How to Create a Tile Mosaic

Many of the more expensive homes have mosaic or specialty tile in their bathroom, and pay thousands of dollars for this luxurious look. But there are some very simple steps you can take that will let you create your own unique vine that climbs the bathroom wall. Best of all, it only takes a few hours, requires very little artistic ability, and can be finished for under $20.

First, you'll need to choose your tile and grout. I recommend using a grout that is in a small container, premixed, and also serves as an adhesive. These are the easiest for this type of project, and don't require a lot of extra work that would be necessary with other types of grout. When choosing your tile, try to find very miniature tiles that are either 5/8" or 1" squares. These will be the easiest to work with, and look the best for this project. Often, they will be on a mesh backing, and consist of glass and stone mix.

Next, you'll need to decide on your design. I've chosen a green colored vine for my bathroom wall. I surfed the internet until I found something that I thought would be very pretty, and printed it out to use as a guide. Next, I took the tile and laid it on the floor very close to where I would be doing the project. Cut each row into strips, and then snip the sides of the mesh so that you can bend the lines to create whatever curves you want. Using the design you printed out as a guide, recreate your design on the floor on a larger scale. You are only laying it out at this point so that you can get a rough idea of how it will look, and adjust it before gluing it to the wall. I found that I only needed half the tile sheet to complete the look I had in mind.

Next, get a credit card to spread the grout onto the back. Remove the mesh backing completely, and work one strip at a time. Start with the main "branch" of your vine, and apply one tile at a time, curving it in a similar way to how it was on the floor. Then, go back and add the secondary branches, again curving them. If you work on only one tile at a time, and you get close to where you wanted it to be, you can adjust the tiles if you make a slight mistake.

Once your vine is completely in place, you will need to grout it in the spaces in between. You can do this with a q-tip, or use the credit card once again. Apply just a little, and smash it well into the cracks in between the tiles. Wipe any excess off the sides, making sure to keep the walls to the side clean.

There are a few things to note before you start this project. First, the tile will stick out from the wall and accumulate dust. This isn't really any more serious than trim woodwork in a bathroom that would need dusted. Second, many people will tell you that you shouldn't apply tile to the wall without proper wall board. This is true, however you are not exactly applying tile in the same way you might do a kitchen backsplash. You are making a decorative area, and if one pops out, you will have plenty of grout left to reattach it. Third, if you try and remove it, there's a very good chance you will damage the wall behind it, so be forewarned. And fourth, if you ever need to paint, it will be incredibly difficult to paint around because of the curves.

This project took me less than 2 hours from start to finish, and cost approximately $17. I also have enough tile and grout left over that I could do another one that's exactly the same size (about 4' tall and 1' wide). All in all, it added a very unique look to my home, and I've received quite a few compliments on it.