Interior designers love all things unique, interesting, and rich with sentimental value for the people using a space. Their fascination with Italian glassware brands is, therefore, easy to explain.

Italian glassware is not only handmade, one-of-a-kind, and high-end, but it also offers a combination of centuries-old techniques, contemporary style trends, evocation of Italian beauty and artistry, and unmatched quality. Designers believe that Italian glass can elevate a space, bringing heritage and luxury to both traditional and modern interiors.

Why Designers Love Italian Glass

The Heritage of Glass Craftsmanship

Italian glassware has a long and storied history, particularly on the Island of Murano, where it has been produced since 1291. Each piece is hand-blown by skilled glassmakers who train for many years to perfect their craft. Because each piece is handmade, no two can ever be identical, making every creation unique and entirely unlike mass-produced alternatives.

Versatility in Design and Style

Many of the techniques used to create Murano glass have been passed down from generation to generation. For centuries, these methods were closely guarded secrets, unknown to the outside world. Traditional techniques such as Millefiori, Filigrana, and Sommerso are still used today to produce glassware with beautiful designs and exceptionally rich colors. In some cases, the glass is hand-painted; in others, it is infused with gold or silver leaf.

Some designs are simple and bold, others are elaborate and richly detailed, and still others feature muted colors and streamlined forms. This variety allows interior designers to add an artistic and personal touch to any room, finding the perfect accent for any style, from classic to Boho chic, and from mid-century modern to industrial.

Although Italian glass is rooted in tradition, many Italian glass brands now combine ancient techniques with modern, more minimalist aesthetics. This gives interior designers the flexibility to choose pieces that work equally well in traditional or contemporary spaces. And because each piece is handcrafted, it can be customized and tailored to the specific wishes of the customer.

Vivid Colors and Textures

Italian glassmakers, especially those from Murano, are renowned for their use of bold colors, achieved by adding metal oxides to molten glass. Cobalt produces blue, iron produces green, and gold produces red. These vibrant colors help set the mood of a room, making them a popular tool for interior designers.

Many designers favor glass centerpieces or sculptures with 24-carat gold or .925 sterling silver leaf infused into hot glass, which creates a shimmering effect that complements any color scheme. The Sommerso technique is also a popular choice for interior design accents. By submerging layers of differently colored glass within one another, it produces unexpected color combinations that work particularly well in contemporary design, presenting rich hues in bold and striking arrangements.

Interior designers also appreciate the varied textures that Italian glass brands can achieve. Rostrato, invented by Ercole Barovier, involves pulling three-dimensional, spike-like protrusions from molten glass to increase light reflection. Inciso uses diamond or stone tools to engrave glass surfaces. Giacchio, or "ice," produces glass with a crackled, ice-like appearance. With Bullicante, air bubbles are trapped within the glass in regular patterns, creating a distinctive textured finish.

Italian Glassware Brands Most Favored by Designers

Barovier and Toso

Jacobello Barovier opened his glassworks on the island of Murano in 1295. It operated independently until 1936, when it merged with fellow glassmaker Toso to create the now-famous Barovier and Toso company. In 2015, Jacopo Barovier retired and sold the business to Rinaldo Inverruzzi, though it continues to trade under the same name.

Barovier and Toso specializes in chandeliers, while also producing pieces such as vases and drinking glasses. The company still employs traditional techniques dating back hundreds of years, including giacchio ice glass, a method developed in 1570 in which hot glass is dipped into water while still attached to the glassblower's pipe, creating an ice-like surface. In 1938, Ercole Barovier invented Rugiado, a process in which tiny fragments of annealed, melted glass are applied to a glass object to resemble dewdrops.

Artistic glassware from Barovier and Toso is typically custom-made and commands a high price. Among their most spectacular pieces is the 16-meter (53-foot) chandelier created in the 1960s for the Montreal Stock Exchange. The company has also adapted its work for contemporary tastes, collaborating with designers such as Stefano Dolce and Domenico Gabbana of the world-famous fashion house Dolce & Gabbana.

Salviati

Salviati is another celebrated Italian glass brand with a rich history. It was founded in 1859 by Venetian lawyer Antonio Salviati, who developed a passion for glass mosaics before going on to establish a large glassmaking enterprise in Venice.

The company played a pivotal role in reestablishing Murano as a major center of glassmaking after a period of decline in the 17th century, and helped reignite European interest in brightly colored, ornate Italian glass. As well as drinking glasses, Salviati produced lighting, vases, and other decorative pieces.

JJ Martin, the creative force behind Milan-based fashion house La DoubleJ, has worked with Salviati on tableware including the Tippetti goblets, which feature delicate glass flowers, as well as rainbow-colored stemware designed to be mixed and matched. Today, Salviati continues to partner with contemporary designers such as Anish Kapoor and Tom Dixon.

Carlo Moretti

The Carlo Moretti company was founded by brothers Carlo and Giovanni Moretti in 1958. The brand is best known for its Bora tumblers, named after the wind that sweeps across the Venetian lagoon. These striped, slightly asymmetrical tumblers appear to have been shaped by the wind itself. They can be found, among other notable settings, on the tables of the cocktail bar at Le Sirenuse, Positano's most celebrated hotel.

Carlo Moretti pushed the boundaries of color, creating unique hues through the use of rare earth oxides. These distinctive tones have become a defining signature of the brand. The company continues to operate, and its works are held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Nason Moretti

Nason Moretti, which has no connection to Carlo Moretti, was founded in 1923 by the  Nason and Moretti families. The company evolved from producing everyday glassware to crafting sophisticated, timeless tableware.

One of its founders, Umberto Nason, was the true visionary of the operation, specializing in dual-colored bowls and glasses.

Today, the company focuses on colorful tableware that blends traditional Venetian glassmaking techniques with contemporary design. Nason Moretti creates bespoke pieces for brands including Valentino, Tiffany and Co., Giorgio Armani, and Bottega Veneta.

6 A.M.

6 A.M. is a Milan-based studio founded in 2018 by Edoardo Pandolfo and Francesco Palu. Its name refers to the hour at which the Murano furnaces are lit each day. The studio works with a number of independent artisans.

6 A.M. specializes in architectural installations, lighting, furniture, and sculpture. A standout piece is its collection of stools, shaped using cast-iron molds. Each stool begins as a 43 cm (17 in) block of glass and is formed through a process similar to marble sculpture. The stools take the shape of cubes and are available in 10 shades of green, blue, red, and amber.

The studio actively experiments with layering, fusing, and adapting techniques. At the 2024 Milan Design Week, it unveiled FLOAT, a collection that transformed salvaged glass from 1930s Milanese windows into furniture and shelving supported by minimal steel structures.

LagunaB

LagunaB was founded in 1996 by Marie Brandolini and is widely recognized for its vibrantly colored, often asymmetrical drinking glasses. Its Goto collection, which merges traditional techniques with an innovative pop aesthetic, reflects the company's deeply personal approach to design. Marie Brandolini insists on maintaining full control of the production process, spending days in the furnace alongside the artisans.

How Interior Designers Use Murano Glass

Furniture

Interior designers incorporate Murano glass-accented furniture for both artistic and functional purposes, using it to introduce light, color, and texture into a space. Glass tables, stools, mirrors, and sculptures are placed throughout rooms, blending handmade glass with materials such as marble, iron, and wood to create innovative and personalized interiors.

Designers often have glass furniture customized to match the surrounding color palette. Sculptures are frequently used as the focal point of a room, sometimes positioned in neutral spaces to maximize their reflective quality. Mirrors are also given focal prominence, with placement above a fireplace creating a particularly dramatic effect. These elegant mirrors can elevate hallways, living rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms alike.

Venetian Lighting

The traditional, luxurious chandelier is the showpiece of Murano glass lighting, but artisans also produce wall sconces, ceiling mounts, table lamps, and bedside pendants. Designers use Italian Murano glass lighting to establish a consistent, high-end atmosphere throughout a home.

Large Murano glass chandeliers are often placed in dining rooms, living rooms, or entrance halls as a central focal point. Traditional chandeliers featuring gold leaf or floral motifs remain available alongside modern options with clean geometric lines or abstract forms.

Designers sometimes introduce traditional chandeliers into contemporary homes to create a compelling contrast between old and new. Color choices also play a role in setting the mood: soft amber or pink glass creates a warm and inviting ambiance, while clear or white glass lends a bright, elegant feel.

Glass Centerpieces

Interior designers use tabletop accents such as large bowls or abstract sculptures to introduce a touch of Italian style without overpowering the room. These pieces are placed on coffee tables, shelves, kitchen islands, and console tables.

Bowls containing glass fruit, or distinctive vases, are frequently used as dining table centerpieces, elevating the overall experience and lending a sense of sophistication to the room. Rather than selecting pieces from catalogs, interior designers often commission bespoke pieces in specific designs, colors, and sizes to ensure a perfect fit for the space and the client's individual taste.

How Murano Glass Brands Reinvent Themselves

While Italian glassware brands once produced similarly opulent pieces that reliably satisfied the tastes of European nobility, today's customers seek something unique and fashionable. Modern Italian glassware brands frequently collaborate with prominent haute couture designers, museums, and art events to stay relevant and to present their work in venues that resonate with wealthy patrons and collectors.

As fashion evolves, so does glassmaking. A move toward bolder shapes, cleaner lines, and simpler colors became the dominant trend in Murano glass toward the end of the twentieth century, and it continues to this day. A willingness to adapt to changing fashions and to diversify designs across international markets has long been a defining characteristic of Italy's top glassware companies. And despite the considerable challenges of sustaining a craft that is nearly 800 years old, Murano's leading brands continue to thrive.