Bathroom Decor Using Mosaic Tiles
Using Stone, Ceramic Glass and Metal in Interior Decorating
Mosaics, which come in a multitude of materials add color and design to a bathroom décor. Here is how to apply them to floors, walls and countertops.
Mosaic art proliferated during the time of the Roman Empire, when the floors and walls of temples, homes and baths were decorated with the brightly-colored fragments. During the Paleo-Christian and Byzantine eras, opulent materials such as colored glass, marble and even gold and silver pieces conjured up mythical scenes, portraits of emperors, landscapes and seascapes, and biblical settings. Today, the lure of mosaic remains strong, judging by its popularity in home interiors.
Floors
Stone mosaic is suitable for the bathroom floor, as it is smooth and not slippery. Tiles may be slate, marble or travertine, or alternatively, ceramic and porcelain tiles that mimic the appearance and texture of natural stone. Pebble wash, while most often used in outdoor features like landscaping and fountains, fits perfectly in a bathroom with a Zen or Balinese theme.
As mosaic is generally more expensive than ordinary tile, a more cost-effective option is to have them on borders, skirting or scattered randomly around the bathtub or floor to embellish ceramic tiles. A mosaic medallion placed at the entrance or center of the room makes an eye-catching accent.
Walls
As well as stone and ceramic tile, glittery, glamorous glass and metal mosaics are perfectly at home on bathroom and shower walls. Their reflective surfaces bring more light into a dark room and make compact areas look larger. When wet, their shimmering appearance makes the space seem straight from a mermaid’s abode.
A common type of glass mosaic tile is vitreous glass, which materializes in a wide variety of colors and hence gives rise to limitless design possibilities. The tiles’ uniform shapes permit the creation of smooth surfaces.
Smalti is another, exquisite form of glass mosaic. Smalti, or Byzantine glass, refers to minute Italian tiles measuring approximately 7mm in thickness and 12-20mm in diameter. It is still made today by the traditional method, which involves melting and cooling a compound of sand, calcium oxide, sodium or potassium and metal oxides. It is then cut manually into tessarae. The characteristics of smalti are a diverse color palette, luminescent glow and quaint handcrafted charm due to its uneven facets and minute surface air bubbles. Smalti may feature in the bathroom and even upon the shower walls if preventive sealers are applied.
Metal mosaics have a shiny, futuristic appeal. What’s more, they are available not just in gray and silver, but in a variety of colors such as gold, white gold and copper. As the material is non-porous, it is resistant to bacteria and mould, and is hence highly suitable for the bathroom.
These days, modern innovations have made the installation and maintenance of mosaic more convenient. Dot-mounted mosaics, which allow maximum contact between the tiles and cement bed, can be easily connected as a unit. And, for those who love the look of mosaic, but dislike having to clean grout lines, mosaic tile effect wall panels present a cost-effective, low-maintenance alternative.
Countertops
Having mosaic tiles on the countertop turns the ubiquitous bathroom fitting into a striking focal point. A countertop and backsplash clad in dewy glass mosaics looks dreamy when combined with a translucent glass vessel sink, while an earthy stone-tiled countertop crowned with a plain white ceramic washbasin complements a simple, country-style bathroom décor. For bold textural contrast, team translucent glass mosaics on the backsplash with matte materials, such as a stone or solid surface countertop and a wooden vessel sink.
