Glass tiles are an elegant alternative to ceramic and the cost differential is slight, according to Mark Nash, who surveys more than 900 real estate pros on what they believe are the coming design trends.

Donna Greenbush, director of marketing for Oceanside Glasstiles, says the production of glass tiles goes back to Roman times, but it only got restarted in the United States around 1992. Demand has been building ever since.

She says the product adds a depth of field and luminosity unmatched in ceramic tile. It comes in iridescent, non-iridescent and matte finishes and all seem to "glow from within," says Greenbush.

You can use them in many of the same application - except flooring - as ceramic. It's even being used outdoors in pools and fountains.

Like ceramic tile, it comes in many different price points. Oceanside is a luxury brand, and costs from $28 to $60 a square foot. It can be used as accents for stone or ceramic tile, introducing an elegant grace note to the application.