Home offices are unique spaces in the sense that you need them to be functional for the work you intend to perform, but at the same time, they are a part of your residence, so you might prefer they have a somewhat homey feel about them.

Keeping those two goals in mind, when you’re ready to remodel, renovate or simply update some of the surfaces in your home office space, opt for the multipurpose materials of glass and mirrors to satisfy both function and form requirements.

Although you can earn major style points by installing a sliding glass door or glass wall partition, you can pack an equally impressive décor punch with something simple like glass shelves or mirror-backed bookcases.

Here are some of the glass shelving options to enhance your home office space and a few tips for making your office a place you want to spend your days and in which you won’t mind having to work late on the occasional night!

Glass Shelving Units
To create the illusion of objects hovering in mid-air, place them atop glass shelving units. As an added bonus, the transparency of the glass does not hinder the flow of light throughout the space nor does it obstruct one’s view (as wooden shelves do). They can either be custom-cut to fit your exact specifications or you can order pre-cut units in standard sizes. Either way, you can elevate the look of your home office with minimal effort and relatively minimal expense (depending on your needs and when compared to more involved or advanced renovations).

All-Purpose Perch
Your basic go-to wall shelves are likely to come in the more standard shapes of squares and rectangles.

• Square: This all-purpose shape is great when you want to cover surface area with the added benefit of extra depth. Square units are good for built-in wall spaces like the area above a wet bar or to create a recessed bookcase or display unit.
• Rectangle: The elongated design of the rectangle suits either deep, recessed spaces or when installed with the longer edge against the wall, it can run the entire length of the room with ease.

Corner Pocket
One of the best ways to maximize the space in any room, no matter the actual dimensions, is to utilize the corners wherever possible. Fortunately, where glass shelves are concerned, you have a few options for shapes even when dealing with a corner.

• Triangle: This is your classic corner shelf: three equal sides, two of which fit snugly into the corner with one exposed straight edge.
• Corner Pentagon: A modern twist on the traditional triangle, you still have the two corner edges, but this time your exposed edge is extended out from the wall at an inward angle on each side before coming back together to form your straight edge. When viewed from above, this shelf resembles an upside down, two-dimensional diamond!
• Quarter Circle: This corner unit marries the two previous shapes together: it has the same corner edges, only this time, the exposed edge extends from the wall in a rounded, curved shaped similar to a wedge of pie.

Tip: By placing a mirror behind any of your glass shelves, you can aid in the light distribution throughout the room because the mirror catches all available beams and bounces them around the space.

Finally, and speaking of reflecting light in the room, the perfect partner to a glass shelf or mirror-backed bookcase is lighting. Focused spot lights are fantastic for highlighting specific items on the shelf and under-cabinet lights or those installed around the base of the individual shelves brighten up the entire area.

What are some other successful glass or mirror applications you’ve seen in a home office?
Shahab Shokouhi is a glass design expert at Dulles Glass and Mirror, an innovative manufacturer of glass table tops, glass shelves, and all other glass and mirror products. Follow Dulles Glass and Mirror on Pinterest or on YouTube to see how they’re changing the way glass products are manufactured, customized and delivered.