Acrylic has taken the design world by storm. This elegant, transparent material has a stunning variety of applications, making them one of the most commonly found home design materials on the market today.

Beautiful acrylic blocks are produced from resin that undergoes a chemical reaction. This reaction changes it from liquid to a solid material that is easy to clean, allows for plenty of light transmission and is highly weather-resistant. And although it resembles clear glass, it actually comprises a material that makes it 50% lighter at equal size and is far stronger than its antiquated, fragile counterpart.

So, what can this top quality be used for throughout the home? And why has its variety of applications made it so popular?

Let’s find out below:

1. Arts & crafts

If you’re creating your wedding invitations, producing hand-made Christmas cards or producing a scrapbook, you will know about the goodness of clear stamps. Being cost-efficient, lightweight and with amazing colour transmission, they also come unmounted, which ensures they can be placed on clear acrylic blocks, which will ensure the perfect mounting for anyone producing something wonderfully creative!

2. Retail displays

These stunning retail additions are perfect for jewellery displays, as they work as mounts for luxury pieces, as well as allow the light to travel in all directions around the jewellery, thus optimising their shine as well as that of their stones and precious gems.

As opposed to using wood, knife retailers who use this modern alternative can feature their product with more visibility and without the need for the customer to actually touch the product (which we all know can be on the dangerous side!).

3. Paperweights

Of course, acrylic blocks can be used for paperweights, making them a fun and creative way to decorate the home or office. They can be mounted with specific images, messages or quotes that draw attention and are a fabulous conversation starter!

4. Privacy windows

When comprising a textured surface, these blocks can even be used to produce windows that whilst allowing plenty of sunlight actually provide extra privacy, too. They’re a fantastic alternative to glass windows, as they are more lightweight, ensuring you don’t need to make any alterations when installing the product. They are also highly UV-resistant, ensuring they are highly energy-efficient - this is amplified with the use of sun-blocking and triple glazing tints!

5. Museum displays

Museums utilise elegant acrylic blocks to display fossils, artefacts, artworks and more, and can even engrave the material with information about the era, country, artist etc. Other versions can be marked with letters or numbers which can then be referred to on a museum legend, allowing differentiation between numerous items in the exhibition. This heightened level of transparency ensures they don’t get in the way of viewing the product’s visibility.

6. Photo frames

Another awesome alternative to the outdated wooden frame, you can have photos printed directly onto this material to provide a more sculptural, multi-dimensional vibe. Brightly coloured images look incredible mounted onto this material and enhance its light-grabbing aesthetic. What’s more, you can even print a photo onto clear sticker paper before mounting it onto the material if you wish to add your own personal touch to the product!

You can place printed paper between two sheets of acrylic and use it for numerous purposes. Acrylic can also be engraved or you can print directly onto the back of an acrylic sheet which creates a nice shine and protective layer. Acrylic can be cut, drilled, buffed and even folded using heat. One example we found was using acrylic panels as arcade toppers.

As you can see, there are simply an amazing wealth of uses for this wonderful material, from the home to the office, retail businesses and even museums. This is why it has become so popular in recent years, and will continue to provide viable alternatives to outdated technology.