Mosaic panels: original ideas for interior decoration

The definition of "mosaic" is usually called a pattern or ornament, laid out from fragments of stone, pieces of ceramic tiles or glass shards. Ancient Greece is considered its homeland - it was there, according to historians, that they first began to decorate the walls and vaults of temples with colored pebbles. Later, this type of activity began to be adopted in different countries, while each nation brought something of its own into it.

There are two ways of mosaic collection - forward and backward.

In the first case, the fragments of the future product are laid out on the surface with the finishing side up. This technique is used to lay out mosaic panels on horizontal flat surfaces. All fragments of the future painting are put on glue on a special grid. Then the mesh is transferred to a permanent place of residence, after which the seams are rubbed.

If the mosaic surface is curved, reverse lay. Most often, this method of laying is used if the basis for the composition is fabric or cardboard. The tile is glued to the base face down, then the base is made - the entire composition is fastened with a special solution. When the base hardens, the paper or cloth from the front side is removed. Grouting is done on site.

Today, several technologies are used to create mosaic panels:

• Matrix technology considered the easiest to manufacture. Mosaic elements are assembled into ready-made prefabricated fragments on a paper or mesh base, approximately 30 cm in size.In stores, you can buy ready-made compositions consisting of such fragments, and in place it will only be necessary to fix them in a certain order with the help of special glue. They can be either monochromatic or multi-colored, depending on the artist's idea and scope. Their shape is most often square or rectangular, other forms are less common.
• Art technology it is used mainly when performing exclusive orders according to individual sketches. This is a very delicate, painstaking manual work, comparable to manual painting - with the help of this technology it becomes possible to recreate whole paintings and even portraits. For this, both whole tiles of the correct shape can be used, as well as their parts - the smaller the mosaic elements, the higher its artistic value and, accordingly, the cost. Artistic technology helps to emphasize various elements of decoration, or, conversely, to hide any imperfections. To enhance the aesthetic properties of the finished work, artistic grout is used - a suitable color scheme is selected for each fragment.
• Mixed technology - its name speaks for itself. It combines some of the manufacturing elements of the first two technologies. Thanks to this approach, you can achieve high quality and save money at some stages of work.

Depending on where exactly the decorative panel will be located, various materials can be used. Floor coverings must be particularly durable, resistant to abrasion and should not slip, so the patterns on the floor are laid out mainly of stone, which has a matte non-slip surface.Modern manufacturers offer a wide range of marble, granite and other natural stone mosaic tiles. Ceramic tiles are also often used for the floor.

From chipped small parts, you can lay out whole works of art not only for the floor, but also for decorating the walls. For this, not only marble or ceramic tiles, but also glass tiles are suitable. Unlike stone tiles, crushed glass mosaic has a very beautiful shine and a wonderful play of light.

One of the varieties of glass tiles is smalt - it has increased strength, attractive glossy sheen and excellent color rendering. Smalt is often used to decorate the vaults of temples, palaces of culture, theaters and other public institutions. Whole pictures are often laid out from it, while the tiles themselves are typed by hand. To obtain a special color rendering, special dyes are added to the glass, and thanks to high technologies, thousands of different shades of various colors can be obtained. Today it is even possible to obtain gold and mirror smalt, which looks very unusual and expensive in the interior.

Classic smalt is obtained by breaking off small pieces from a large whole layer. The chipped pieces are irregular and unlike each other. This is their main advantage. Factory smalt has some similarities with ordinary glass mosaic, only the quality of the modules is much higher. These two types are often combined with each other when decorating one interior. When decorating interiors of rooms with high humidity, such as a swimming pool, hamam or bathroom, several types of different smalt are most often combined.

To decorate various columns and other surfaces with complex shapes, metal mosaics are often used. It looks very impressive, and is also durable and unpretentious to care for. For its manufacture, steel and aluminum are most often used. Various imitations of gold or platinum are created from these materials.

Modern technologies make it possible to create mosaic canvases from a wide variety of materials. For these purposes, sea pebbles, wooden blocks, shards of bottle glass, cork are perfect.

The mosaic spread throughout the entire globe, and each nation added to this art form something of its own, peculiar only to this nation. For today, there are several style directions. Let's consider some of them in more detail.

The Alexander mosaic appeared in the 4th century AD. It got its name in honor of the great commander Alexander the Great and depicted episodes from his campaigns. Several natural shades prevail in the color palette - these are red, red-brown, white and yellow. The drawing characteristic of this style was laid out strictly along a certain border. Mosaic elements were cut out of marble or glass, polished in a special way. However, they never went beyond the designated limits.

Byzantine mosaics appeared around the 6th-7th centuries and has not lost its relevance to this day. It is highly regarded and easily recognizable due to some of its characteristics.

Firstly, it is laid out from smalt - it is Byzantium that is considered its homeland. Secondly, it is necessarily a golden background. To obtain different shades, several types of metals are mixed in different proportions. It can be copper, mercury and even gold particles. All depicted objects have absolutely clear contours and correct proportions - the elements are in the shape of a cube. Therefore, up close, the picture seems somewhat rough and reveals itself in all its glory only from a certain distance.

Classic examples of scenes depicted using Byzantine mosaics can be seen in many temples in Italy that have survived from ancient times. Today, in this technique, you can upload absolutely any picture. These can be mythical animals such as a dragon or fantasy flowers. The marine theme also looks good in this style - fish, dolphins, coastal landscapes.

Florentine mosaic named after the eponymous city of Florencein which she first appeared. It is made from natural stone - most often from sea pebbles, and is considered one of the most difficult to perform. The Florentine style is characterized by stacking elements close to each other, leaving almost no room for seams and grouting. And since all fragments from nature have the most diverse shapes and shades, adjusting them to each other is a very laborious process.

Michael's mosaic originated in the Middle Ages on the basis of the Byzantine school. All shades of green and gold prevail in the described technique. The mosaics are mostly biblical - the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in Kiev is painted in this technique. Thanks to the various shades, the image is not static, but lively and interesting, for which this style is appreciated all over the world.

Sofia mosaic has a more varied color palettethan the previous school. For this mosaic, smalt pieces of various shapes were used - square, oval and even triangular. At the same time, they did not fit as carefully as the Florentine masters did.

Roman mosaics are also made of smalt. In this case, very small pieces are used, which allows for high accuracy of the picture. This technique is especially good for depicting people, natural landscapes, as well as various representatives of flora and fauna. Thanks to this technique, it is especially possible to convey flowers and animals in motion.

Russian mosaic is made of stone. Its advantage over other styles is that such a mosaic can be created on curved surfaces, on which it is impossible to apply classical technologies. In the technique of Russian mosaic, you can make small crafts such as boxes or writing instruments. Its essence lies in the fact that the very basis of the future picture is created from a durable, but not very expensive stone, on which plates of semiprecious stones about 5 cm2 in size are glued on top.

You can decorate absolutely any surface with a mosaic pattern. Typically, mosaics are used to decorate walls and floors both indoors and outdoors. Sometimes the walls of houses are decorated in this way, and a mosaic path on a garden plot can transform it beyond recognition.

In cathedrals, it can also be observed on the vaults. In everyday life, such panels are more often found in the interiors of a wide variety of premises. Where it is required to decorate a large area, panels are usually laid out of stone or modular elements are used. For the home, you can also purchase a ready-made composition that can be glued not only to the bathroom, but also to decorate one or several walls of the kitchen - for example, a work apron.

Some fans of this art form prefer not to be limited to decorating auxiliary rooms and decorate living rooms with mosaic paintings. There are also ready-made solutions for these purposes. And if you want some kind of exclusiveness, then there are many companies - manufacturers who can create a mosaic canvas according to an individual sketch. For example, a living room with a picture of malachite or a bedroom decorated with a glass panel will look very impressive and non-standard.

Contrary to popular belief that a mosaic is very difficult, such a decoration can be assembled with your own hands.

The process of creating a decorative panel takes place in several stages:

• Selecting a picture and creating a sketch.
• Sketch processing. The selected drawing needs to be scanned, and then using a special computer program to build a layout of the mosaic elements.
• Decide on the choice of material and bonding solution. If you choose a factory-made glass tile to create your mosaic, you need to glue it with a special glue recommended by the manufacturer or a consultant in the store. Stone and ceramic tiles must be planted in a special solution of cement, glue and water. A notched trowel is used to evenly apply the mortar to the wall or floor.
• Preparation of the base and mortar. The surface on which the future painting will be located must be free of dust and debris. Before gluing the tiles, you should make a preliminary marking on the wall.
• You should glue sheets or mosaic fragments one at a time, remembering to insert special crosses between them - spacers.
• Grouting. After all the elements of the panel are fixed, it is necessary to seal the seams with a special grout, applying it to the entire area with a rubber spatula and carefully filling all the voids between the tiles.

The process of creating a panel is clearly shown in the video below.

The possibilities for using the mosaic technique are almost endless. It can be used in all residential and non-residential areas. The main thing is to choose the right material. So, for example, for a bathroom and toilets it is better to choose ceramic tiles with a special protective coating against calcium deposits and exposure to light. This tile is also suitable for the kitchen - it can be laid out with an apron, floors or countertops.

If you are planning to decorate a fireplace, it is better to choose heat-resistant glass for this purpose. Mosaics can also be used to decorate sinks, stairs and window sills. The walls can be fully decorated or a decorative insert. The image will look more original if you skillfully combine materials - for example, use glass inserts in a ceramic composition.

If the mosaic is on the whole wall, you can create the illusion of a waterfall using tiles of the same color, but different shades that smoothly flow from one another. This decor is soothing and relaxing. If you love bright accents, you might want to look at shiny tiles - gold or mirrored. However, such jewelry for an amateur and in large quantities can be annoying. But as fragmentary compositions they look very impressive.

The combination of elements with different textures looks original - for example, matte and glossy elements in a mosaic panel. It will look different depending on the angle at which the light falls on it.

A composition with elements of fusing - baked glass - will look quite bold and unusual. It looks especially attractive in combination with mother-of-pearl, rhinestones, rock crystal, as well as smalt and other types of finishing materials.