A ready-made solution like a mosaic for a countertop. We decorate the countertop with a mosaic

How to make a mosaic countertop in the kitchen

Mosaic countertop is not only a design element of the kitchen, 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 pictures are laid out from it. The range of application of technology has expanded significantly over time, and mosaic tiles have recently been often used for pasting tables. It is worth noting that making a tabletop with your own hands is not difficult, it requires minimal skills and a lot of patience.

Mosaic: types and features

It is not necessary to use several colors, several shades of the same color are enough

There are a fairly large number of varieties of mosaics. The most common are the following:

glass;
Ceramic;
Stone;
metal;
Wooden;
Ceramic granite.

The most optimal option, according to experts, is a combination of colored glass with flexible tiles. Flexible tiles are products made from crumbs processed to a certain texture of brick or stone.

Flexible tiles will allow you to finish the surface of almost any shapeFlexible tiles can be used not only on the countertop, but also on decorative elements

Benefits of flexible tiles:

moisture resistance;
Long service life;
Mechanical strength;
Frost resistance;
Resistance to aggressive environments;
Color retention under the influence of moisture and sunlight.

The spectacular artistic image of the mosaic is provided due to the aesthetics and ease of installation, the material is ideal for pasting the tabletop with mosaics with your own hands.

Mosaic countertop features

It is important to follow the mosaic laying technology so that it is airtight and maximally protected from external factors.It is quite possible to make a mosaic countertop 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 are not recommended to be glued to a not-so-new set - it is better to replace the old countertop with a new one.

You can buy a new countertop at a hardware store. Also, a board made of polyurethane foam of different thicknesses can be installed as it.

To simplify measurement and cutting, a centimeter grid is sometimes applied to the board.

A stainless steel profile can also be sold in the kit, which is glued to the edge of the product with the same adhesive as the mosaic. A standard elastic composition is used as an adhesive, for glass mosaics a transparent or white adhesive is used, which is suitable for mounting tiles of any color. This adhesive also acts as a sealant, which is ideal for kitchen furniture. Mosaic coating involves many connections, which can lead to the formation of mold. To avoid this, special antifungal cleaners are used to clean the countertop.

How to decorate a countertop with a mosaic

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:

Stage 1. A countertop is cut out of the plate in accordance with the dimensions, and its edge of their profile is also prepared. The edge with the perforated part up is placed on the edge of the board;
Stage 2. The selected adhesive is applied to the surface and leveled with a notched trowel, the adhesive must also be applied to the upper edge of the profile;
Stage 3. The upper perforated profile is laid on the adhesive, which forms the edge of the tabletop;
Stage 4. After the glue dries, a tile cut in advance in the form of squares is laid on the surface. The same glue can be used as a sealant, a small part of it is rubbed on the surface of the countertop, so the joints are grouted;
Stage 5 Excess dried glue can be wiped off with a damp cloth.

The finished tabletop is polished to a shine with a soft cloth, no additional coating is required, it is only necessary to observe the conditions for the care and operation of mosaic surfaces.

If desired, you can finish the sink - it will turn out unusually beautifulChinese mosaic is ideal for decorating many elements in the same color style.

Mosaic for countertops may differ in both color and size of each puzzleMosaic in classic colors is ideal for a modern kitchen style.

Second way:

If do-it-yourself tabletop decor does not involve complex artistic compositions, it is recommended to use the method of transferring drawings from paper to the tabletop.

Stage 1. The mosaic sheet is neatly placed on a pre-prepared adhesive base, the paper layer should be at the top;
Stage 2. The paper is gently blotted with a damp cloth until it begins to easily separate from the surface of the mosaic;
Stage 3. Remains of paper are removed without unnecessary effort, which can provoke a shift in the position of the elements;
Stage 4. After removing the paper base, the drawing must be left for a day, after which the joints are grouted;
Stage 5. Excess grout is removed with a damp cloth.

Mosaic is compatible with almost all styles of kitchens

Third way:

This method is considered the simplest, it involves laying the mosaic using a grid.

Stage 1. The mesh base is immersed in the adhesive solution, this must be done so that all its parts are evenly immersed to the same depth;
Stage 2. The drawing freezes for a day, after which the grout is applied;
Stage 3. To remove excess traces of grout that cannot be removed with a sponge or a damp cloth, it is recommended to use light solvents (such as White Spirit). Solvents should be used one week after completion of work;

Do-it-yourself mosaic laying in the kitchen (video)

All ways to make a countertop with your own hands have their advantages, with their help you can decorate any kitchen. Mosaics do not have to be bought, a beautiful pattern or paintings can be created from fragments of broken tiles or bottles.

Every year the cost of building and finishing materials increases, which means that not everyone can afford to change the interior when they want to refresh it. The same applies to furniture. It is no secret that kitchen furniture is exposed to mechanical damage several times more than in rooms for other purposes. But what a pity to throw away your favorite kitchen table just because its countertop has worn out and deteriorated!

If your tabletop has deteriorated, you can decorate it with mosaics to breathe new life into it.

There is no need to despair, there is a way out. It is enough just to decorate the countertop with a mosaic, and it will shine with new colors, giving the interior a fresh and original look. In order to create a mosaic, you will need to make a lot of effort, but they are worth it. The painstaking work will fully pay off by creating an exclusive thing with a minimum expenditure of the family budget.

What to make a mosaic?

For mosaics, you can use both finished tiles and pieces left after repair.

The ideal raw material for creating a mosaic is pieces of ceramic tiles left after repair. Often, the owners specifically purchase a slightly larger number of tiles, because in the process of gluing it can break or deteriorate. Some stores sell broken ceramic tiles at a recycled price or give away the remains of unclaimed collections for a reduced price. All these tiles are suitable for making mosaics.

Before starting work, the material must be crushed with your own hands. The easiest way is to cut the elements into small pieces with a simple glass cutter. In this case, the pieces can have a different shape and size. To create pieces of the same size, a tile cutter is usually used. When cutting a tile, the pattern should be taken into account: if in one case the geometric correctness of the elements is important, then in the other case the image will look more beautiful from randomly cut pieces.

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Preparing the base and material for decorating

When all the tiles are cut, and the resulting elements are sorted by size and color, you can start sticking the mosaic on the countertop. To work, you will need the following materials and accessories:

For mosaic you will need: glue, solvent, tongs, sandpaper and a brush.

latex-based glue;
spatula for applying adhesive;
rags;
paint thinner;
gloves;
composition for grouting;
soft spatula for grout removal;
sandpaper with different grain sizes;
furniture wax;
piece of canvas.

Before you put decoration on the table, you need to think carefully about the pattern. You can draw a sketch of the future image on a sheet of paper, the scale of which will be equal to the worktop being processed. Creating a complex picture the first time is quite problematic, so experts recommend starting with an abstraction that can be made from randomly scattered pieces of tiles.

Before applying the mosaic, you need to decide on a pattern and draw it on the surface of the countertop.

Then you need to process the countertop. First of all, it is freed from varnish or paint with the help of a solvent. It is enough to cover the wooden surface with a solvent and leave for a while. The composition will corrode the varnish, which will only be wiped off with a dry cloth.

After removing the varnish, the table is processed with sandpaper. First, a large abrasive No. 2, 3 is used, and then a smaller one - No. 1, 0. Sanding will make the surface rougher, which will significantly improve the quality of adhesion of mosaic elements and wood or plastic. With insufficient fastening, the pieces can easily fall off, which will spoil the whole result of the work.

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Algorithm for creating a mosaic

When the preparatory activities are completed, the process of creating a mosaic with your own hands begins. Here you will need to use the prepared sketch. From it, the drawing is transferred to the countertop with a pencil.

If there is no self-confidence, you can use a simple circular pattern that will look great on a round-shaped tabletop.

To create it, you need to draw circles diverging from the center. Each row of circles is laid out with tiles of a different color. It does not matter what geometric shape the mosaic elements will have. Only one rule must be taken into account: larger and even pieces should be located at the edges, and small ones should be closer to the center.

Then you can start gluing the tiles. Experts recommend starting work not from the center of the panel, as required when processing walls, but from the edges of the tabletop. Each element must be applied as tightly as possible to the other, sticking to latex glue. Unlike wall decoration, where the base is covered with adhesive, tiles are smeared with glue when processing countertops. Each particle is covered with glue with a spatula and pressed tightly against the base. Excess glue is removed immediately with a dry soft cloth.

The result should be a flat and smooth surface with almost imperceptible seams. After that, the countertop is left to dry completely. It is not recommended to use a hair dryer and other heating devices for drying. It usually takes about 24 hours to dry.

Mosaic is an interesting and original design move that dilutes the interior with symmetrical patterns.

This finishing method can be used in the bathroom, in the kitchen and even in the dining area of the house.

Mosaic will look great not only on the walls or floor, but also on the countertop. In this tutorial, we will show you how to make a mosaic table with your own hands.

Such a table will look good at home or in the garden, creating an interesting accent and emphasizing the delicate taste of the owner. In addition, the cost of a homemade table is much lower than the purchased one.

Instruments

Transparent glue. Needed to give additional strength to the finished mosaic pattern and fix the corners. The adhesive should be moderately thick to prevent it from spreading over the surface.
Ruler. A forty-centimeter hoarfrost is necessary for marking countertops. The main guide elements of the drawing are then laid out along these lines. For marking large countertops, you can use a regular tape measure.
Simple pencil. Needed for marking lines. A soft lead is best suited for these purposes. It will require frequent sharpening, but will leave clearer marks on the surface.
Rubber spatula. It is used to evenly distribute the grout over the entire surface. The rubber spatula will not damage the mosaic tiles and will not leave scratches.
Foam sponge. It will help to get rid of excess grout and clean the surface of the mosaic panel. You can replace with a regular rag, but it is more convenient to work with a sponge.

materials

If you do not have experience laying out a table with a mosaic, it is better to choose a model with a square top. It is easiest to place a symmetrical pattern on it.

We also need waterproof chipboard, we use it as the basis for the future picture. Of course, you can glue the mosaic directly on the table, but its surface may not be smooth enough for good adhesion to the tile.

And finally the mosaic itself. In the classic version, individual pieces are applied to the glue in turn, but it is much more convenient to work with tiles already assembled into a square on a self-adhesive basis. They can be glued with the whole array, or they can be separated in small pieces.

Assembly

We mark the chipboard panel with a ruler and a pencil. Marking lines will help us not to go astray when drawing up a drawing and indicate the direction for the main parts of the pattern. Divide the model into equal sectors, observing symmetry.
Attach the chipboard to the tabletop with glue. Glue the panel thoroughly, it should fit snugly against the countertop.
Separate the mosaic tiles from the common array without removing the protective film from the adhesive side. Repeat the selected pattern by laying it on the marked panel. Carefully lay out the mosaic, remember to maintain symmetry. At this stage, you can experiment, but by the time you land on the glue, you should be sure of the drawing.
Having achieved the desired pattern, begin to carefully lay out the tiles. Do not disassemble the pattern completely, carefully remove one tile and put it on the glue. Then repeat the procedure with the next one and so on until you reach the end of the pattern. This is the easiest way not to spoil the composition. Refer to the drawn lines and try to make the seams as narrow as possible.
Having drawn up the drawing, forget to glue unreliable seams and corner elements. In these places, the panel may fall apart, so pay special attention to the quality of gluing. The glue should not stand out strongly or create sagging.
After waiting for the glue to dry, apply grout to the mosaic. This is the final stage, after which the mosaic is firmly fixed on the countertop. The grout should be spread evenly over the entire surface with a rubber spatula.
Remove excess grout with a damp sponge. It is better to do this immediately after application, without waiting for the solution to solidify.

Labor and cost

One square meter of self-adhesive mosaic costs about 5,000 rubles. The price depends on the supplier and the manufacturer. A chipboard panel of a narrow size will cost 100 rubles. Transparent glue within 200 rubles. 250 grams of mosaic grout cost 230 rubles.

Marking the panel and applying the mosaic to the non is a rather painstaking process. With no experience, you can spend three to four hours on this. Subsequent processing with glue and grout should not cause any particular difficulties and will take a total of about an hour.

Mosaic is one of the oldest ways to decorate a room. Traditionally, the material is used to decorate walls and floors, less often pictures are laid out from it. The range of application of technology has expanded significantly over time, and mosaic tiles have recently been often used for pasting tables. It is worth noting that making a tabletop with your own hands is not difficult, it requires minimal skills and a lot of patience.

There are a fairly large number of varieties of mosaics. The most common are the following:

glass;
Ceramic;
Stone;
metal;
Wooden;
Ceramic granite.

The most optimal option, according to experts, is a combination of colored glass with flexible tiles. Flexible tiles are products made from crumbs processed to a certain texture of brick or stone.

Benefits of flexible tiles:

moisture resistance;
Long service life;
Mechanical strength;
Frost resistance;
Resistance to aggressive environments;
Color retention under the influence of moisture and sunlight.

The spectacular artistic image of the mosaic is provided due to the aesthetics and ease of installation, the material is ideal for pasting the tabletop with mosaics with your own hands.

Mosaic countertop features

You can buy a new countertop at a hardware store. Also, a board made of polyurethane foam of different thicknesses can be installed as it.

To simplify measurement and cutting, a centimeter grid is sometimes applied to the board.

How to decorate a countertop with a mosaic

There are three main ways to make a tabletop with your own hands:

First way:

Stage 1. A countertop is cut out of the plate in accordance with the dimensions, and its edge of their profile is also prepared. The edge with the perforated part up is placed on the edge of the board;
Stage 2. The selected adhesive is applied to the surface and leveled with a notched trowel, the adhesive must also be applied to the upper edge of the profile;
Stage 3. The upper perforated profile is laid on the adhesive, which forms the edge of the tabletop;
Stage 4. After the glue dries, a tile cut in advance in the form of squares is laid on the surface. The same glue can be used as a sealant, a small part of it is rubbed on the surface of the countertop, so the joints are grouted;
Stage 5 Excess dried glue can be wiped off with a damp cloth.

The finished tabletop is polished to a shine with a soft cloth, no additional coating is required, it is only necessary to observe the conditions for the care and operation of mosaic surfaces.

Second way:

If do-it-yourself tabletop decor does not involve complex artistic compositions, it is recommended to use the method of transferring drawings from paper to the tabletop.

Stage 1. The mosaic sheet is neatly placed on a pre-prepared adhesive base, the paper layer should be at the top;
Stage 2. The paper is gently blotted with a damp cloth until it begins to easily separate from the surface of the mosaic;
Stage 3. Remains of paper are removed without unnecessary effort, which can provoke a shift in the position of the elements;
Stage 4. After removing the paper base, the drawing must be left for a day, after which the joints are grouted;
Stage 5. Excess grout is removed with a damp cloth.

Third way:

This method is considered the simplest, it involves laying the mosaic using a grid.

Stage 1. The mesh base is immersed in the adhesive solution, this must be done so that all its parts are evenly immersed to the same depth;
Stage 2. The drawing freezes for a day, after which the grout is applied;
Stage 3. To remove excess traces of grout that cannot be removed with a sponge or a damp cloth, it is recommended to use light solvents (such as White Spirit). Solvents should be used one week after completion of work;

Do-it-yourself mosaic laying in the kitchen (video)

Examples of mosaic countertops in the kitchen (photo)

To create a mood not only for work, but also for relaxation, in a house or in a garden, beautiful furnishings are a must. They can be not only purchased, but also homemade. I'll tell you how I decorated a simple countertop with a colored mosaic.

What do you need

Materials and tools. Table with removable glass top, waterproof adhesive, tile grout a tone lighter than the mosaic or a neutral color (beige, gray, etc.), special disk mosaic cutters or a similar tool for ceramic tiles, rubber or latex gloves.

Mosaic. The best and budget option is a mosaic from building supermarkets for finishing bathrooms. It can be bought in separate sheets, choosing the right colors.

It is better that it has a thickness of no more than 4 mm, since the thicker one does not prick well. A stone and glass mosaic was purchased for my table. The stone as the base of the countertop looks perfect: it is pleasant to the touch, warm and does not have very sharp corners. Against its background, the glass begins to favorably play with color.

Photo: From the personal archive / Julia Korsakova

Training

If the countertop is old, you need to clean and level its surface, if necessary, degrease it with alcohol. Then choose a pattern for the table. I settled on a simple pattern of repeating circles with alternating colors. I separated the mosaic from the grid and tried to beautifully lay out the elements on the surface in such a way that not too many pieces had to be split apart.

Manufacturing

After the final version was formed, I put on gloves and, smearing each element with glue, fixed the mosaic on the table top. True, next time, for a greater density of the picture, I would fill the middle not with circles, but with horizontal rows.

After gluing the mosaic, I left it for a day to fix. Then she took the grout, spread it exactly according to the instructions and applied it to the surface with a gloved hand, without missing a millimeter. The rest of the grout was set aside for a while. I waited 30-40 minutes to dry (the exact time is indicated on the package) and wiped off everything superfluous with a damp sponge. All detected bubbles or cavities were covered with grout with a finger. After the mixture dried, we set the table top on the base and immediately set up a new table for tea drinking.

Julia Korsakova, Ivanovo