How to Decorate a Ceiling with Tile

"Because they encounter virtually no daily wear and tear, ceilings can be designed with priority and focus given to style rather than function.", according to Susan Jablon Mosaics, who offers the service of decorating ceilings with tiles. (reference 1) If you are not a professional, care must be taken if attempting this in your home, especially if using heavier ceramic tiles

Items Needed:
Measuring tape
Graph paper
Ruler
Pencil
Tiles
Soap & Water
Tile cutter
Thinset cement
Poles (the height from floor to ceiling)
Grout
Trowel
Sponge
Water

Preparing to Tile
1. Measure your ceiling, making note of any light fixtures or fans and mark the size down on graph paper. For this project, use each square to equal one foot of space, as the standard size of most floor tiles are 12 x 12 inches. (Make adjustments as necessary for the type that you have.)

2. Layout your desired design from the center of the room on the paper. Make notes of any cuts that you will have to make around fixtures, in corners or at the edges of the walls

3. Wash your ceiling with soap and water to ensure a clean starting surface. Allow to dry throughly while gathering all of your supplies together.

4. Pre-cut as many of the pieces as possible before beginning and lay them out in the order that you will need them. Have extra tiles on hand in case of mistakes or a change in artistic direction once you see the design coming together.

Tiling Your Ceiling
1. Apply a layer of thinset cement in a small working area, starting at the center of the design. Place your tiles in securely and hold in place with long poles if needed until they are set. (If doing a mosaic, the smaller pieces should stay in place easily.)

2. Work your way towards the edges of the room slowly, frequently stepping back to check out your process. Make adjustments to your design as needed, as a pattern can look a lot different on a ceiling than it does on paper.

3. Remove any poles holding up the tiles to ensure that they adhered to the ceiling securely. Reset any that seem to be loose, even in the slightest, to avoid mishaps later.

Tips:
Enlist the help of an extra person to make cuts, hand you supplies and generally help with this project to make it go faster and easier.

Another option would be to buy peel and stick laminate tiles that have the appearance of the real thing for decorating a ceiling with.

Reference:
Susan Jablon Mosaics: Glass Mosaic Tile Ceilings