Mosaic Floor Tile: A Timeless Trend
Tile is the perfect design solution to express creativity. Learn how to bring the ageless appeal of mosaic tile home.
Mosaic tile flooring has been featured in homes for thousands of years, prized for its beautiful design and sophisticated aesthetic. From the intricate mosaic floors of ancient Greece to modern reincarnations today, this style has survived centuries in the form of flooring, kitchen backsplashes, and fireplace surrounds.
Bring the timeless beauty of mosaic tile floors home with expert advice from our Design Associates; here’s what you need to know.
What Is Mosaic Tile?
Mosaic tile is a visual art form and a home décor technique involving small pieces of tile cut and arranged to form a larger pattern or design. Design complexity ranges from intricate organic shapes to simpler offset or herringbone patterns. Materials used for mosaic floors include ceramic, porcelain, stone, or glass pieces. The materials can also be mixed. For example, pair porcelain tile with glass tile accents to add dimension and color.
Today, many mosaic flooring patterns are not created on-site but instead pre-made and connected to a mesh backing for easy installation. The most common shapes are rectangular, square, or hexagonal, and each section is installed with thin-set mortar that adheres to the floor or other applications. The tile sheets are cut to size, making it easy to fit into existing flooring or wall spaces with acute angles.
Designing with Floor Mosaics
When this popular tile flooring is well designed, even simple patterns or tessellations will create a stunning aesthetic. And when it’s haphazardly planned, the results can be messy. These tips will keep your project moving in the right direction.
First, the vision must include the grout:
Getting the look just right requires a creative vision that accounts for the grout, not just the tile patterns. Grout color and width impact the overall aesthetic of a mosaic floor design. When done right, these details enhance the overall beauty of the completed piece instead of detracting from it. To see the potential of well-designed tiled floors, explore our Design Ideas gallery.
Additionally, ground your design with a border:
Many mosaic floors include borders outside the primary pattern. A border creates a neat, orderly edge that balances the complex areas, preventing a “busy” aesthetic. Borders are also helpful in reducing the amount of tile that needs to be painstakingly cut to fit the space.
Finally, save time with pre-made accents:
To save time and ensure consistency, many manufacturers utilize marble floor medallions or other types of pre-made mosaic accents. These mosaic components evoke fine art without requiring hundreds of hours to assemble. Popular medallions include a compass rose, fish, tree, flower, and fleur-de-lis elements. They can be classical or modern in their design.
Types of Tile Flooring
What are the pros and cons of mosaic tile flooring?
See Mosaic Flooring Tile in Your Home
Floor Coverings International® provides an exciting, creative flooring experience. Start your shopping research by getting a virtual look at different mosaic tiles for your floor using our Room Visualizer. When you’re ready, schedule a free consultation with our Design Associates. We’ll bring samples to your door with our Mobile Flooring Showroom®, so you can envision the beauty of your new space.
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