How To Create Stunning Mosaics In Your Home

Mosaics tiles are incredibly popular and ideal for creating on trend backsplashes, or for introducing a little bit of colour into a room; but if you are feeling creative, you can use mosaic tiles to create your own work of art on the wall. This is a brilliant way to interject your personality into your home and make it completely individual. Having a mosaic on your wall that you have designed and created would definitely be a talking point, and a completely unique feature wall.

Glass tiles in your shower are a unique addition. When installed properly, they are impervious to water and when you choose the textured kinds, they can provide your feet with grip so you have the added bonus of a slip resistant surface. Choosing clear glass tiles will also give your bathroom added dimension and if you choose tinted glass tiles, your bathroom will have a lovely stained-glass effect.

There are many different ways in which you can create your own stunning mosaic in your home. First you need to decide on the type of project you want to embark on – are you going big, and creating a mural type spread, across one wall? Or are you introducing it other ways, such as a coaster, or a table top? If you are completely new to mosaics, start by completing small and easy projects that the whole family can be involved with. You do not even have to start off using tiles – you can start by customising a photo frame with buttons and beads, and any other lightweight material. This will give you practice on the basics of creating a mosaic and setting out the different materials to either create an image, or just to arrange them in an attractive manner. You can then progress to using heavier items, such as pieces of tile, broken glass, shells and rocks. If you have children who are passionate about art and crafts, this can be an excellent way to teach them about mosaics, and get them involved in starting projects, that they can then use afterwards. This method does not just have to be used on photo frames; you can make colourful, decorative masks, or vases for flowers. The possibilities are endless.

When you have more experienced, you can create really truly stunning mosaics, which you can display in your home, for a really unique feature. We will go into more detail about how to actually create your mosaic later, but first it is important to understand the different methods that can be used. Firstly, you can use the Direct Method, which is where you create the piece of art by directly placing the individual pieces directly on the surface that you will use to display your mosaic. This method is better suited to smaller projects such a flower pots or other three dimensional projects, and not for larger, walled creations or any that are on a level surface. Creating your mosaic like this, means that you can make adjustments as you go, and are able to see your masterpiece taking shape, giving you an idea of how the finished project will end up looking overall.

The second method that is used is the Indirect Method. This is where you attach you individual pieces face down on a paper backing, before transferring the finished project onto the surface that it is being displayed using mortar. Once this has dried, the paper backing can then be washed away, revealing your finished mosaic. This is an advantageous way of building your mosaic; however, it does require an awful lot of planning as you will not be able to see the finished project until the paper is washed off, meaning any adjustments are harder to make. This method is useful when creating large masterpieces though, as it allows you to work away from the area, in a place that in convenient and only transferring it once it has been completed.

The third and final method is the Double Direct Method and combines both the direct and indirect method. The process involves gluing individual pieces of tile onto a piece of fibreglass mesh. It is a good method to use for larger projects, as it allows you to still work away from site, but also allows you to see the masterpiece grow as you build it, leaving you able to make small changes if needed. When buying pre-made mosaic tiles, more likely than not, this is how they will be sold. Once you have finished, all you need to do is fix the mesh onto the surface with a strong tile adhesive, before grouting. Although this process is perhaps a little more time consuming, there really are no major disadvantages, and is the recommended method for larger projects.

So now you know the different methods, it is time to learn how to create a simple mosaic using your own tiles. Just like the earlier projects you may have completed, start with small, decorative projects, such as a framed mosaic that you have created. The process for a simple mosaic is actually very simple, and once you have mastered this, and feel confident, you can advance to bigger mosaics, that become more daring in their design. Before you start any project, it is so important to have an idea in your head of what you want the finished project to look like overall. To do this, you should make a detailed drawing of what you would like the finished project to look like. If you are using left over tiles from any previous decorating, ensure that you have enough to complete the desired project. If not, you will need to buy some tiles, and they should be ceramic or porcelain. Consider the different colours and textures that you would like in the mosaic. Ensure that you have sufficient adhesive and cement to complete the project, so you do not have to leave it half way through.

Once you have all of the tiles that you will be using, it is time to break them into the small pieces that you can then use to build your mosaic. Ensure that you have relevant safety gear on, such as goggles and protective gloves, and break the tiles, by simply dropping them onto a hard surface, or using a hammer to create the smaller pieces. Place a sheet on the floor before you do this to prevent any scratches being formed. For more specific shapes, use a tiles cutter to get the desired shape. Care must be taken when cutting or breaking the tiles, and you must ensure that you are wearing protective gloves, clothing and goggles. When the tiles have all been broken, lay them out in colour categories, as this will really help you when you come to place the mosaic onto the background. We have mosaic tiles available in a variety of different materials like Quartz and Glass