Floor mosaic in interior design

Today there are a large number of all kinds of floor coverings - from laminate to carpets. However, one of the most sophisticated options for decorating a floor is mosaic tiles, which in recent years have become a real trend in the field of renovation and construction. It is about her that will be discussed in our article.

Floor mosaics are an excellent fashionable design solution, as there are a huge number of variations on how to play such a floor in the interior. Thanks to such a coating, it is possible to create a unique volumetric pattern due to the constant play of light on separate small pieces of material, laid in a certain way on the floor. Recently, mosaics have become very popular among buyers as they can significantly transform and transform a space. This becomes possible due to the features of this coating:

• The versatility of the tile allows you to use it for various types of premises: it is suitable for both large rooms and small rooms. For example, mosaic laying is possible both in the bathroom of an apartment building and in a spacious swimming pool.

• The material, thanks to its wide color palette, makes it possible to realize any creative ideas of the designer - from inscriptions to voluminous drawings. This allows you to combine mosaics with any type of interior. In a strict interior, made in the style of minimalism, you can use simple stylistic approaches and carry out laying of monochrome or dim mosaics of basic colors. At the same time, the coating can be created according to an individual sketch, it will cost more, but the originality of the customer will be traced in the interior.
• The mosaic floor is easy enough to lay, since the floor has a composite structure: it consists of separate small pieces that are assembled into finished products on the basis of a special substrate. This production technology provides flexibility and relative plasticity of the material, which can be used on any surface, including uneven ones.

• Resistance to physical and chemical influences allows the mosaic to remain in its original state for a long time - it does not lose its color even when treated with chemical bactericidal agents.
• The mosaic is not affected by moisture, so it is placed in rooms with high humidity levels. It is not uncommon for mosaic floors to be found in swimming pools and bathrooms.

• The environmental friendliness of the material will allow it to be used not only in utility rooms, but also at home without a threat to the health of household members.
• The prevalence and popularity of mosaics determines its affordable price. The cost of the material varies from 3 to 15 thousand rubles per square meter. This means that now on the building materials market it is possible to find a coating that will satisfy all the requirements of the buyer, but at the same time will not affect the family budget.

Modern technologies make it possible to produce mosaic tiles from various types of raw materials, including marble, porcelain stoneware and even pebbles.

• Ceramic tile is very popular because it is highly durable, and also goes well with various types of finishing materials.Moreover, the tile is relatively inexpensive, which explains its demand in the building materials market.
• It is impossible not to note tiles made of natural materialssuch as marble chips. It is distinguished by its sophistication and, thanks to it, the interior will look luxurious. Such tiles are obtained by grinding natural stones, giving them the required shape and thickness.

• Porcelain stoneware tiles combines the qualities of the above two types of coating: on the one hand, it looks expensive, because it is made of porcelain stoneware and is characterized by high strength. At the same time, it goes well with other materials used as interior decoration.
• Glass mosaic looks unusual, which is created during the heat treatment of glass (mainly Venetian is used). This allows you to get a very durable coating that will last for many years without any complaints.

There is a large assortment of tiles of this type: neutral colors (black and white) are perfect for a calm and minimalistic interior, while multi-colored finishes can be beneficial to place accents in a more intricate room design. For example, for a nautical-style bathroom, it is worth using glass tiles in blue or light blue - it will emphasize the original decoration of the room and will look very impressive.

Matt mosaic is called smalt and has a rather long history; it was used in Ancient Greece. Craftsmen mixed potassium salts, dyes and natural compounds in a special way in order to obtain a dense and rich material that can be used to decorate rooms by creating specific patterns. Modern technologies contribute to the rapid production of this coating, and they also allow you to create up to 10 thousand different tile shades.

• Interestingly, there is wood tile, however, it has not become widespread due to its high cost, since only natural materials are used in production. Moreover, they allow you to create bright and unique flooring designs that will appeal to all connoisseurs of beauty and luxury lovers.

In addition to the classification of mosaics by materials, there is also a typology based on the appearance and depth of the joint between the squares:

• Deep cut mosaic floor, allowing you to create the most presentable flooring option. Thanks to this material, it is possible to make the appearance of a surface created from many individual tiles. However, it is important to understand that such a finish requires additional effort: after laying the floor, it is necessary to perform a special grout in order to get the result that most closely mimics the mosaic.

• Shallow notches on the surface coverings are made as an alternative to deep-seam mosaics. For coatings of this type, grouting is not an obligatory step in laying, since the squares are applied to special matrices, and the seams are processed in production with a special compound. However, one of the significant disadvantages of this material is associated with this: the grout is very brittle and during transportation it can crack or crumble.
• Missing joints create a perfectly smooth floor surface between the tiles; this is achieved by treating the coating with a special glaze.

Since the mosaic goes well with many materials (from wood to natural coatings), designers use this to create the most original and interesting decor.

Tile inserts of various colors are often offered - this allows you to create a unique pattern and emphasize its individuality favorably. Geometric and floral patterns are especially popular, which are not applied to the entire surface of the floor, but only to that part of it where it is planned to emphasize. It depends on what the purpose of the drawing is: it can expand the space, or it can divide it, creating several semantic zones in the room. This will be especially true for a studio apartment or for a kitchen combined with a dining room.

Amazing interiors can be created by combining mosaic and wood - this design solution is not widespread enough in Russia, although it is very popular abroad. The contrast of the two materials, which is often enhanced by the play of light and color, is intended to serve as a demarcation between areas with different purposes. It is better to entrust the development of such a decor to a specialist, since only he is able to assess the compatibility of materials, textures and shades, the designer will be able to beat this and correctly present it in the interior.

Due to the structure of the mosaic, it can be placed almost anywhere. Of course, it is most often used when decorating bathrooms and utility rooms, such as kitchens. Since the mosaic panel is practically not exposed to mechanical stress, it can also be used in the corridor: it will not only please the eye, but also serve as a fairly durable floor covering. However, it is worth remembering that the floor is an area subject to constant pollution, therefore it is not very rational to use light mosaic and the same grout in rooms such as, for example, a hallway. In this regard, it is better to give preference to darker shades that do not require daily cleaning, and will not emphasize small specks.

Interestingly, mosaic floors are also used to decorate terraces and open spaces., but in this case, the strength parameter prevails over stylistic factors and research. Reduced requirements for laying floor surfaces on a terrace or in a gazebo allow for quick and easy installation, since filigree accuracy in drawing is not important, and few people choose complex ornate patterns for decorating floors in open spaces. Lapidary, almost rough drawings are often used.

As noted, mosaics can be used to create panels of various complexity. Most, of course, strive to use the most neutral solutions in the interior, so minimalist tile designs are very popular. We offer you to look at some interesting stylistic variations in the use of basic colors and monochrome patterns in the design of the room.

There are also those who like original, if not pretentious decoration - in this case, complex volumetric drawings are created with a claim to originality. Such panels help to place accents in the room and emphasize the intricacy of the design.

For an example of a porcelain stoneware floor design complemented by a mosaic carpet, see the following video.