The floor is made of chipped tiles. Broken Tile Mosaic - How to Make Beautiful Garden Paths. From eggshell

Complete home renovations original mosaic Anyone can make broken tiles, especially if you become familiar with the basics of the work. Lay out a colored pattern from the remnants of the tiles, adding fragments of other decorative materials- one of the simplest methods of creating an original panel in the bathroom, kitchen or garden design. This painstaking work is not very popular, but hand-made panels in the interior will never go out of fashion.

What materials can be used for mosaic cladding?

An original do-it-yourself tile mosaic provides enormous opportunities for the expression of imagination, especially when there is material and good ideas. In childhood, many tried to master the method of drawing by cells, when the grid on the portrait reproduces the sketch, enlarging the layout several times. Using the same method, you can reproduce any scene or portrait on the wall in one of the rooms - Viktor Tsoi, Marilyn Monroe, “the mask of a stranger,” birds, an aquarium. Good examples- mosaic from broken tiles photo.

Getting the job done is not as difficult as it seems, and if you hire a specialist, it will be expensive. None of the guests will be able to distinguish the step-by-step drawing from the artist’s work. It will take more time than the master’s workflow, but it is a pleasant creative experience, and it’s nice to post your work on social networks. If you manage to master the technique of laying a mosaic from broken ceramic tiles, this can become both an exciting hobby and additional income.

Mosaic panels - execution of thematic or abstract compositions from different elements. Each drawing is unique because it is made up of fragments whose color and shape cannot be repeated. The mosaic may consist of:

  • equal pieces of the same shape (circle, square, triangle, 6-sided);
  • fragments of arbitrary shape;
  • combinations of pieces of different sizes and shapes.

Construction supermarkets throw away broken tiles, ceramic tiles and other finishing materials or sold as recyclables, and can be purchased at a reasonable price. For those who are interested in how to lay a mosaic from broken tiles, it is important to know that they are suitable for these purposes various materials. This:

  • broken colored glass;
  • pieces of mirror and bottle glass;
  • fragments of porcelain tableware;
  • thin cuts of wood;
  • polished fragments of colored glass and mother-of-pearl shells collected on the seashore;
  • original shells;
  • smooth colored pebbles;
  • pieces of gems;
  • large smooth buttons, etc.

Tip: When laying out a colored pattern, there are not always pieces the desired shape and size - they can be plucked off with pliers from a large fragment or cut evenly with a tile cutter. While doing this work, protect your face from splinters and dust! When starting work, protect your eyes with safety glasses and your nose and mouth with a household respirator. Wear a robe and gloves to avoid cutting yourself from the edge of a splinter. It is important that no casual spectators are present during this process - sharp fragments of chipped tiles can injure them.

Where can I lay out a mosaic panel?

Mosaic made from special tiles like smalt is an expensive pleasure, and it is also used for interior decoration. However, the most budget option will be a self-made mosaic made from broken tiles. This finish is widely used:

  • on the floor - in the bathroom, hallway, kitchen or pool;
  • on any surfaces intended for washing;
  • on countertops and ceramic flowerpots;
  • for garden buildings;
  • on the sides of a bench or bench made with your own hands;
  • inside an old bathroom designed to look like a swimming pool with a “sea bottom”.

If you're looking for finished pieces that inspire, look for views of Barcelona. The great Spanish architect Gaudi left to his descendants many talented examples of mosaic panels. But gifted contemporaries also left us many artistic paintings:

  • at the ends of multi-storey buildings;
  • in finishing of swimming pools;
  • as decoration kitchen premises and bathrooms;
  • monumental paintings in the foyer and cladding of public buildings;
  • for decoration of shops, offices, clinics and sanatoriums.

This universal method decorative finishing today you can try it at home country house or at the dacha, in a city apartment or at the entrance. A bench in the courtyard decorated with a mosaic of broken tiles withstands frost and rain well, it will not lose its original appearance for years, and the material can be collected from apartment to apartment for free. You can familiarize yourself with the basics of mosaics made from broken tiles - a video where all stages of the work are described in detail.

Where to start laying out a mosaic image

Mosaic canvases are not only an exciting creative process, but also original way savings. Against the backdrop of a stable rise in price building materials there is an opportunity to show resourcefulness by collecting elements for a picturesque panel from scrap materials. Shards of broken colored tiles helped Gaudi not only discover new facets of his talent, but also create famous masterpieces in Park Guell!

There are several options for choosing a theme for a panel:

1. Try to see your theme in the colored fragments and color scheme, then add some missing material.

2. Choose a ready-made mosaic pattern from broken tiles, based on personal preferences.

3. It is better to create a mosaic from broken tiles according to your own sketch, but based on familiarization with highly artistic samples.

4. The picture that inspired you can decide to recreate it in mosaic version using image magnification.

5. Try to repeat the finished mosaic masterpiece with your own color scheme.

6. Review offers for the sale of ready-made mosaic tiles, and choose the material that impressed you the most.

7. Using ready-made broken material, lay it out on any smooth surface an abstract drawing that your imagination will suggest.

It is important to have an understanding of artistic principles:

  • symmetrical canvases are more difficult to lay out, but they are better perceived;
  • in asymmetry, a larger fragment is placed on the left, and the right-side placement of large fragments makes the image heavier;
  • when laying out recognizable outlines and portraits without a stencil, it is important to maintain proportions;
  • If you don’t have artistic taste and creative experience, it’s better not to experiment on a prepared surface, but to use a good sketch.

Fragments of broken tiles are also laid in the form of abstract paintings, using color contrasts. But abstraction is also built on the principle:

  • beautiful combinations of shades;
  • smooth color transitions;
  • contrasting options.

However, large natural elements look most impressive in mosaic canvases:

  • birds and animals or their fantasy images;
  • flowers - sunflowers, daffodils, poppies, irises;
  • fish - aquarium, sea or animated;
  • portrait elements - the profile of a girl in a hat, a carnival mask, a languid look, recognizable images;
  • landscapes - schematic or highly artistic.

Before you start laying out the mosaic canvas on your permanent place, try to work out the layout on another surface, for example, on the floor or table. It is important to measure the size finished work with the surface where the mosaic will be. Try to imagine the finished result with grout between the fragments; you may need to add pigment of the desired shade to it for a continuous pattern. Black filler between large pieces of colored broken tiles will resemble stained glass, and white filler will give cleanliness and freshness.

In the drawing of the future work, it is better to think through all the options in advance so as not to regret the haste - redoing the mosaic is extremely difficult. If it is difficult to create a mosaic with a recognizable image, then it is better to start with a simple abstract composition.

Tip: When choosing pieces of tiles, it is important to sort them - higher quality pieces will be suitable for central elements and semantic accents, the rest of the battle goes to the edges. Face-cut, chipped and defective pieces with cracks in the enamel are suitable for edges and chipping off missing pieces (filling voids). For mosaic tiles, the dimensions can be adjusted using nippers. When the finished panel is dry, refresh it with a glass cleaner and wipe with a fluffy rag.

Preparing surfaces for work

Mosaics are laid out on the wall in different ways:

  • on the prepared wall, coating each fragment with glue and securing it to the reinforcing building mesh;
  • lay out the main part of the mosaic on a grid and secure the finished pattern to a plane;
  • It is important to prepare a rounded wall, transfer the mosaic fragmentarily from the preliminary layout, otherwise the pattern will warp and some of the tile fragments will fall off.

1. Before applying markings for the mosaic sketch, clean the wall from any remaining wallpaper, peeling paint, cement dust, and small particles.

2. Wipe the cleaned surface with a damp, clean sponge and let it dry.

3. Fill everything out starting putty, apply a small layer to the entire surface under the mosaic panel, cover with a reinforcing mesh, and apply pieces of tiles onto it.

4. Mosaic fragments are well attached to flat plane, if the design is initially laid out on a mesh, it is applied to a perfectly plastered surface.

5. When transferring tiles, it is better to use 2 stencils - on one the primary layout of the panel will be done, and on the second we apply markings on the wall or other plane. The most convenient way is with chalk or marker. Do not be afraid that the lines will be visible; they will subsequently be filled with a special solution - grout.

Tip: When laying scraps and fragments of tiles, protect your hands with gloves from small cuts from sharp edges. The tile adheres well only when optimal temperature- within +5°С - +30°С.

Tile mortar

Solution for working with ceramic and tiles Available in every hardware store. Give preference to light shades - it’s easier to evaluate preliminary results.

For cullet, use a light or transparent solution; it will be visible under the fragments. In some cases, a little foil is placed under each piece of colored glass to make the mosaic sparkle like precious stones.

The finished solution is applied to the wall with a small spatula from a corner or central area, where it is more convenient to lay out the panels. Each fragment is pressed a little into the solution so that it adheres well.

Tip: It is best to attach the lining from below, and the finished areas should be allowed to dry before the next step. It is convenient to lay out pieces of the same color using a stencil pattern, for example, a sunflower petal. On a small panel, the solution will successfully replace “liquid nails”.

Curved pattern

Mosaic pattern from broken ceramic tiles - perfect option where there should be a curved washable surface that cannot be laid with ordinary tiles. It is good to attach small fragments along a grid with regular glue, and fill the gap with grout or finishing plaster.

This method is suitable for rounded and streamlined surfaces in the bathroom and pool, in the hallway and kitchen. Looks good:

  • posted in oriental style mosaic washbasin;
  • the outer side of the bath and the inner side of the pool;
  • round niches for small figurines.

Surfaces flowing into one another look beautiful in a bathroom, sauna or swimming pool - from the floor to the walls and outside tanks, as in the photo. The greenhouse looks picturesque, the loggia under winter Garden with rounded multi-level terraces for plants, lined with mosaics of broken tiles, shells and stones.

Technology of laying out a mosaic pattern

To master the features of laying mosaics, it is important to carefully study the master class on tiles made from broken pieces. For this you will need:

  • chipped remains of porcelain stoneware, ceramic tiles, and other facing and natural materials;
  • set of spatulas;
  • scissors for cutting the mesh and the mesh itself;
  • equipment and utensils for semi-preparing the adhesive composition;
  • grout for joints - in the color of the tile or contrasting;
  • nippers and tile cutters;
  • any tile adhesive light color, better special transparent or super-cement;
  • Suitable for laying mosaics on the floor cement mortar.

General rules:

1. It is convenient to lay out the pattern from the central semantic fragment, gradually covering new areas.

2. First, the installation of the main figures is completed, then the background and background of the composition. If a lot of mortar or glue has come out here and there, it is important to carefully remove it from the front side of each element; you can leave it in the gaps.

3. At the final stage, the pattern is left to dry for a day. Then wipe the mosaic with a damp sponge to remove excess composition.

4. The final stage is grouting the mosaic canvas or filling the gaps. Special grout for tiles can be purchased at a construction supermarket or made from dry finishing putty. If you do it yourself, prepare the batch for small sections, working through each fragment.

5. If necessary, add pigment to the grout to match the mosaic tone.

6. After about 20 minutes, the grout will set and darken slightly - you can remove the excess from the tile pieces with a damp sponge.

7. When the mosaic is completed, treat with glass cleaner and wipe dry thoroughly.

Tip: When the mosaic fabric is laid out on pieces of mesh in fragments, it is important to remove excess edges so that they do not overlap. It is better to immediately cut out individual fragments using templates and lay out individual sections according to the sketch.

Mosaics for outdoor use can be laid on cement mortar with the addition of glue:

  • decorating fences;
  • bench base;
  • garden paths;
  • barbecue walls;
  • fountains;
  • multi-level flower beds.

After the cement base has set a little, they begin to decorate it with mosaics. Do not forget to level horizontal surfaces with a building level, and vertical surfaces with a plumb line.

Caring for mosaics is simple:

  • do not use abrasive cleaning compounds, acidic substances and oily substances that damage the grout;
  • contaminated areas of the mosaic in the kitchen can be lightly cleaned with a soft brush and soapy water;
  • after any cleaning agent, wipe the panel with a damp sponge, then dry;
  • external surfaces and garden decor can be processed clean water from a hose, but the stream should not be strong so as not to destroy the integrity of the composition.

Broken ceramic tiles are easy for some unnecessary waste, but for creative people it can become a means of implementing an original design solution or a cute craft. A mosaic made from tiles divided into fragments can create an extraordinary, exquisite decoration in any part of the interior and exterior.

Do not delude yourself - the tile mosaic presented in this photo is produced in an industrial version, here you see the edges being completely filled with enamel and other subtleties ceramic production tiles The cost of such mosaics is often very high, but you can make perfect things and at the same time spend a minimum of money. Next, we will reveal the secrets of mosaics made from home-made ceramics

There are many examples of what can be made from broken ceramic tiles, for example:

  • finishing of such interior items as flower pots, vases, watch dials, picture or photograph frames;
  • garden paths made of broken tiles;
  • decoration of furniture (bathtubs, countertops, etc.);
  • cladding of swimming pools, fireplaces and stoves;
  • laying broken tiles on the floor and walls;
  • how to create a panel individual element decor or as part of the overall surface finishing composition.

And these are not all the options where you can use broken tiles; ideas for this are presented in numerous photos on the Internet.

In crafts made from broken tiles with your own hands, you can include auxiliary elements: shells, stones, large beads and others

Basic moments

The process of decorating with tile mosaics opens up a lot of scope for creativity and involves countless ideas for decoration. You can create interesting designs from broken ceramic tiles using this pattern. A chaotic arrangement of pieces of different sizes and colors will look no less impressive. In the first case, you can use: ready-made diagrams, and create an ornament from broken tiles yourself. In the second, you can forget about strictly following the graphic plan and tune in to improvisation, the result of which can be a pleasant surprise.


The use of broken ceramic tiles usually involves the presence of elements not only of different shapes, but also of color and texture. This type of mosaic produces the brightest and most expressive patterns. When creating decor according to a scheme, you need to take care of the presence of fragments of certain shades and their relationships.

Worth knowing!

A mosaic of broken tiles glued to special sheets is more convenient in terms of installation, but it will not be possible to lay out such intricate patterns as from fragments, which can easily be matched to any curved lines and smooth transitions.

Effective surface design can also be achieved with the help of a monochromatic design. For example, lay out paths in the country house, create an interesting pattern from broken ceramic tiles and whole tiles of the same color, or finish any other desired area.

Installation features

The principle by which a tile mosaic is laid with your own hands (diagrams and drawings for this you can come up with yourself or contact specialists) is similar to finishing with ordinary ceramic tiles, only the process is more painstaking and requires the use of imagination.

Finishing with broken tiles involves sequential implementation of the following points:

  1. Drawing a sketch.
  2. Preparation of material.
  3. Surface treatment for cladding.
  4. Preparation of the fixing solution.
  5. Laying out fragments.
  6. Grout.
  7. Polishing.

During the first stage, a diagram is drawn up for the desired pattern, according to which a mosaic will be laid out from tile scraps with your own hands. This point is especially important for performing complex drawings. The resulting sketch can be applied directly to the cladding area, or can be left on a sheet of paper or in an electronic version.



Elite smalt or gilded mosaic of broken ceramic tiles is perhaps more impressive, but its price is much higher. And broken tiles can be obtained for free or at a minimal cost. Just contact the nearest construction stores or ask your friends.

Sometimes, even before performing an improvised pattern, it is advisable to think in advance good combination shades.

When you can't find ready material, create a mosaic from broken tiles with your own hands.

There are several ways to do this:

  1. Cutting out the required pieces using a tile cutter? the elements are smooth and neat, but a special tool is required.
  2. Separating parts with wire cutters? suggests some restrictions on the shape of the mosaic.
  3. Breaking fabric-wrapped tiles with a hammer? provides a faster result, and mosaics from broken ceramic tiles are obtained in different shapes. It is advisable not to overdo it with the impact force so as not to turn the material into small crumbs.

A mosaic made from the remains of tiles is laid out with your own hands on a surface that has been cleaned of wallpaper, dirt and covered with putty. Paths made of broken ceramic tiles require more complex training foundation, which involves digging a shallow trench and filling it with sand.

Before covering the stove with a mosaic of broken tiles, it is worth sanding the surface of the bricks and clearing the seams between them to a depth of 3 mm.


Glue or mineral mixtures are best used as a fixing solution. white. If the composition requires preparation or dilution in water, then it is better to do this in small portions, since it is also applied to the surface in parts.

Finishing with broken ceramic tiles is done on a surface coated with an adhesive solution. Elements, as a rule, are not laid closely, but with small gaps, which are subsequently treated with grout.

The final polishing stage gives a spectacular appearance mosaic pattern. But it is not recommended to subject floors made of broken tiles to this procedure in order to avoid the risk of increased slipping.

To create a cozy and comfortable atmosphere in your home, you need to worry about original interior decorations in advance. Mosaics on walls or floors made from pieces of broken tiles are one of them. This article will tell you about the features of using this material, and will also reveal the secrets of specialists in applying patterns from small pieces of ceramics to work surface.

Features of using broken tile mosaics

- one of the popular decorative ornaments. It is used during:

  • arrangement of walls and floors in an apartment or private house;
  • facade decoration various buildings and structures;
  • improvement of garden paths and swimming pools.

Broken tile composition

Unusual and original patterns are made from various materials, the simplest and most affordable of them is broken tiles. It is very often used when decorating bathrooms or kitchens; it fits harmoniously into the interior and complements it.

Every homeowner is capable of laying out beautiful mosaics in their home. In order for the work to be completed competently and efficiently, it is necessary to study all the intricacies of this process. In this article you can find secrets experienced craftsmen that they use in everyday life, as well as technology correct installation DIY mosaics.

Important! Creating a mosaic is a very complex and painstaking work; its implementation must be taken responsibly and seriously.

Advantages and disadvantages of decorative interior decorations

Tile mosaic has many advantages over other decorative decorations. Thanks to them, original ceramic patterns have been popular for a long period. The main advantages of broken tile mosaics:

  • long service life;
  • practicality;

Decorating countertops in the bathroom with mosaics

  • efficiency;
  • the ability to create a variety of original paintings and ornaments (it all depends on the imagination and talent of the master);
  • harmonious combination with the interior.

In addition to the advantages, there are also disadvantages. Among them are:

  • the need to comply with the technological process (otherwise the mosaic may lose its presentable appearance);
  • large time costs, since the work is very painstaking.

Preparing to create a mosaic with your own hands

Creating a mosaic is an interesting but responsible job. It requires special attention, talent, as well as perseverance and endurance from the master. To make it yourself, you need to follow several successive steps.

Fragments of tiles prepared for creating ornamental patterns

  • Search and purchase of materials for mosaics

The technological process of creating a mosaic consists of several successive stages, the search and preparation of tiles is the very first of them. Required material You can buy it in a store (broken or damaged tiles, which are useful in your work, are often sold at cheap prices or given away completely free of charge) or taken from friends, relatives and acquaintances.

Advice. Both very small pieces of tiles and whole products are suitable for work (in the future they will still be crushed).

  • Creating a sketch, examples of drawing ideas for the kitchen and bathroom

Before you start creating a mosaic, you need to make a sketch of it. It will significantly facilitate the work of the master and help avoid unnecessary waste of time, which is important in the process of performing such work.

Experts advise creating drawings or ornaments only for those people who have experience in performing such work, but abstract compositions for beginners.

Preparing the work surface for applying a decorative tile pattern

It is necessary to pay as much attention as possible to the preparation of the walls, since the strength and durability of the mosaic will depend on the correctness of such work.

Surface preparation is very important

The master needs:

  1. From the selected area where the mosaic will be located, remove the wallpaper or old tiles(the wall must be clean).
  2. Use putty to seal all holes, cracks and crevices.
  3. Draw a drawing of the future decorative decoration according to the existing sketch.

Advice. To ensure that the applied drawing matches the prepared sketch, you can use a scale grid or a projector.

Adhesive solution, applying it to the wall

If in the process of creating a mosaic you use not only broken tiles, but also pieces of glass, experts recommend attaching all the elements of the design with transparent glue.

A special one is suitable for attaching mosaics; it is used when working with ceramic tiles. The most popular of them is white; it helps maintain the clarity of the design and emphasizes its beauty and uniqueness.

The adhesive solution is applied with a special spatula

To prepare the solution, you must use the manufacturer's instructions. Compliance with it will allow you to do good glue, which will securely attach all mosaic elements to the work surface. In the process of applying the mixture, you will need to use a spatula; this tool will help make an even and smooth layer of the mixture.

Advice. To prevent the solution from drying out, and to ensure that the pieces of broken tiles stick firmly and reliably to the wall, the mosaic must be applied in small sections.

In order for the drawing to turn out neat, beautiful and clear, it is necessary to lay it out correctly. Specialists have several secrets that they use in the process of work:


Grouting process

Grouting the seams of the finished decorative mosaic made of broken tiles is the final stage of the work. It is performed simultaneously not along the entire perimeter of the mosaic, but in small areas. When the grouting is finished, the master must wait 20-30 minutes (until it darkens), and then remove excess material using damp cloth or a suitable sponge.

Video instruction: how to make an original mosaic from broken tiles with your own hands

Video instructions are modern assistants. They can be found on thematic construction sites or personal blogs of designers. They greatly facilitate the work of a master, even a novice, since they have detailed descriptions the entire technological process.

  1. Mosaic tiles should not be cleaned with substances containing phosphorus, wax or oil.
  2. Abrasive mixtures are also not recommended for use when wiping tile patterns.
  3. Special substances for cleaning tiles - the most suitable option. They do not spoil the material and easily remove all kinds of dirt.

Do not wash broken tile mosaics with aggressive cleaning agents.

Mosaic from broken tiles - original decorative decoration for home. Make it with your own hands, and you will be able to independently evaluate all its advantages from your own personal experience.

Mosaic from broken tiles: video

Do-it-yourself mosaic from broken tiles: photo







If you want to decorate the walls of houses, garden paths, steps, garden furniture and many other items, then the ability to lay out mosaics can turn a dream into reality. In addition, you can also use wood particles, which can then be coated with stain and varnish. Before you start making mosaics, you need not only to select the material, but also to decide on the pattern. Read more about this construction craft below.

Complete execution repair work The house can be decorated with original mosaics made from the remains of ceramics or broken tiles. You can very simply lay out a colored pattern from the remains of ceramic tiles, adding other decorative elements, and thereby create a beautiful and original decoration bathroom, kitchen or even garden.

It is best to lay out the mosaic on:

  • Plaster;
  • Drywall;
  • Cement-sand screed;
  • Putty.

Each drawing performed is unique, since it is made up of separate fragments, the color and shape of which cannot be repeated. A mosaic picture can consist of equal pieces of the same shape, fragments of arbitrary shape, or a combination of pieces of different sizes and shapes.

Tile mosaic has many advantages in comparison with other materials, and among the main advantages are long service life, cost-effectiveness, practicality, the ability to create original and unusual paintings, and it looks harmonious in the interior. Before starting work, you must prepare the tiles. For this, both pieces of tile and whole products are suitable, which will then be crushed. Particular attention should be paid to the preparation of the walls, since the strength and durability of the mosaic will largely depend on this.

The selected area where the mosaic will be located must be cleaned of the old coating.

Using putty, you need to smooth out all the unevenness, as well as seal cracks and holes. Apply the drawing using pre-prepared templates. If when creating a mosaic you use not only broken tiles, but also pieces of glass, then you need to attach all the elements using transparent glue. To attach the mosaic, use a special glue mixture, which is suitable for working with ceramic tiles. The most popular is the white adhesive mixture, which helps maintain the clarity of the design, emphasizing its beauty and uniqueness. To properly prepare the solution, you must first study the instructions for use. adhesive composition It didn’t dry out very quickly, and the pieces of tile stuck firmly to the wall; the mosaic needs to be applied in small sections.

How to make a beautiful mosaic with your own hands

A variety of materials are suitable for making mosaics, in particular, such as fragments of mirrors, glass, broken dishes, ceramic tiles, pebbles, and small stones. Often, after repair work, ceramic tiles remain, which can be used as a working material.

However, if the pattern is quite complex, you may need to have ceramic tiles in several colors.

Mosaic is widely used to create unusual and original decorations.

It’s very easy to make a mosaic and lay it out, you just need to:

  • Prepare the base;
  • Make a glue mixture;
  • Develop a template drawing;
  • Prepare elements for making a mosaic.

Glass is considered a fairly common material for creating mosaics. It is quite easy to cut and easily fixed with glue, and if it gets on the surface of the mosaic sun rays, the created ornament begins to shimmer beautifully. For beginners, it is better to choose the simplest drawing that anyone can do.

DIY creative mosaic: master class

To lay out a mosaic, you need tiles, from which you must make fragments small size. Part of the tile can be left whole, and the rest can either be cut using a glass cutter or split with a hammer previously wrapped in cloth. The master class on making mosaics is quite simple; the most important thing is to clean the surface well and strictly follow the technology.

The use of tiles can be in absolutely any form, in particular they can be:

  • Smooth fragments;
  • Geometric figures;
  • Broken fragments.

To get perfectly even pieces or geometric figures, you need to use special tools for this. You can easily make a variety of free-form elements from old broken ceramic tiles.

To get a beautiful artistic composition, you first need to draw a sketch on cardboard, and then select pieces of tiles according to shape and color to get a beautiful composition.

After this, you need to carefully prepare the surface and move the structure, gluing each piece of tile using a special adhesive. After the glue has dried well, you need to carefully seal the seams using grout powder.

Budget mosaic from broken dishes

The mosaic technique is very often used to create beautiful decorative panels, and also quite original and beautiful crafts are created in this style.

Homemade mosaic from broken dishes must be done in strict sequence, and for this you need:

  • Choose an ornament;
  • Select pieces of broken dishes by size and color;
  • Degrease the work surface and mosaic pieces;
  • Glue the mosaic onto liquid nails or PVA glue;
  • Grout the seams with a special grout for tiles;
  • Wipe the surface with a damp and then dry cloth.

As the work progresses, you will need to adjust the mosaic pieces, making them smaller; for this you can use pliers. Special clarity and precision are not needed, but it is important that the pieces of the mosaic are not larger than the remaining space.

Important! When carrying out repair work, very an important condition is that the surface is absolutely flat and smooth.

If desired, you can purchase ready-made mosaics, which can be ceramic or marble. Modern production mosaics are represented by the most various options, which is why everyone has the opportunity to choose for themselves the required product that will completely suit them according to all their needs.

Various mosaic materials

The material used to create mosaics is presented in a wide range, in particular, mosaics can be ceramic, tile, glass, made of porcelain stoneware or natural stone. Mosaic is widely used in the interior, since thanks to its bright, expressive colors and unusual textures, it is possible to transform absolutely any surface almost beyond recognition.

Mosaic is widely used to create unique design in the interior and decoration of house facades. The architectural compositions of Gaudi or Bai simply amaze with their splendor and sophistication. A free flight of imagination under the guidance of a master turns into real masterpieces, in which practically incompatible things are very harmoniously combined.

Beautiful mosaic with your own hands (video)

You can cover absolutely any convex and concave surface with mosaics, and you can use elements of only one color or mix several shades and colors at once, while collecting various original compositions.

The art of mosaic dates back more than five thousand years. Over the years, there has been a period of its heyday in one state or another, followed by periods of decline and oblivion.

IN last years Interest in mosaics in our country is constantly growing. This is explained by the fact that this technique enlivens the interior of any room, giving it originality and uniqueness. Do-it-yourself mosaics from broken tiles are created as a result of a rather long and labor-intensive process, but this does not stop true connoisseurs of beauty. This can be partially compared to traditional technology laying tiles.

This article makes an attempt to summarize primary information regarding self-creation mosaics made from the material that is currently the most affordable, broken tiles. We hope that after reading this article, you will understand how to lay mosaic tiles.

Where to find material

In any specialized store you can purchase the amount of broken tiles necessary to create a picture of any size and degree of complexity for pennies, or completely free.

It is possible to purchase leftover tiles, which are several times cheaper.

The third source of obtaining the coveted materials is the tiles left after renovation (from you, neighbors or friends) and their scraps.

We are looking for supplies of broken tiles for laying in the bathroom

Where does the work begin?

From the most difficult. You'll have to sit down and the smallest details imagine what the imperishable masterpiece you are about to create will look like: the general concept of the drawing, its composition, scale and color scheme.

After this, it is advisable to transfer everything that arose in your imagination onto paper. A set of colored pencils or felt-tip pens will make it much easier for you to work out the details of your future mosaic. The sketch must be drawn to scale. This will make your future work much easier.

If you don’t have much of a creative streak, then we recommend starting work by creating an abstract mosaic design. It is much easier to arrange fragments of different sizes, laid out in random order, into a finished panel than a drawing containing specific images.


Create a sketch or panel from broken tiles

But a sketch won’t hurt in this case, since it, in essence, is a plan for your future work, on the one hand, and a guide to the selection of materials by color and quantity, on the other. This document allows you to get a complete picture of what the future mosaic of broken tiles, laid with your own hands, will look like.

Selecting material to create panels

When starting the selection of broken tiles for future work, you should be guided by a number of rules, the observance of which will greatly facilitate your life in the next stages of work.

  1. It is advisable to use tiles that are approximately equal in thickness. If the fragments differ significantly in this parameter, then laying out the drawing beautifully will be much more difficult, since some parts of it will sink in the glue, while others will stick out from the wall. And, even discarding the aesthetic component, this should not be allowed under any circumstances. The sharp edges of protruding broken tiles can cause serious injury. If you level out the spread of thickness with glue, then its consumption will increase significantly, and this means a lot of money.
  2. The color scheme of a drawing, figuratively speaking, determines its soul. The more colors, tones and halftones used to create it, the more expressive and emotional your mosaic will be. If the differences in the used elements of the set concern only halftones, then the result will be an even and calm tone that is not conspicuous and does not attract undue attention. If you have certain abilities, you can lay out an excellent mosaic with your own hands, using only tile elements of the same color. In this case, you will need a special tool in order to prepare the required number of pieces (following the example of the Internet, let's call them pixels) of the desired shape. Otherwise, such a drawing will simply merge with you.
  3. If your sketch includes sharply contrasting spots, you can achieve this by combining tile pixels with elements of other broken ceramics (for example, dishes).

If small tile pixels desired color and the size is not enough, then you can fill a sufficient number of them from whole tile required color.

The most convenient way to break tiles is by first wrapping them in a cloth and striking them rubber mallet on the back side of the tile. In this case, the layer of glaze applied to the tile will crumble less.

Glass tile pixels may be required to achieve certain visual effects. It is impossible to destroy it in the manner described above, since the basis of such a tile is a mesh. In this case, you will have to work with special nippers for mosaic work.


Creating an abstraction from broken tiles

Preparation of the base surface

Most often, mosaic tiles are laid on floors or walls. Working on the floor is practically no different from tiling them, so we will not dwell on this issue.

The second option is technically more complex and begins with preparing the wall (section of the wall). This means:

  • removing the existing coating from it (wallpaper, paint, tiles, etc.);
  • if during the cleaning process areas of “breathable” plaster are identified, they are also cleaned;
  • After removing all excess, the wall is plastered and leveled to a level with control of the horizontal and vertical of its surface. The result of all future work depends on the quality of the surface;
  • After the plaster has completely dried, the wall should be treated with a primer deep penetration. This will strengthen the base of the future mosaic and increase the adhesion of the wall surface to the adhesive composition on which you will attach the panel elements;
  • A sketch of the design you are going to type is applied to the prepared surface. In order to maintain the proportions as much as possible, it is recommended to first apply a scale grid to the sketch and the wall and transfer the image across the squares.

Preparing the wall and floor for tiles

Let's start laying

For successful work The following tool is required:

  • level;
  • rule;
  • grater;
  • trowel;
  • notched spatula 4x4;
  • wide painting spatula;
  • fly brush;
  • rubber mallet;
  • rubber spatula;
  • nippers for mosaic work;
  • glass cutter or manual tile cutter;
  • low-speed electric drill;
  • mixer - nozzle;
  • foam sponge;
  • small container (1000 ml) for preparing grout;
  • large capacity up to 6000 ml for preparing the adhesive composition;
  • Coarse sandpaper;
  • Metal ruler, pencils.

And material:

  • Leveling putty (if necessary);
  • Deep penetration primer;
  • Tile adhesive (white or colorless);
  • White grout for joints;
  • Crosses "1".

Before you start laying down the drawing, you will need to purchase the necessary adhesive composition for this. As such, a special adhesive is used for laying tiles.

It is advisable that the brand of glue you purchase has a white base. This color is best suited for laying out mosaics, because... goes well with all the others and evokes a feeling of lightness and cleanliness of the panel.

In cases where the work being created plans to use glass tile pixels, the most the best option will be an adhesive composition with a transparent base. This glue is more expensive, but the work is much more expressive and of high quality.

Work begins with preparing the adhesive solution. It is not recommended to prepare more than 4000 ml at a time, since the process of selecting the required size and color of tiled pixels, their adjustment and installation takes a lot of time. The glue may simply dry out.

In order for the tiled pixels to stick with proper quality, the air temperature in the room should not go beyond the optimal temperature range (+5) - (+30).

Making a mosaic pattern can be done in one of the two most commonly used ways.

Classic drawing

Used for simple or abstract designs.

  • The image begins to be drawn “from the center to the edges” along diverging circles. This allows you to achieve the most even horizontal line of the finished drawing.
  • Initially, images are laid out (people, animals, houses, etc.), then secondary elements of the mosaic (sun, river, etc.).
  • The background of the mosaic panel is laid out last.
  • The outline of the image must be laid out with pixels that have at least one straight side, which makes it possible to give it clarity.

Mosaic pattern in film

Used to create complex images.

  • Two adhesive bases are prepared according to the size of the panel being created. We lay the first one on a flat surface and, gradually removing the protective layer from it, lay out the drawing on this base. This option is convenient because pixels can be repeatedly installed, removed and adjusted to one another, achieving greater expressiveness.
  • The fully typed pattern is covered on top with a second adhesive base. We get a mosaic pattern in double-sided film.
  • An adhesive solution is applied to the entire area that the design should occupy, with a small allowance.
  • The adhesive base (the one on which the image was typed) is removed from the bottom side of the picture.
  • The free side of the set is glued to the wall and leveled in the plane of the wall.
  • After the glue has completely dried, the outer adhesive base is removed.

When working using this method, two requirements must be met:

  • Adjacent tiled pixels must have different colors. This allows you to get not just a colorful and bright pattern, but also creates the precondition for its visual perception as more interesting and bright. The fewer colors and tones are used in the mosaic, the calmer the panel turns out. Conversely, wide color palette makes the drawing bright, rich and more colorful. If any pixel “does not fit” into the typed image, it should be removed and replaced with a more suitable one;
  • Adjacent pixels must have different sizes. Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it, but there must be visible differences in size. Mosaic elements located nearby look especially advantageous when they not only have different sizes, but also differ in shape. At the same time, one should not forget, when typing a picture, that it is impossible to assemble mosaic elements “end-to-end”. It is necessary to leave temperature gaps, which are rubbed after completion of the masonry.

Creating a mosaic pattern in the bathroom

At the final stage, the seams between the elements from which the design is assembled are cut and grouted. This is done only after the glue has completely dried chemically in a natural way (after 24 - 72 hours). Drying time depends on the room temperature and the brand of glue.

Excess glue protruding beyond the plane of the pattern is carefully removed, after which the grout is diluted and applied to the desired places with a rubber spatula. In this case, you should pay attention to the fact that all the seams in the picture are tightly clogged with it. After applying grout to a certain part of the panel, you need to wipe this part with a damp sponge, which (after that) must be regularly rinsed in a bucket of clean water. This operation performed approximately a quarter of an hour after processing the seams, it allows you to remove grout residues from the surface of the tile pixels and makes the treated seams more neat and uniform.

The final touch to working on your mosaic panel is polishing the laid out pattern, which will allow it to sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow and make your work more expressive.

This procedure is carried out using any soft, lint-free cloth, onto which you have previously applied furniture wax. Pay attention to the composition of the latter. If it contains phosphoric acid, then it is prohibited to treat mosaics with it.

If the mosaic is heavily soiled, it can be cleaned with neutral cleaning agents that have a low percentage of any acids. After completing the work, be sure to wipe the panel and rinse it generously with running water.

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