The Timeless Beauty of Bathrooms with Mosaic Tiles
There is no mistaking the innate elegance and bespoke charm of bathrooms with mosaic tiles. The beauty of mosaic tiling is undeniable, but it turns out that these tiles are also highly practical and versatile.
The trend in ever more sophisticated bathroom décor is showing no signs of slowing down. Nowadays, we think about the bathroom as a space to be decorated in the same way as a living room, kitchen or any other habitable room. Bathrooms with mosaic tiles provide an opportunity to go beyond the cookie-cutter look of conventional bathrooms. Mosaics add colour, texture and pattern that help soften the more utilitarian aspects of modern bathrooms. Whatever your decorative preferences, mosaic bathroom tiles are the ideal way to express your creativity. Read on to learn more about this timeless appeal and the practical advantages of bathrooms with mosaic tiles.
Kronos Silver 21.3×35.1 cm
What are Mosaic Tiles?
Mosaics are made from small individual tiles organised into a pattern or design. We can create tiled mosaics from a variety of materials, including glass, natural stone, porcelain and even metal. Since time immemorial, mosaic tiles have adorned spaces associated with water, including pools, spas and fountains. There is a classic quality to the bathroom with mosaic tiles that is in more demand today than ever before. Nowadays, mosaic tiles are mounted on a backing mesh that makes life a lot easier. Contemporary mosaic tiles are typically organised into geometric, random or figurative panels that create a customised aesthetic to suit individual bathroom spaces.
Why Use Mosaic Tiles in Bathrooms?
The bathroom is unlike any other room in the home. Bathroom finishes are exposed to more intensive use than anywhere else and therefore need to be resilient and hard-wearing. Equally, nowadays we want our bathrooms to be attractive. Bathrooms with mosaic tiles are more flexible and easier to customise. But they also have several practical advantages over other materials.
- Mosaics are ideal for covering complex curves that depart from the standard flat surfaces of walls and floors. That includes curved edges and coving.
- Thanks to their smaller size dimensions, mosaic floor tiles are much easier to cut and work around sanitary fittings, pipework and other bathroom artefacts.
- Mosaic tiles offer all the same advantages of porcelain; they are non-porous and are resistant to exposure to bathroom humidity.
- Floor drainage in wet rooms and shower trays is much more seamless with mosaic tiles because they adapt to any angle to fit the floor outlet.
- Mosaic tile bathroom flooring is safer thanks to its anti-slip properties. The additional grouting and the surface texture of the mosaic tiles provide extra grip under foot.
Different Materials for Bathroom Mosaics
Depending on the style of your bathroom, one (or more) of the following materials will be more suitable. From the classic choice of ceramic and porcelain to the more avant-garde use of timber or metal, these mosaics add an artistic flourish to bathroom décor. Mosaics provide a somewhat irregular finish with a characterful texture that draws the eye. Mosaic tiles in bathroom décor are the ideal way to add a personal stamp to a very personal space.
1. Glass
The pristine surfaces of glass mosaics convert the bathroom into a gleaming ambience of sparkling reflections. Manufactured from vitreous glass, the mosaics come in an extensive range of formats and colours. Available in matt or gloss finish, glass has an almost zero water absorption, which explains why glass mosaic is a classic option for bathroom décor.
Glass mosaic can be used on bathroom floors or walls, but is more commonly used on walls.
2. Metal
The sheen of polished metal or the gravitas of the matt metallic finish brings bathroom décor into the modern era. Different metals can provide contrasting effects, ranging from the warmth of rose gold copper tones to the more clinical stainless steel. Metal mosaics provide a guaranteed ‘wow’ factor and combine beautifully with plain or other decorative wall tiles.
3. Timber
Although timber is not suitable for wet areas such as shower enclosures, it can add a distinctive quality to bathroom décor. Organic timber finishes dampen bathroom noise transmission and warm the space. Similarly, the texture of raw timber contrasts beautifully with sanitary ware and other bathroom tiling materials.
4. Stone
Stone is one of the oldest and most versatile mosaic materials. From the raw organic quality of pebble flooring to the sophistication of marble mosaic wall tiles. Stone is a monolithic material, which means it can be rough or smooth; either way, there is no mistaking the tactile quality of stone.
Stone mosaic tiles are equally suited to bathroom floors and walls thanks to their properties.
5. Ceramic & Porcelain
Still, the go-to materials for creating eye-catching bathrooms with mosaic tiles. Either option provides an unmatched range of colours, formats and designs that provide freedom to be creative in the bathroom. Both ceramic and porcelain are highly durable and offer optimum water resistance.
Ceramic is more suitable for wall mosaics, while stoneware and porcelain are more durable and, therefore, appropriate to bathroom floor mosaics.
Paradise Lake Stone Cremas 30×30 cm
Where to feature mosaic bathroom tiles
Bathroom mosaics are surprisingly versatile. From floor mosaics with anti-slip properties to artistic wall mosaics, these tiles provide unique decorative possibilities. Given the fact that bathrooms are the most personal spaces in our homes, it’s no wonder that we want to put our individual stamp on the décor. Whether you prefer to use bathroom mosaic tiles sparingly or more extensively, the following ideas will provide a source of inspiration:
1. Shower Enclosure
Make a design statement with a shower enclosure using a luxurious mosaic tile finish. Create a contrast with a separate area of tiling to convert the shower into a feature. Even a minimum area of shower tray tiling can draw the eye and help define zones within the bathroom décor.
2. Feature Wall
Typically, the area behind the vanity unit is the most visible part of any family bathroom or ensuite. Mosaic tiles will help protect the wall area behind from splashes and humidity, as well as providing a decorative feature. This area is a great way to experiment with mosaic tiles without going over the top.
3. Accents & Borders
Instead of confining mosaic tiles to just one feature wall, spread them around. Mosaic tiles are an ideal complement to plain tiles and add a decorative detail that can elevate even a simple bathroom décor. Add mosaics as a perimeter border tile or as a surround detail to frame a bathroom mirror.
4. Bathroom Ceilings
Add mosaic tiles to the bathroom ceiling for extra drama. A coved or vaulted ceiling over a bathtub or shower enclosure finished in mosaic tiles makes a powerful architectural statement. But even a conventional flat ceiling is elevated with the use of mosaic tiling.
Mosaic Bathroom Floor Tiles
Mosaic tiling on bathroom flooring elevates the overall décor. As well as their anti-slip properties, mosaics also offer an opportunity to decorate one of the bathroom’s largest surfaces. The traditional penny flooring was ubiquitous in Victorian-era bathrooms and is still popular today. That look can be recreated with different materials, including natural stone as well as porcelain and ceramic. You can readily customise mosaic floor tiles to create perimeter borders or an area that mimics a rug in front of a vanity unit or freestanding bath. Choose between simple geometric motifs or more elaborate floral or figurative compositions.
Note: Take care with laying mosaic floor tiles; there should be no difference in level and no awkward junctions between the mesh-backed panels. Always use a professional tile installer for specialist tiling installations such as mosaics.
Discover Tile Mosaics for Bathrooms
The beauty of mosaic tiles as bathroom tiles is undeniable. There is a timeless quality to mosaics that still resonates after thousands of years of history. We have shown how mosaics are one of the most effective ways to personalise bathroom spaces. To see the full range and potential of mosaic bathroom tile options, we recommend visiting your nearest Porcelanosa showroom. Otherwise, drop us a line with any queries regarding the contents of this article, and we will get back to you.
