in its many aesthetic forms be it colorful or neutral, pure and simple, a representation of an image or symbol. The use of color, light, and shadow can create an emotional response in viewers.

Art touches our soul.

In general, decorative art glass is appreciated for its beauty and its function. It can diffuse or obscure a view, or harness more daylight. It can create a feeling of expansiveness, just as easily as it can be used as a divider to organize an open space into more intimate areas. 

While fine art generally has a deeper meaning or story behind it, can decorative art glass also be viewed as fine art? Absolutely!

Here are some examples of what might first appear as abstract designs, each of them has a function within the spaces they occupy. For the owners of these pieces, each is imbued with an intimate story and a personal meaning.

For a home in the northeast, “Paradise” is a reminder of frequent visits to Hawaii. Brilliant colors bring warmth and life to a neutral décor, the glass artwork mitigates the intense glaring sunlight from the west. Meanwhile, the design’s connection to nature is calming.