Mosaic tiles can add a unique, eye-catching look to any room in your house. With so many colors, shapes, and materials to choose from, the possibilities are endless for creating custom mosaics that reflect your personal style. Here are some ideas to inspire you and get your creative juices flowing.
Choosing Materials for Mosaic Tiles
The foundation of any great mosaic design starts with carefully choosing your tile materials. Here are some popular options to consider:
Glass
Glass mosaic tiles are one of the most versatile options. They come in every color imaginable and can be mixed and matched for custom patterns. Glass tiles have a beautiful sheen that catches and reflects light. Use them to create mosaics with an elegant, shiny appearance.
Glass tile pros:
- Available in endless colors for creative mixes
- Beautiful shine and sparkle
- Durable and water-resistant
- Easy to clean
Ceramic
For a more rustic, earthy look, consider ceramic mosaic tiles. These are available in natural stone looks, terra cotta, handpainted designs, and metallic finishes. Glazed ceramic tiles have the same durable, easy-to-clean properties as glass.
Ceramic tile pros:
- Natural stone and terra cotta looks
- Glazed and unglazed finishes
- Can mimic look of more expensive tiles for less
- Durable and water-resistant
Porcelain
For high-traffic areas like kitchen backsplashes, porcelain is one of the toughest mosaic tile materials. It’s more stain and water-resistant than ceramic and stands up well to cracking and chipping. Use it for floor mosaics that need to withstand daily wear and tear.
Porcelain tile pros:
- Extremely durable for high traffic areas
- Stain, scratch and fade resistant
- Water-resistant
- Easy to clean
- Wide range of colors and finishes
Natural Stone
For unmatched elegance, natural stone mosaic tiles can’t be beat. Marble, travertine, slate, and granite mosaic tiles have unique veining, colors, and texture. They bring the beauty of nature indoors for a luxurious look. Natural stone does require sealing to prevent stains.
Natural stone tile pros:
- Elegant, high-end appearance
- Unique colors and veining in each piece
- Distinctive natural texture
- Sealing required to prevent staining
Mixed Media
Don’t feel limited to just one mosaic tile material! Mixing and matching tiles in different shapes, colors, and materials allows for countless custom designs. Combine glass, porcelain, natural stone, and ceramic tiles to create eclectic patterns. Use peninsula and dot tiles to add pops of color and interest. The options are endless!
Mosaic Tiles for Kitchen Backsplashes
Kitchen backsplashes are the perfect canvas to add a dose of color, texture, and personality with mosaic tile designs. From playing up your existing decor to making a bold style statement, here are some mosaic backsplash ideas to fuel your creativity.
Vivid Brights
Make your backsplash the focal point of your kitchen with electric brights and primaries. Combine shattered glass mosaics in vivid citrus oranges, lime greens, turquoise blues, and fire engine reds. Complement with energetic sunny yellows. This is a great way to spice up a more muted color scheme in an all-white or neutral kitchen.
Vivid brights make the backsplash the kitchen’s focal point. Image Source
Metallic Shimmer
Add a glamorous accent to your kitchen with the shine and shimmer of metallic mosaics. Warm gold, copper, and brass tones work beautifully with wood cabinets and granite countertops. Cooler silver, nickel, and platinum bring sleek modern edge. Combine metallic tiles with glass or natural stone for more texture and dimension.
Metallic mosaics add glamorous shine. Image Source
Natural Stone Styles
For a backsplash inspired by nature, use marble, travertine, or slate mosaic tiles. Browns, tans, grays, and whites copied from natural stone have an earthy, organic look. Use mosaics to create patterns mimicking stone wall construction for a distressed vintage appearance. Finish the edges for a grout-less look.
Natural stone mosaics have an earthy, organic vibe. [Image Source](https://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/pictures/kitchens/urban-edge-construction-inc-img~f66144ae0f133 504_14-6697-1-56da5c4.jpg)
Geometric Patterns
Angular mosaics in graphic shapes like triangles, diamonds, hexagons, and zigzags make for an eye-catching backsplash. Use black and white for high-contrast drama or experiment with colors. Try a single repeated mosaic shape or combine multiples for more complex geometric patterns.
Geometric mosaics create graphic interest. Image Source
Moroccan Fish Scale
For an exotic global flair, install a fish scale mosaic backsplash. The interlocking tile pieces overlap each other in rows mimicking fish scales or roof shingles. Blue and white is a classic color scheme evoking Moroccan and Mediterranean tilework. Go bold with other vibrant hues!
Fish scale mosaic backsplash adds exotic Moroccan style. Image Source
Stunning Mosaic Tile Bathroom Ideas
Bathrooms offer plenty of options for installing gorgeous mosaic tile designs, from walls and floors to showers and sinks. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity for mosaic tile in the bathroom.
Shower Surrounds
Turn your shower into a spa-like retreat by covering the walls in mosaic tile. Go from floor to ceiling for a fully immersive experience. Choose soothing cool hues like sea glass blues, greens, and grays for a calming vibe. Accent with warm metallic mosaics. Use glass or ceramic tiles for easy maintenance.
Blue mosaic tiles create a spa-like shower retreat. Image Source
Bathroom Floors
Set the tone for your dream bathroom with a mosaic tile floor. Create custom patterns combining different colors and shapes. Rectangular subway style mosaics arranged in interesting angles look modern and edgy. Contrasting borders add visual interest. Use porcelain for high durability.
Colorful mosaic tile bathroom floors make a style statement. Image Source
Vanity Backsplashes
An eye-catching mosaic backsplash behind your bathroom vanity creates jewelry-like allure. Accent with glass, ceramic, or natural stone. Metallic tiles, glass pendants, and colorful mediums make excellent choices to dress up your vanity space. Coordinate with your floor tile for a pulled together look.
Mosaic vanity backsplashes create an elegant look. Image Source
Decor Accents
Use mosaic tiles as pretty decorative accents in your bathroom. Frame your mirror or medicine cabinet with eye-catching mosaic trim. Define the shower niche with a mosaic border. Add a strip of mosaic behind the toilet or as an accent in the floor. Have fun highlighting unique focal points.
Mosaic tiles make beautiful bathroom accents. Image Source
Durable Mosaic Flooring Throughout the Home
Mosaic tile floors lend color, style, and durability to any room in your home. Beyond bathrooms and kitchens, consider using mosaic flooring in entryways, corridors, laundry rooms, mudrooms, and more. Here are some ideas for stunning mosaic floors to walk on.
Entryways
Welcome guests to your home in style with a mosaic tile entryway floor. Choose a bold checkerboard pattern, interesting angles, or colorful carpet-inspired design. Insert custom medallions featuring your address numbers or family name. Durable porcelain or ceramic tiles stand up well to heavy foot traffic.
A checkerboard mosaic floor jazzes up an entryway. Image Source
Laundry Rooms
Laundry rooms tend to be sterile, utilitarian spaces. Liven them up with fun, quirky mosaic tile floors! Use a bold mosaic as an accent wall or under your utility sink and washer/dryer. Contrasting borders add cool delineation. Porcelain stands up to spills.
Mosaic tile floors brighten up utility spaces. Image Source
Open Floor Plans
For a seamless look in open concept spaces, install matching mosaic tile flooring between rooms. The continuous floor patterns make rooms flow together, expanding the space visually. Just make sure to choose durable porcelain or ceramic tiles.
Continuous mosaic flooring connects open rooms. Image Source
Kids’ and Playrooms
Have fun with colorful mosaic tile floors in kids’ rooms, playrooms, and game rooms. Geometric shapes, dots, rainbow colors, and magnified toy images translate well into durable glass or glazed ceramic mosaics. The whimsical designs will delight kids and adults alike!
Whimsical mosaic floors add fun to kids’ spaces. Image Source
Unique Mosaic Wall Treatments
Don’t limit your mosaic designs to just floors and backsplashes! Mosaics make stunning focal walls or accents on any wall in your home. Get creative with these ideas for breathtaking mosaic wall art.
Fireplaces
Turn up the heat around your fireplace with vibrant mosaic tile designs. Cover the entire brick surround in colorful glass, ceramic, or natural stone mosaics. Use mosaic accents on the hearth, chimney, or mantel only. Metallic and mirrored tiles reflect the glow of the flames.
Mosaic tiles make a gorgeous fireplace focal point. Image Source
Accent Walls
Make a bold style statement with a stunning mosaic accent wall in any room. Use it as the backdrop to your bed, sofa, or home office. Choose vibrant colors, organic natural stone layouts, or modern geometric designs based on your decor. Add visual interest with borders and medallions.
Mosaic accent walls make a dramatic style statement. Image Source
Kitchen Splashes
Take your mosaic tiles beyond the backsplash to create a whole accent wall behind kitchen cabinetry or appliances. Use it to highlight a bistro eating nook or bar area. Contrasting grout color adds to the visual appeal. Stain-resistant glass or glazed ceramic work best for heavy use kitchen areas.
Mosaic tile “splashes” extend backsplashes into accent walls. Image Source
Bathroom Accents
From tub and shower surrounds to full bathroom walls, mosaic tiles create gorgeous bathroom accents. Use natural stone or glass mosaics to cover walls, niches, or borders. Make your vanity backsplash extend vertically for a spa-like effect. Define separate spaces like toilets and bathtubs with mosaic walls.
Mosaics make stunning bathroom accents. Image Source