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How to Use Mosaic Tiles to Elevate Your Home Design

[30x30] WP3303_

How can you install and apply mosaic tiles into your home design?

  1. Prepare
  2. Mark Layout Lines
  3. Begin Installation
  4. Apply Grout
  5. Install A Backsplash

 

Mosaic tiles can easily make any home design more special. If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your home, this is the perfect weekend or holiday project. Add more style per square inch by creatively using mosaic tiles for any part of your home. If you’re curious about how to install and incorporate mosaic tiles into your home design, here are the steps you need to follow.

 

How to Install Mosaic Tiles

Visual interest is always recommended if you want to create a well-designed living space. You can use mosaic tiles in any part of your home because they come in a variety of different finishes that can create various intricate effects. It’s an instant visual upgrade you need to try out. Previously, you would have to manually cut and place the mosaic design yourself. Modern mosaic tiles are much easier to install. To install mosaic tiles, you need to do the following:

 

Prepare

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You need to prepare your materials and the surface. It’s similar to installing ceramic tiles. A good installation surface starts with a smooth surface. If you plan to create an underlay, you can use a cement board which is applied directly over your plywood subfloor. This under-layer is great for surfaces that tend to get damp easily, such as your kitchen area, pool area, and bathroom. Areas that stay dry generally don’t require an under-layer. Skip this step if you’re installing your tile elsewhere.

 

Mark Layout Lines

Test-fitting your tiles should be done before installation. After test fitting, you can prepare your layout lines. The most effective method is the quarter method. Divide the space into four quarters. Use a tape measure to mark the midpoint of the wall or floor. Use chalk to create intersecting lines. You should have a square cross at this point.

Make a point 4 feet from the center of one of your lines. Mark a point 3 feet from the center on the intersecting line. The diagonal line from the two points should have a total measurement of 5 feet and 90 degrees. If your results are different, adjust your lines accordingly until you get the right results.

 

Begin Installation

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Once your layout lines are created, use a trowel and thin-set adhesive. Spread the adhesive evenly per quadrant. Apply enough but not too thick that you don’t see the under-layer.

Proceed to apply one sheet of mosaic tile on one corner of the quadrant. When you’re adjusting the tile, you may use your hands but remember to be careful. Make sure that the tiles are set perfectly within the square. Press firmly for several seconds and make sure that you don’t slide the tile when you release your hand.

Continue to install the other tiles in the same manner. Use tile spacers in between each tile to ensure that the spaces are uniform. Work your way outwards until all quadrants are completely covered.

 

Tile Setting

Tile Setting

Did you know that mosaic tiles can ripple or form waves on the surface? You can avoid this by taking a rubber mallet and a small piece of plywood. Place the plywood on top of the tile and gently tap the mallet to set it in place. Pay extra attention to the seams of each tile. This can prevent uneven surfaces and uneven gaps.

 

Grout

Grout

The mosaic tiles are now dry and hardened into the thin-set. What do you need to do next? Grout is needed to tie everything together and to seal everything in. Mix your grout according to the instructions. Use a grout float to spread the grout over the tiles evenly. Use the grout float to make multiple passes. This allows the grout to spread over the joints properly.

Continue this process until all the joints are filled in evenly. If there is excess grout, use the grout float to scrape it away. Let the grout harden slightly then wipe the excess with a clean cloth. Use a liquid grout haze remover to remove the remaining grout once it’s fully cured.

 

Install a Backsplash

Backsplashes are an instant fix to create interest in any part of your home. You can use a backsplash for your patio, foyer, and more. If you’re cutting your mosaic tiles or installing pre-made tiles, you can easily create a backsplash.

[30×30- Mosaic] L233-3

[30x30- Mosaic] L233-4

[30×30- Mosaic] L233-4

Your patio can transform from simple to glamorous with these mosaic tiles by Floor Center. The earth tones from this set are both warm and neutral. It can easily complement your patio furniture and more. Choose L233-3 and L233-4 30×30 tiles for a unique patio backsplash design.

[30x30- Mosaic] W-02

[30×30- Mosaic] W-02

[30x30- Mosaic] W-04

[30×30- Mosaic] W-04

Add an accent to your foyer with the glossy W-02 and W-04 tiles. All tiles are pleasing to the eye. The grey tones used in this 30×30 set are neutral and can easily brighten up your foyer.

 

Key Takeaway

Mosaic tiles can instantly transform the look of your home. Enjoy the wide collection of Floor Center for all your ceramic and mosaic tile needs. Floor Center also offers tools that are essential when you’re installing your mosaic tiles. Elevate your home design with mosaic tiles by Floor Center for a fresh look for your home!

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How to Incorporate Colorful Tiles into Your Home Design

How to Incorporate Colorful Tiles into Your Home Design

How can you use colorful tiles at home?

  1. Floor Application
  2. Accent Wall Application
  3. Artistic Application
  4. Cleaning Dirty Grout

 

How can you use colorful tiles at home and how do you clean dirty grout? Dirty grout and colored tiles are not a good combination. You may find that your grout stands out more when you’re using colored tiles. Your attention is immediately drawn to the color and the next thing you’ll see is the dirt. This is very easy to do. You just need to dedicate some time off to be able to plan your new tile flooring and grout cleaning. This process is not an anything-goes situation. You need to prepare so you can properly execute the effect you want. Here’s how you can use colorful tiles at home and how to clean the excess grout for them.

 

Floor Application

Floor Application

60×60 Slate

Floor application can get a bit complicated. It depends on the design you want to go for. If you go too bright for your tiles, you can end up with a gaudy-looking floor design. You need to find balance. Try using neutral tiles with brights and accents. This can bring the balance you need without sacrificing the pop of color you desire to put. Try out this tile from Floor Center. The 60×60 Lithos collection has a matte/rustic tile called Abstract (ML06-7). It’s a combination of cool tones such as a subdued cerulean and a neutral gray. You can take out the guesswork for your tile designs.

If you’re into natural textures, there’s another tile design from the 60×60 Slate collection that is a rustic tile with a lapis lazuli color and gold veining. It’s an elegant, rustic, marble-like tile that can fit your foyer or kitchen. You can even use it to accent certain areas of your living room. The possibilities are endless when you’re dealing with floor applications for your tiles.

 

Accent Wall Application

Accent Wall Application

40×40 Strata

Accent wall application isn’t as complicated as floor application. If you have a base already present, which can be neutral or earth tone, you can readily incorporate the pop of color you need to bring your room to life. This is especially great for bathrooms.

How do you accent a matte tile? You will need to use a contrasting color or pattern. Blues can pop out when paired with a warm or earth tone color. One tile you can use to create your accent wall is from the 40×40 Strata collection. Creme (S425) is a glossy tile with an earthy baby blue tone and geometric pattern. It combines the best of both worlds. It also has the color and pattern you need to create a unique accent wall.

Accent walls are not limited to bathrooms. You may even use it for your swimming pool. If your pool is using the Blanc (01-0) tile of the glossy 30×30 Aura collection, you can pair it with Blue (170T) from the same collection. Then for the floor of your pool, you can use Azul (WP3303) which is a tile from the 30×30 Montage collection.

 

Artistic Application

Artistic Application

20×20 Chroma

Artistic applications are where you get to be creative but also careful. You can create different patterns for your surfaces and flooring. Take inspiration from the 20×20 Chroma collection by Floor Center.

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This glossy tile collection includes a variety of colors that can help you create unique patterns and symbols for your surfaces, flooring, and more. You can create a pop art surface or flooring that can instantly bring attention to your room.

 

Cleaning Dirty Grout

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Cleaning dirty grout is easy. Clean grout is the secret to clean-looking tiles for all of your rooms. Porous grout is bound to absorb dirt and spills. It’s important to clean them when you can. To preserve the integrity of the designs and accents you created above, wipe down the grout with hot water and apply a cleaning solution on the grout and leave it on as instructed on the packaging.

 

Key Takeaway

Good tiles require clean, high-quality grout so the tiles don’t immediately show signs of wear. Cleaning your grout and using high-quality tiles can produce great results. If you’re in need of high-quality materials visit Floor Center. Use Floor Center’s high-quality colored tiles to elevate your home design. Floor Center’s ceramic tiles are nothing short of the most pristine quality. Only use the best tiles for your home design by taking a look at Floor Center’s diverse collection of tiles today!