DIY mosaic tabletop - stylish solution for kitchen and bathroom. In addition, you can make a custom table for the living room, veranda or balcony. Let's take a closer look at how to bring such an idea to life.
Stylish and original solution
Mosaic is a type of miniature tile. The sizes of fragments are often set within 1.5-2.5 cm. Their shape can be square, round, or arbitrary in more complex compositions.
If you decide to make a mosaic table with your own hands, keep in mind that despite its apparent simplicity, installation requires skill.
Individual fragments are fastened into larger format modules. Mesh and paper base are used as connecting material.
Features of mosaic countertops - strength and visual perception. It is decorative and stylish design in the bathroom or other room. Using individual fragments, a pattern is laid out or an entire drawing is created. Please note that the weight of such a tabletop will be considerable, so make sure you have a strong and stable base.
The mosaic surface combines durability and decorativeness
The first thing you pay attention to is the specific accommodation area. The most popular are:
All DIY options will be an excellent addition to the interior of the living room or veranda. In the kitchen mosaic countertops in the headset it is good to combine with the same apron. Play around with the window sill in a similar way by adding it to work area. There are more options in the bathroom, for example, linking a washbasin with a screen, or hiding a washing machine in a niche with a countertop.
The most popular mosaic finishing options
The following is used as a basis:
To keep the mosaic securely on the table, use special adhesive mixtures. It is generally recommended to use plastic compounds white. Regular tile adhesive will also work, but only for opaque ceramics. For glass mosaic white or required transparent composition, also carefully prepare the surface so that base defects do not show through the cladding.
White or transparent tile adhesive is used with mosaics.
Grout is used last. In the case of mosaics, this is of particular importance, since it helps to emphasize a pattern consisting of small fragments. For mosaics, use white mixtures, as well as colored ones to match the coating. Transparent epoxy or sodium mastics are also popular. This finish looks especially impressive with the addition of sparkles in combination with a glass base.
To ensure that the mosaic lays neatly without effort, the base is cleaned and leveled using putty. Before further processing, remove dust and degrease the surface. Be sure to apply antiseptic impregnation to avoid the appearance of fungus and mold in the future. Coat the countertop with primer.
Also, to make work easier, attach a mesh with 1x1 cm cells to the surface. This will simplify marking and also improve the quality of adhesion.
To make your bathroom countertop look neat, before you start facing works evaluate the future result by laying out the mosaic elements “dry”. This way you will select the optimal design option and notice the remaining problem areas.
Applying mosaics on paper
Start laying from the nearest edge. If you do not need to trim the elements, start installing the cladding from a more convenient position - from the far edge. As an alternative, step back the required distance from the wall and start laying entire fragments. The remains are applied last, and all unevenness will later be hidden by the wall plinth. If you are planning a complex pattern with transitions around the perimeter, it is better to tile the tabletop from the central point.
Installation is carried out as follows: first, glue is applied to the base small area, enough minimum thickness, so level the surface almost to perfection. Depending on the type of mosaic, installation is carried out using:
Maintain the evenness of the coating and make identical seams over the entire area. Trimmed mosaic fragments are formed using wire cutters. An aluminum or PVC edge, if used, is also attached to the glue. At the end, the seams are sealed with grout. To protect against moisture, use epoxy mixtures and latex mastics. Such a countertop for a bathroom or kitchen will become a real highlight of the interior.
This project took almost a year from the beginning to the state in the bottom photo. In the kitchen we had a very shabby table, which we received with the apartment. In the original it was also shabby, but still light color. I, foolishly, painted it with dark varnish and not only did not improve it, but, perhaps, worsened it appearance and compliance color scheme in the kitchen.
For several years I matured until I became completely ashamed of such disgrace in my rather neat apartment. And then I became interested in mosaics and saw all sorts of beautiful things made by others. So I was inspired to create something unique and stunningly beautiful :).
Before starting work on creating this mosaic on the table, I had never cut glass (especially stained glass) and had practically never tried my hand at mosaics, except for the one and the one. During this year, while I was long and persistently cutting glass into hundreds of leaves and petals, I made several more mosaic works:
So, here's what the table looked like BEFORE:
Materials: stained glass (Tiffany and mirror) different colors and glass tiles in two shades, universal glue, wood glue, acetate film, grout.
The first stage of work is creating a sketch. To do this, I cut out a piece of paper in the shape of the table and drew on it the main motif with leaves, flowers and birds.
Then I laid out acetate film on the sketch, gluing its sheets with tape and a mesh on top. On this grid I began to lay out and glue leaves and petals cut out of stained glass - directly according to the drawing.
Of course, I cut it out by eye, and during the gluing process I slightly changed the direction of the stems or the number and shape of the leaves, but, in general, I followed the sketch.
The next step was for my husband to clear the table. grinder, removing a layer of old varnish from it. And then I separated (torn off) the mesh with the floral motif from the acetate film, cut out the motif along the contour and, placing it on the table, glued it together with the mesh on which it sat. Here it is very important to cut the mesh as close to the glass as possible, so that later it does not interfere with neighboring tiles and does not create a height difference.
The third stage is to fill the table space between the floral motif with glass tiles. We bought tiles glued alternately (dark and light) onto a grid. We tore it off the grid and sorted it. The mesh was used at the first stage of work. Here, first I glued the border from dark tiles along the contour of the table, and then filled the rest of the space with light tiles.
The last stage is applying grout. I used Eifel grout in two shades - yellow (I don’t remember the number) and light gray (number 16). The result is a light yellow tone. First I tested it on a small area of mosaic, and when I was sure that the shade suited me, I spread the grout over the entire table. I especially love this stage because... This is the last one, and soon the final result will be visible. But here there is a danger of not choosing the color of the grout and ruining the whole job. With various tricks I will share about this sometime in future posts.
And here’s how the table with mosaics looked AFTER
A mosaic tabletop has excellent aesthetic qualities and a long service life. Mosaic has not gone out of fashion for many years, attracting with its sophistication and convenience. The history of the use of mosaics goes back more than one millennium. More on Ancient East masters of their craft used mosaics as decorative decoration, as evidenced by Persian boxes that have survived to this day. The materials most often used to make mosaics are ceramics, marble, natural stone, smalt and glass. You can also find mosaics made from artificial materials, which will significantly help save your budget.
What can be made from mosaic and the advantages of the material
Mosaic is a tile in miniature. The fragments are square, rectangular, round, or more complex and irregular shape. The so-called Moroccan mosaic is especially popular - the combination of bright colors, variety of shapes and textures of the tiles allows you to lay out any design or create original geometric patterns.
Among the advantages of mosaic it is worth noting a wide variety colors and strength
The advantages of mosaics include:
Based on these parameters, the mosaic has wide range applications. Most often it is used as wall cladding in the bathroom, apron in the kitchen and flooring. For rooms with high humidity and swimming pools, ideal option glass mosaic can serve.
All this is thanks to the feature of not absorbing water.
Mosaic tiles are used not only as finishing material for walls and floors, but also as cladding of building facades. Mosaics are often used to decorate decorative elements and furniture (fireplace, window sill, chest of drawers, kitchen apron, etc.).
How to cover a table with mosaics
You can also make a table from mosaics, which will be an excellent addition to the interior in the living room or on the terrace in garden house. If you want to decorate such a table using mosaic techniques, but have no experience or skills in carpentry, then decorate the existing one coffee table It won't be too difficult.
For the end result to be original, it is not enough to produce full cladding countertops in one color.
Before covering the table with mosaics, you should choose the composition that it will depict.
Drawing will help add some zest. And to save on buying ready-made mosaics, in this case you can use the fight ceramic tiles. The sequence of actions when covering a table with mosaic is simple.
To perform this work, you will need:
The table is pre-cleaned and degreased. The drawing must be transferred to the tabletop. The glue is applied directly to the table surface. According to the image, the tiles are laid out by color. After the glue has completely dried, you can begin grouting the joints. The table with mosaic decoration is ready and, using the technology studied, you can now move on to other, more complex works using mosaics.
DIY materials for mosaic countertops
The countertop, lined with mosaic tiles, will add a special atmosphere to the kitchen. Having decided to make the countertop yourself, you need to decide on the type of mosaic itself. It is better to opt for ceramic or glass, which is ideal for rooms with high humidity.
Materials for mosaic countertops are inexpensive, so everyone can afford them
Besides facing material, to make a tabletop you will need:
To reduce operating time, you can purchase in the store already ready-made compositions, mounted on special paper or mesh, rather than laying each element separately. Having armed yourself with the necessary building materials and decided on the location, you can proceed to the implementation technology.
Before carrying out the main work, it is necessary to take accurate measurements and make outlines. After taking measurements, you should begin assembling the frame of the future tabletop using a profile and self-tapping screws. A hole is cut in the drywall where the sink will be located. Next, all sheets must be coated with a primer and allowed to dry. Using self-tapping screws, the tabletop is covered with plasterboard.
All existing joints are glued with serpyanka.
Glue is applied to the drywall, on top of which a pre-prepared mosaic is laid. The tiles should be laid out from the most visible corner of the product. The joints are being grouted. In the kitchen it is preferable to use grout based on epoxy resin(unlike cement analogues, it has better dirt-repellent and heat-resistant properties). After complete drying, the base of the tabletop is attached to the wall using a bracket.
DIY mosaic sink decoration
In addition to a mosaic countertop, you can also make a sink made of mosaic. uniform style. A ready-made one is used as a source kitchen sink from of stainless steel, cast iron or ceramics. With basic construction skills, you can try to make your own sink from concrete or wood.
A mosaic sink looks good in a classic-style bathroom interior
Having at hand necessary tools, which are not much different from those used in the manufacture of the tabletop, you can get to work:
Despite the fact that a mosaic sink is a very labor-intensive and painstaking task, the result will delight the eye with its beauty and practicality for a long time.
How to make a kitchen countertop from mosaics
A mosaic countertop is not only an element of kitchen design, but also a functional part of it. Mosaic is one of the oldest ways to decorate a room. Traditionally, the material is used to decorate walls and floors; less often, paintings are made from it. The range of technology applications has expanded significantly over time, mosaic tiles in Lately often used for pasting tables. It is worth noting that making a countertop with your own hands is not difficult; it requires minimal skills and a lot of patience.
It is not necessary to use several colors, several shades of the same color are enough
There is quite a large number of types of mosaics. The most common are the following:
Most the best option According to experts, the combination of colored glass with flexible tiles is considered. Flexible tiles are products made from crumbs processed to match a certain texture of brick or stone.
Flexible tiles allow you to finish the surface of almost any shapeFlexible tiles can be used not only on countertops, but also on decorative elements
Advantages of flexible tiles:
The spectacular artistic image of the mosaic is ensured by its aesthetics and ease of installation; the material is ideal for covering the tabletop with a mosaic with your own hands.
It is important to follow the mosaic laying technology so that it is airtight and maximally protected from external factors.It’s quite possible to make a mosaic tabletop yourself
Mosaic looks great in the kitchen; this decoration option perfectly refreshes the interior and makes it more original and bright. With proper care, the countertop will retain its original appearance for many years. Mosaic tiles It is not recommended to glue it to a not very new set - old countertop It's better to replace it with a new one.
You can purchase a new countertop at a building materials store. It can also be used as a board made of polyurethane foam of different thicknesses.
To make measuring and cutting easier, a centimeter grid is sometimes applied to the board.
A stainless steel profile can also be sold as a kit, which is glued to the edge of the product using the same glue as the mosaic. The glue used is a standard elastic composition; for glass mosaics, transparent or white glue is used, which is suitable for installing tiles of any color. This adhesive also functions as a sealant, which is ideal for kitchen furniture. Mosaic flooring involves many joints, which can lead to the formation of mold. To avoid this, special anti-fungal cleaners are used to clean the countertop.
Mosaic on the countertop can be the highlight of the kitchen There are three main ways to make a tabletop with your own hands:
First way:
The finished tabletop is polished to a shine with a soft cloth; no polishing is required. additional coverage, you only need to comply with the conditions for the care and use of mosaic surfaces.
If you wish, you can also decorate the sink - it will turn out extraordinarily beautifulFor finishing many elements in one color style Chinese mosaic is ideal
Mosaic for tabletops may differ in both color and size of each puzzleMosaic in classic colors is ideal for modern style kitchens
Second way:
If the decor of the tabletop with your own hands does not involve complex artistic compositions, it is recommended to use the method of transferring drawings from paper to the tabletop.
Mosaic tiles are compatible with almost all kitchen styles
Third way:
This method is considered the simplest; it involves laying mosaics using a mesh.
All methods of making a countertop with your own hands have their advantages; with their help you can decorate any kitchen. It is not necessary to buy a mosaic; a beautiful pattern or paintings can be created from fragments of broken tiles or bottles.
Rising prices for necessary interior elements are forcing many lovers of coziness and comfort to look for alternative solutions. To create a comfortable, reliable, functional countertop, many people use mosaics.
The mosaic table top has a mass positive aspects. The main advantage is the ability to do it yourself. In this article we will tell you about some of the nuances of this work, and in conclusion we invite you to watch the prepared video material, which will reinforce the whole theory of how to make a table from a mosaic.
First you need to clearly determine the location of the cladding. Based on the conditions, a do-it-yourself mosaic tabletop can:
For example, a table with a mosaic will be a beautiful addition to the created interior of any room, either in the living room or in the veranda. If this is a kitchen, then in combination with an apron, this will be an excellent solution. Also finish the window sill in the kitchen, which will become an extension of the work area.
The base for cladding can be from a variety of building materials. For example, dense polyurethane, plywood or other similar sheet material, concrete, drywall (moisture resistant).
Important! When making mosaic countertops, it is unacceptable to use regular drywall. It is necessary to use only moisture-resistant, it has a green color.
Before making a tabletop, you need to make quality training and collection of tools. In many ways, the choice of tool is influenced by the base material for the mosaic.
So, for work you will definitely need:
Considering the peculiarities of using a mosaic table, it is necessary to choose the right adhesive composition. It must be plastic. Many experts recommend using white glue.
Especially if the lining is transparent. If the tiles are opaque, then regular tile adhesive is acceptable. For glass tiles A transparent adhesive has also been developed. When using it, it is important to prepare the base very well. It should be free of all kinds of defects.
Special attention is paid to the choice of grout for mosaic joints. It should emphasize the laid out pattern. Select grout to match the finish or white mixtures. Sometimes clear epoxy or sodium based grout is purchased. This type of grout looks especially beautiful with added shine.
As for the tool, you need to prepare the following:
First of all, think through a drawing of how to lay out the mosaic on the table. Small project You can draw it on a piece of paper and transfer it to the tabletop.
note
If you do not yet have experience, then you should not try to lay out a mosaic of complex shapes. Start with a simple pattern. For example, randomly scattered different color tiles, rectangular or square shapes and more.
The tabletop is also carefully processed. If the surface has paint, it can be completely removed with a solvent. The solvent will also clean the surface well from grease or other contaminants.
Plus, the countertop needs to be treated sandpaper. Due to this, the surface will become rough, and this will ensure high-quality adhesion of the surface to tile adhesive. This is especially important if plastic and similar smooth materials are used as the base.
Important! If you do not prepare the table surface well, this can lead to individual mosaic elements starting to fall off.
Let's move on to the main process - laying the mosaic on the table. Place the mosaic on a surface without glue. This will help you see the end result and make some changes if necessary.
note
If you are sure that trimming is not necessary, you can start laying from the far side of the table.
If a pattern is applied to the table and certain calculations have been made previously, then you can start laying with the pattern, which will be located in the middle of the tabletop.
There is no strict rule on where to start laying mosaics; the main thing is to think through everything carefully and calculate it. If you plan to attach a wall plinth near the wall, then it can bridge the small gap between the masonry and the wall. In this case, it is better to start from the edge of the tabletop.
The process of all work comes down to the following:
If the base is level and the layer of glue is minimal, laying out the mosaic with your own hands perfectly evenly will not be a big problem.
After completing the laying, the tile adhesive must dry completely. Also make sure that the seams between separate elements no glue. After the tile adhesive has completely dried, the joints are grouted with prepared grout.
If moisture is expected, the grout must be moisture resistant. For this, epoxy or latex mastic is used. After the grout has hardened, the mosaic is washed and wiped dry.
Conclusion
As you can see, making a table with your own hands at home is quite possible. Mosaic in this case performs an ideal function. A tabletop made this way will last for many years. In conclusion, we recommend that you watch the prepared video material.
