Decorating
Make a Mosaic the Star of Your Interior
Whether patterned or pictorial, mosaics make a great feature for any area. Here are some ideas to inspire you to create one of your own
Mosaics come in myriad shapes, colours and finishes, and can be laid to create any number of effects. Use them to fill in an alcove, form a shimmering splashback, or bring colour and pattern into a pale space, or take advantage of their versatility and create a unique artwork. As these inspiring schemes reveal, the possibilities are endless.
Here’s a detail of that colourful wisp of mosaic smoke.
Mosaic tiles are widely available online (add ‘craft’ to your search terms). To create your design, make sure your surface is dry and use either a solvent-based adhesive specifically designed for mosaics or, if your surface is going to be getting wet, a pre-mixed thin-set mortar works well. The latter is moisture-resistant and has a smooth consistency – it looks a lot like mud, though you can get it in a white mix too. It stays wet for a while, so you have time to position the mosaic tiles. You can also use it to bridge any gaps.
It’s a good idea to grout once everything has set using a cement mortar. Pour it onto the mosaic and spread it evenly. Remove the excess and work the grout towards the edges of the tiles. Allow it to dry for a few days.
Clean the surface with diluted hydrochloric acid and rinse it to remove the cement residue. Then polish the mosaics with beeswax spray. Your final step is to apply a suitable sealant to protect your work against the weather.
Mosaic tiles are widely available online (add ‘craft’ to your search terms). To create your design, make sure your surface is dry and use either a solvent-based adhesive specifically designed for mosaics or, if your surface is going to be getting wet, a pre-mixed thin-set mortar works well. The latter is moisture-resistant and has a smooth consistency – it looks a lot like mud, though you can get it in a white mix too. It stays wet for a while, so you have time to position the mosaic tiles. You can also use it to bridge any gaps.
It’s a good idea to grout once everything has set using a cement mortar. Pour it onto the mosaic and spread it evenly. Remove the excess and work the grout towards the edges of the tiles. Allow it to dry for a few days.
Clean the surface with diluted hydrochloric acid and rinse it to remove the cement residue. Then polish the mosaics with beeswax spray. Your final step is to apply a suitable sealant to protect your work against the weather.
Spell it out
Get a trend-ticking digital look with mosaics formed into words. This simple bathroom design is enhanced by the statement art on the wall, which creates a fun talking point for guests.
You’ll just need a bulk order of your main colour in mosaic sheets, plus enough loose tiles in a contrasting colour to create your own pixelated sentence.
Get a trend-ticking digital look with mosaics formed into words. This simple bathroom design is enhanced by the statement art on the wall, which creates a fun talking point for guests.
You’ll just need a bulk order of your main colour in mosaic sheets, plus enough loose tiles in a contrasting colour to create your own pixelated sentence.
Shape up
Your tiles don’t have to be four-sided. The hexagon mosaics in this scheme offer an update on the look in beautiful tonal greys for a kitchen splashback that’s a bit different and looks contemporary.
Browse more mosaic tile splashbacks
Your tiles don’t have to be four-sided. The hexagon mosaics in this scheme offer an update on the look in beautiful tonal greys for a kitchen splashback that’s a bit different and looks contemporary.
Browse more mosaic tile splashbacks
Fashion a floral display
Yes, it is possible to do pictorial mosaics with class. There are more and more modern florals on Houzz lately, and this large-scale mosaic is a lovely example. Playing with scale is a great way to approach new twists on design classics, and this rose is a striking addition to a small cloakroom – a place that’s more forgiving if you want to experiment with unusual decor.
This particular design is a tile art piece imported from Italy, but off-the-shelf mosaic sheet designs are getting ever more detailed. If you want something specific, however, your best bet is to hire a professional mosaic artist.
How to make florals work in any room
Yes, it is possible to do pictorial mosaics with class. There are more and more modern florals on Houzz lately, and this large-scale mosaic is a lovely example. Playing with scale is a great way to approach new twists on design classics, and this rose is a striking addition to a small cloakroom – a place that’s more forgiving if you want to experiment with unusual decor.
This particular design is a tile art piece imported from Italy, but off-the-shelf mosaic sheet designs are getting ever more detailed. If you want something specific, however, your best bet is to hire a professional mosaic artist.
How to make florals work in any room
Make it shimmer
Mosaic tiles come in shimmering finishes too – how’s this glitzy, glamorous look for you? A metallic-tiled splashback brings much drama to this kitchen, especially when paired with such a dazzling array of pendant lights.
You could try a more subtle version of this scheme with a lighter colour positioned by a window rather than behind lots of electric bulbs.
Mosaic tiles come in shimmering finishes too – how’s this glitzy, glamorous look for you? A metallic-tiled splashback brings much drama to this kitchen, especially when paired with such a dazzling array of pendant lights.
You could try a more subtle version of this scheme with a lighter colour positioned by a window rather than behind lots of electric bulbs.
Encase entire walls
There’s something so pleasing about the neat yet textured finish of mosaics covering a large expanse of wall. In cool blues and whites, this kitchen looks fresh, with a coastal feel – a shortcut to a holiday mood.
There’s something so pleasing about the neat yet textured finish of mosaics covering a large expanse of wall. In cool blues and whites, this kitchen looks fresh, with a coastal feel – a shortcut to a holiday mood.
Create some art
Put a frame around a panel of mosaics and, hey presto, you have some wall art. You can mount your mosaics onto a wooden board for a DIY project that can be as subtle or as wild as you want.
Bear in mind that where you install this piece will need to be sturdy and able to bear the weight of all those tiles. Look into options for creating this look with thinner materials than your average tile; glass mosaics can be as thin as 1.4 millimetres.
Put a frame around a panel of mosaics and, hey presto, you have some wall art. You can mount your mosaics onto a wooden board for a DIY project that can be as subtle or as wild as you want.
Bear in mind that where you install this piece will need to be sturdy and able to bear the weight of all those tiles. Look into options for creating this look with thinner materials than your average tile; glass mosaics can be as thin as 1.4 millimetres.
Pave your garden
Pretend you’re in Barcelona with a mosaic garden path. Using such small tiles makes it easy to create an ombre effect like this, with each colour merging into the next. Plenty of tiling companies can create products like this to order for you, with the colours and level of gradation you’re after.
TELL US
Are you a fan of mosaics? How have you used them in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more statement tiles
Pretend you’re in Barcelona with a mosaic garden path. Using such small tiles makes it easy to create an ombre effect like this, with each colour merging into the next. Plenty of tiling companies can create products like this to order for you, with the colours and level of gradation you’re after.
TELL US
Are you a fan of mosaics? How have you used them in your home? Share your thoughts and photos in the Comments below.
MORE
Browse more statement tiles
A bespoke design can add interest to your outdoor space just in time for alfresco gatherings. Garden designers can put you in touch with artists who can install a one-off design for you with a professional finish, but it’s fun to have a go yourself. Practise first, then once you’re comfortable, an outdoor wall is a good place to create your first design.