Bathroom tile mosaic: design and installation

Bright, very beautiful and elegant mosaic covering for bathrooms is ideal for those who need to personalize the interior, making it expressive and different from others. After all, the possibilities of tile mosaics in decorating a wide variety of surfaces, regardless of their size or shape, are truly endless.

With this versatile finishing material, color and textured zoning is available, creating paintings and patterns on vertical planes, art panels and other decor on floors, walls and even ceilings, laying out carpet patterns of varying complexity and decorating furnishings.

In fact, the mosaic is a classic tile of a special format. It has a small size, mounting configuration, and most importantly, the material of manufacture, which determines the technical and operational characteristics of a particular type of tile mosaic.

Mosaic "assemble" in the same place where they produce. Sell ​​it matrices in the form of conventional nets or paper sheets with pasted "mosaics". Mosaic details are simply called chips. This material combines all the advantages of tile, possessing reliability and durability, to which the original design is added, and this is important when designing expensive bathroom interior solutions.

From its advantages it is worth noting:

• Unsurpassed decorative qualities. Mosaic is one of the favorites of interior designers, who appreciate it for the opportunity to decorate rooms with a complex geometry and decorate volumetric-spatial elements of non-standard forms.
• Ecological clean. The composition of tile-mosaic boasts a content of exclusively natural materials, including the coatings of artificial granite with natural main components.
• High strength propertiessuperior to the strength of artificial stone or ceramics, due to a more uniform distribution of the load on the base due to the small size of the chips.
• Resilience to aggressive environments, mechanical stress and sudden changes in temperature without losing aesthetic qualities for a long time.
• Compatibility with any type of base - concrete, plastered, wooden, metal and compatibility with various types of finishing coatings - tiles, interior paints, structural plaster mixtures.
• Wide variety of designs, color, texture and design solutions, which simplifies the task of choosing the appropriate mosaic model for the interiors of bathrooms of various stylistic orientation.

Despite the impressive list of advantages, one should also mention the drawbacks of the mosaic material, namely:

• The high cost of individual varieties of tiles. For example, planning to decorate the bathroom with pebble (stone) coatings, you need to be prepared for serious wastes.
• The complexity and complexity of installation. Without the experience and skills to work with this material, it is better to entrust the facing of the pros.

Consider the main types of modern mosaic tiles used in decorating bathrooms.

The use of Murano (Venetian) glass with a solid structure for the production of tile-mosaic allows you to get a surprisingly durable lining.

Thanks to the addition of cadmium, nacre and other materials to glass, the color palette is striking in its richness of shades, the number of color solutions exceeds 800, which makes it possible to create images that are complex in color. Although visually glass mosaic gives the impression of a light and fragile material, its impressive performance suggests otherwise.

This type of coating is different:

• durability and wear resistance;
• chemical resistance;
• absolute water tightness - water absorption values ​​are 0.1%, and this is the maximum;
• immunity to defeat by bacteria and mold, which is just due to the continuous structure of the glass;
• heat resistance - coatings are designed to stay at t + 15 ... + 145 ° C;
• frost resistance - materials withstand about 100 cycles of abrupt temperature fluctuations, while maintaining their quality indicators; the limit value of negative t for them is minus 30 degrees;
• resistant to direct sunlight - these materials will not fade in conditions of prolonged exposure to UV radiation.

There are several subspecies of glass mosaic presented:

• Glass homogeneous colored materials without any decorative effects, whether it is a divorce or blur the background. Of them make a brilliant tile mosaic with excellent reflective ability and matte options - imitation bottle glass.
• Smalt mosaics. In their manufacture, metal oxides are added to the colored glass and, in comparison with ordinary glass, they have an increased abrasion resistance.
• Exclusive coatings, which are added to the composition of other materials such as iridium, aventurine. Such mosaics decorate expensive rooms and individual interior details.

The aesthetic appearance of the glass mosaic makes it one of the most successful design options for wet rooms.In the manufacturers' lines, you can easily choose a model of almost any color, texture, degree of transparency, or choose a spectacular metallic or mirror design of a glass mosaic tile, turning the bath into a real decoration of an apartment or a country house.

Technical and operational indicators of ceramic mosaic are completely identical to the working qualities and properties of practical, reliable and durable tile, the difference between them lies in the presence of a functional flexible base. Due to this feature, the possibilities of using ceramic mosaic material are significantly expanded: in addition to the wall decoration, they can carry out the lining of any furnishings and difficult areaswhere it is impossible to put a tile of standard sizes.

Other advantages of ceramic products are a rich color palette, a choice of textural solutions: there are models with a glazed smooth surface and a rough, matte unglazed one, the possibility of creating embossed patterns, colorful drawings and thematic paintings.

When facing bathrooms or shower rooms with a mosaic of metal, it is preferable that it be aluminum, brass or alloyed steel. Thanks to such decoration, the bathroom will acquire a modern, stylish and elegant look.

There are models in matte or polished to mirror. There is also the possibility of buying tiles to order, imitating precious metals: platinum, gold, silver or bronze.

Stone tile mosaic is an amazingly beautiful lining, although it is quite expensive. For its manufacture suitable stones of various breeds. Modern manufacturers prefer tuff, marble, jasper, granite, onyx, lapis lazuli, marble, travertine. Stone products are impressive not only for their beauty, but also for their unique color performance.

The bathrooms, lined with stone mosaics, create a sense of discreet luxury without a hint of pretentiousness and indicate the presence of excellent taste from the owners.

Floor tile has the highest wear resistance characteristics.

For the manufacture of modern mosaic tiles are various raw materials from widely used materials to fairly rare and expensive, as well as some unusual for this type of facing coatings. Let us dwell on several varieties of mosaic.

It is a spectacular, eco-friendly, durable, hypoallergenic and durable material. This type of mosaic produced in the form of smooth plates of different formats, colors and sizes. The advantage of mirror facing is an illusory increase in space, and this is especially important when decorating small premises. You can buy mirror elements in bulk or already applied to a strong, flexible mesh or paper base.

The appearance and cost of the tile depends on the way the edges are processed. Democratic in price products are distinguished by the presence of polished matte edges. Due to the use in the processing of polishing materials become more sophisticated.

With the help of beveling - edge processing with an oblique cut with simultaneous grinding on high-precision equipment, it is possible to achieve impressive decorative qualities of the typesetting material. Mosaic with fatseti visually makes the surface more voluminous, and shimmer in the light beveled side edges enhance the visual effect.

Mosaic of gold has a special energy. This handmade material gives the bathroom a gloss, charm and unique charm, creating a feeling of luxury thanks to its exquisite shine with a shimmering effect.

It is produced using real gold leaf.. Gold plates are made on almost the same technology as the mirror ones, but glass chips are laid with 99 samples of gold foil.

Of course, such products are expensive, which, however, hardly stops those buyers who are accustomed to surround themselves with exclusive things and do not agree to anything less.

An original mosaic made of different wood species has become a harmonious, albeit rather unexpected addition to the assortment line of traditional glass, stone, ceramic mosaic finishing materials. However, all the things that today are considered extravagant, were invented by our ancestors.

The prototype of a modern mosaic tile made of wood is a piece parquet, which appeared in the Middle Ages, and the history of the emergence of the marqueterie (marquetry) technique - the creation of wooden mosaic, generally amounts to thousands of years. With the help of the finest wooden plates, for the manufacture of which were valuable wood species, Greek and Roman masters lined the furniture or decorated the premises.

Benefits:

• ecological cleanliness;
• resistance to mechanical damage and dynamic loads;
• good moisture-resistant properties that materials acquire after treatment with special compounds under production conditions;
• durability.

Initially, hardwood was used to make mosaic tiles: oak, ash, cedar and larch. In today's construction market, cedar mosaic tiles take the lead.which is considered an ideal flooring due to its high durability characteristics.

It is impossible not to say about two exotic materials - coconut and bamboo mosaicrelating to wooden mosaic coatings. The use of "exotic" helps to create original interiors of bathrooms.

The versatility of the wooden mosaic coating is due to the possibility of facing the walls or floors. The exception is bamboo chips, because bamboo is not a tree, but grass, respectively, tiles made of it have a loose, porous structure, which is vulnerable to dampness, steam and serious mechanical loads.

The cost of bamboo tiles is much lower than coconut or wood, but in its decorative qualities it can be put with this coating in one row, although it is inferior to them in terms of strength characteristics.

Puzzled by the question of what material to decorate the walls in the bathroom soto aesthetics in the design to combine with manufacturability, you should look at the decorative mosaic PVC panels, actively used in modern finishes. They differ in the broadest color palette and textured variety.

Modern PVC panels are represented by the following types of coatings:

• sheet PVC-mosaic tiles with a wide range of sizes;
• square format plastic mosaic, minimum size 30x30 cm, maximum 98x98 cm.

Characteristics of wall PVC coatings:

• moisture resistance - water flows quickly from their even smooth surface without pores, which excludes the formation of dark spots and the development of mold fungus;
• improve noise insulation in the room;
• respond well to processing, including with the use of equipment for shape cutting;
• have excellent decorative qualities;
• fireproof - compared to other finishing materials, t fire plastic coatings above 100 degrees;
• convenient to install, due to the elasticity and light weight of the panels;
• can be mounted on any type of wall - smooth, simple, medium complexity, when architectural elements occupy the work surface area by 30% and complex;
• environmentally friendly, hygienic and refractory to the effects of various types of chemicals;
• easy to clean;
• durable - warranty can last about 9-10 years.

The existing variety of mosaic shades can cause a state when the “eyes run out” and the buyer comes to a standstill, especially if his budget is unlimited. In such cases, information about current color pairs and fashionable shades helps to set the desired search vector and find "your" coloristic solution of the tile-mosaic.

Decorating with pink mosaic will give a lot of positive in the morning, and after a busy day, harmonize emotions and relieve tension. A pink mosaic will increase the color temperature in the bathroom and illusively give the room a volume.

The bathroom is the territory of the Water element, so do not neglect the possibilities of the blue and blue palettes, given the number of possible combinations of shades. After all, only the blue line of the spectrum has 180 shades.

The duet of green and brown is another successful color pair that can fill the rooms with peace, tranquility and harmony.The Chartreuse color, which is now the soloist in the world of interior design, combines two bright tonic shades of a green palette. The first is a bright and sharp shade of lime, and the second is a more discreet tone - a green apple. The perfect match for any of them is the shade of steel.

A complex, unusual and very interesting purple palette is more than 190 tones, including several delightful shades of lilac, purple, eggplant. Combinations of adjacent tones of the violet range look great in small bathrooms.

Black mosaic finish embodies luxury and wealth. Dark veneer with gold or snow-white splashes will add a touch of chic to even the most modest bathroom.

Such work requires excellent taste and an innate sense of style, so it’s best to use the services of professionals.

Yellow mosaic coating is one of the ideal design options for baths.It is allowed to finish with this color from 50 to 70% of the available room space.

Brown mosaic is good to use if there are shades of sand in the decoration of the premises. Harmonious tones of the brown line of the spectrum form with shades of gray, pink or azure (lavender, klein, which used to be called ultramarine, lavender, transparent-cobalt, refreshing light blue).

Bright and luxurious red palette is actively used when decorating bathrooms with mosaics. Her shades are combined with most colors, forming spectacular combinations, the most successful with gradations of blue and cream, as well as with golden tones.

However, the black-and-red mosaic combination for small rooms is an extremely unfortunate option. If you like this color duet so much, then it is better to confine yourself to creating a small panel of red and black tiles, using tiled tiles of neutral shades for framing.

The neutrality of white guarantees its compatibility with any colors. But the totally white facing impersonal the bathroom, dramatically lowering the degree of comfort and turning it into something like a hospital bathroom. Delicate and warm shades of a yellow, beige, cream or pink palette will save the situation.

A duet of white and blue will fill the interior of the bathroom with the energy of the sea. Black, green and their gradations also form harmonious pairs with white. Black and white mosaic facing looks incredibly impressive and stylish, even if you resort to such a bold and unusual combination like snow-white floors in combination with dark walls.

The gray scale includes more than 250 shades, which in itself already simplifies the task of choosing the appropriate tones. Gray is well combined with blue, beige, yellow, black..

To take water treatments in such a bathroom is a pleasure. After all, the one who makes the choice in favor of gray will soon be convinced of the amazing abilities of this true neutral to relax, soothe and give a sense of security.

The most common form of matrices - a square with a side of 30 cm, less common variants of rectangular or complex shape.Chips of a classical square form have three standard sizes with a side of 10, 20, 50 mm and thickness from 0.3 cm to 1.2 cm.

It is convenient to veneer curved surfaces using small 10x10 tiles., and when creating drawings, due to the small size of chips, it is possible to draw more detailed and accurate images. Therefore, such pictures look very realistic and fantastically beautiful.

True, the large-sized typesetting material has the ability to visually narrow the space, illusively depriving it of volume. It is worth bearing in mind the owners of small bathrooms with low ceilings.

Not the last role in the decoration of bathrooms plays and tile format, which is:

• rectangular;
• square;
• diamond shaped;
• hexagonal;
• round;
• non-standard (curved, beveled rectangular, uneven oval).

What form of mosaic tile to give preference depends on the desired decorative effect. Assume that to give a shower originality, it is worth using elements of a rectangular format and styling in a linear way.This simple technique surprisingly transforms the room, because this design looks fresh and nontrivial.

Decorative, working and operational qualities of a tiled mosaic allow to solve with its help a variety of aesthetic and technological problems. It is hard to disagree with the fact that the bathroom, fully lined with mosaic, makes an indelible impression and resembles a refined expensive casket. Confusing in this case, only one thing - the price of the issue. Such a design can hurt to afford.

But since tile-mosaic is perfectly combined with a variety of materials, then with a limited budget it is worth considering the options for the combined decoration, allowing to achieve amazing decorative effects.

So, with the help of a combined finish you can:

• Facing niches and built-in ceilings. In combination with diode lights or spots and floor lamps, the room will look very impressive.
• Use mosaic tiles as a substitute for friezes or curbs.walls, floors or ceilings and zoning, denoting the visual boundaries of individual zones.
• Visually change the geometry of utilitarian space modest size. Alternatively, you can install a large mirror over the sink, painting a mirror surface with a mosaic edging, and decorating the opposite wall with ceramic tiles. Mirrors and thoughtful lighting will create stunningly beautiful optical illusions that will visually add to the small bathroom volume, hiding the flaws in the layout.

• Trim work surfaces around plumbing, creating a kitchen-type mosaic apron as protection against water splashes.
• Bathing, for example, to decorate the outside with a gold tile cast iron bath, thereby transforming the design of the room.
• Create images, panels, patterns of varying complexity.
• To decorate the podium with built-in bathtub or a screen under it, plumbing fixtures, furniture, accessories and mirrors. Facing the table top, the facades of wall cabinets or a dresser for bath accessories, a bench or a box masking engineering communications. Decoration of open shelves does not require much time, effort and money.

Many home craftsmen do their own handicraft with mosaic materials. Those who know how to put tile, will be able to master the technique of laying tile mosaic, in many respects similar to the technology of mounting ceramics, but requiring more attention and extremely responsible attitude to work.

Mosaic tiles can be glued to a clean, dry, absolutely smooth and even base. Therefore, it is necessary to remove any old decorative coatings and assess the condition of the plastered surface, restore its integrity, if necessary, after which the base is dedusted and primed to improve the adhesive ability.

Evenness of vertical surfaces is checked by level.

The prepared base is laid out in order to glue the sheet mosaic as evenly as possible.

Although the main assistant in this matter is one's own fantasy, it would still be useful to familiarize yourself with those types of tile mosaic layout, which interior designers most often turn to.

Popular layout schemes:

• Basic. Tiles of any geometric-shaped format are placed along the walls, while the seams create an interesting grid effect.
• Basic (corner). In order to achieve a decorative effect, mosaic details are laid at an angle of 45 °, forming clear diagonal seams.
• In the form of a chessboard. The layout is made on the basis of the basic scheme, but it is obligatory to use a mosaic tile of contrasting shades (no more than two) and not moving the seams.
• Linear. In this case, the individual rows are formed from elements that have different color, texture or texture.
• "In the run". The seams of adjacent rows are shifted strictly on the floor of the mosaic segment, which resembles brickwork.
• “Run with offset” It is a variation of laying in a “run-up”, but characterized in that the tile is randomly shifted to the right or left.
• Modular. On a pre-made drawing place tiles of different sizes and formats. The presence of some deliberate "negligence" will only enhance the decorative effect.
• Parquet patterns - The layout of the tile mosaic, perfectly familiar to almost every finisher. For a tile of a rectangular format, the usual “Christmas tree” scheme is used.whereas for square they use a “Christmas tree with an attachment” - an additional activation of small mosaic tiles-inserts.

Due to the high flexibility of the dies, they are pressed with a silicone roller to ensure even adhesion and reliability of adhesion to the substrate.

For laying of mosaic coverings use the glue intended for work with products from concrete material. It is desirable that the cool mixture was white.

For their styling waterproof epoxy adhesive used. In this case, when preparing the base, a cement screed is made and waterproofing is arranged. Installation of floor mosaic is from the middle of the room.

How to glue tiles on the grid matrix:

1. In this case, the sheets are applied to the glued base with a mesh base, completely submerging the mesh in the adhesive composition.
2. Sheets are pressed with gentle movements with a rubber spatula to the base, after which the coating is leveled with the same tool.
3. Check the similarity of the distances between adjacent canvases and separately between the mosaic chips themselves. Any deviations in the thickness of the seams are unacceptable.
4. The remaining glue is removed from the surface of the mosaic coating, which is given time to dry completely. It usually takes about a day.

How to install a mosaic tile with a paper matrix:

• Sheets are glued to the working surface with paper upwards.
• Mosaic sheets are pressed against the base, leveling them with a spatula and making movements in one direction.
• Having finished laying the second row of sheets, they return to the first one, starting to soak the paper base with the help of a sponge dipped in water.
• When removing paper from the tile surface, it is necessary to act extremely carefully to eliminate the possibility of chips shifting.
• After removing the paper base, for the correction of defects - leveling tiles and seams, use a small spatula.
• Remove the adhesive residue from the mosaic coating, leaving the surface to dry for at least 24 hours.

Before grouting, lined surfaces are cleaned with a brush dipped in warm water. The trowel mix is ​​applied using a rubber spatula, holding the tool at a 45-degree angle.

For one approach, it is recommended to cover a maximum of 2 squares with a grout, leaving it to dry for 15-20 minutes. When the grout becomes dull, its excess is removed using a moistened cellulose sponge. After it dries, it will remain to polish the coating with a soft felt cloth.

Mosaic streamers are facing coatings with a smooth transition from light to dark colors or from one color to another. They consist of small-sized chips for a thorough delineation of the contours of the surfaces.

When the walls are leveled with plaster mixes of gray, they will have to be additionally processed with a white putty. Glue is also used only white, and the use of mastic is prohibited.

Before laying stretch marks in the package is left in the bathroom. In this case, the box is printed and kept open to avoid condensation on the material.When laying in a warm room, it will prevent premature drying of the adhesive on mosaic stretch marks.

Although the mosaic is designed for use in bathrooms, where high humidity, dampness, steam, temperature changes are common, however, to preserve the appearance and functionality of the mosaic lining, one should not ignore the elementary rules of its maintenance.

What is recommended to do:

• Regularly clean the coatings of detergents with a soft, gentle composition, regardless of the fact that mosaic materials are well tolerated by most chemicals and have water-repellent properties.
• To remove grease stains on the seams with fat-dissolving compounds.
• To maintain the perfect condition of the seams, it is imperative to treat them with special means to combat mold, fungi and bacteria. The actions of such compositions are usually enough for six months.
• The device in the bathroom of a high-quality ventilation system completely solves the problem of removing excess moisture, which reliably limits its access to the intersection joints, where mold appears.

Having chosen a mirror mosaic for the bathroom, you should be ready for daily care of it, because any dirt rushes on the shiny surface. With matte coatings there are no such problems.. Also, it is necessary to apply a special protective compound to the mirror lining, which prevents its darkening under the influence of moisture and prolongs the service life.

The possibilities of tile mosaics in the interior of bathrooms are really endless. It is worth checking this with the examples presented in the photo selection.

One of the main advantages of mosaic tiles over ordinary tiles is the ability to create original ornaments and artistic images in the widest range of colors and shades. Floristic theme is one of the most sought after, because floral motifs give us a feeling of unity with nature. Colorful floral panels not only transform the interiors of bathrooms, but also fill the atmosphere with the energy of relaxation, coziness and comfort.

Very interesting look floors with pictures that mimic carpets or rugs. They can be located in the center of the room, next to the sinks or decorate the base of the shower.Incredibly impressive and realistic looking carpet pattern of mosaic, smoothly flowing from the wall to the podium with a built-in bathroom, and then to the floor.

Maritime style - perhaps the most logical option for interior design bathrooms.

Variations of this design mass:

• Combining a mosaic tile with a natural stone pebble coating of a small format will give the room a stylish look and increase the degree of warmth and comfort through the use of natural materials.
• The bathroom is incredibly beautiful and unusual, where part of the walls and furniture elements are lined with sea pebble mosaics.

• A mosaic panel with representatives of the flora and fauna of the underwater world or sea scenes is another effective way to decorate baths, which lovers of the always current, fresh and light nautical style will surely like the taste.
• Practical and expressive design - a mosaic panel in bright colors with transitions from a monochromatic mosaic to work surfaces around the bathtub and behind the shower cabin in combination with bright painted walls.

The mosaic stripes so loved by the designers in the interior of the bathroom can be used in different ways:

• If you make an apron around the bathtub, from which you then put thin mosaic strips of different lengths on the wall and on the floor, you can visually change the geometry of the room. Enhances the visual effect and incredibly animates such a design contrast of inserts from a glossy mosaic of a dark shade against the background of walls and a floor from a light tile with a delicate pearlescent shine.
• Simple and at the same time elegant horizontal strips of chips of different shades, laid out around the perimeter of the walls in combination with the background decoration of light large-format ceramic tiles and a shallow niche lined with the same mosaic that was used to create stripes.
• A bathroom looks luxurious, where the upper and lower parts of the walls around the perimeter are trimmed with black mosaic tiles, and the middle is decorated with a multicolored mosaic in a sandy-golden palette and separated by several black wall horizontal stripes. Such a finish is not only beautiful, but also visually corrects the proportions of the space.

See a master class on pasting a bath with a mozayka in this video.