Mosaic

Mosaic is one of the oldest decorative techniques in human history. Sumerian mosaics from 4,000+ years ago survive intact today, and Roman mosaic floors from 2,000 years ago can be visited in archaeological sites across the Mediterranean. The technique remains relevant in contemporary interior design because nothing else produces quite the same effect: a surface made of many small pieces has a quality of light and detail that solid materials can't match.

How mosaic is made

A mosaic is a surface composed of small individual pieces called tesserae (singular: tessera), typically 0.5 to 5 cm across, set into a binder (mortar or grout) on a substrate (wall, floor, or another surface). The pieces can be ceramic, glass, stone, mirror, metal, or even shells and wood. Patterns range from purely geometric to highly figurative; traditional Roman and Byzantine mosaics depicted complete scenes with figures, while Islamic mosaics used elaborate geometric patterns. Contemporary mosaic in residential design usually uses smaller-scale, more abstract patterns.

Major mosaic types

• Ceramic tile mosaic, small tiles (usually 1×1 inch, 2×2 inch, or smaller) of glazed ceramic; the most common contemporary residential mosaic
• Glass mosaic, translucent or opaque glass tiles; produces depth and luminosity not possible with ceramic
• Penny tile, small circular tiles, traditionally in white and black; a Victorian classic
• Hex tile, hexagonal tiles, often in marble or porcelain
• Zellige, hand-cut Moroccan glazed clay tiles in small geometric pieces; intensely colored and irregular
• Marble mosaic, small marble pieces in classical patterns; ancient Roman lineage
• Pebble mosaic, natural smooth river stones; rustic and organic
• Mother-of-pearl mosaic, shell pieces; luxurious and luminous

Where mosaic works

• Bathroom shower floors, mosaic's small grout lines provide natural slip resistance
• Kitchen backsplashes, moderate scale (1×1 inch to 3×3 inch) works particularly well
• Bathroom feature walls, particularly behind a freestanding tub or vanity
• Fireplace surrounds, adds craft and detail
• Entry floors, durable, hides dirt, creates a "welcome mat" architectural moment
• Pool surrounds and pool interiors, traditional Mediterranean and Moroccan use
• Powder rooms, small spaces tolerate intense pattern

Mosaic styles by tradition

Different mosaic traditions produce different aesthetic results:

• Ancient Roman, primarily marble and stone tesserae; geometric patterns and figurative scenes
• Byzantine, gold-backed glass tesserae for luminous backgrounds; religious imagery
• Islamic / Moorish, elaborate geometric patterns, no figurative imagery; intricate star patterns
• Italian Cosmati work, interlocking colored stones in geometric patterns; medieval Italian
• Moroccan zellige, hand-cut glazed clay in geometric arrangements; distinctive, intensely-pigmented
• Antoni Gaudí / Barcelona Modernisme, broken ceramic and tile in flowing organic patterns
• Modern contemporary, abstract patterns or unified-color fields; less imagery, more texture

Installation

Mosaic installation has gotten much easier with modern manufacturing. Most contemporary mosaic comes mounted on 12×12 inch mesh sheets, multiple small tiles already adhered in their pattern to a flexible backing. The installer simply applies thinset mortar to the wall or floor and presses the mesh sheets into place, then grouts the gaps after the thinset cures. This dramatically reduces install time compared to individually placing each tessera. Hand-cut traditional mosaics like Moroccan zellige still require individual placement and are correspondingly more expensive to install.

Common mistakes

The biggest mosaic mistake is choosing too busy a pattern for too large an area, a small bathroom completely tiled in highly-colored mosaic reads as overwhelming. Successful mosaic applications usually contain the busy pattern in one focal area: shower floor, accent wall behind vanity, kitchen backsplash strip. The second mistake is mixing too many mosaic patterns in the same room. The third is using cheap mosaic with poor color consistency or sloppy mesh placement; the savings rarely justify the visible problems.

Cost

Mosaic prices vary enormously by material and craft:

• Basic ceramic mosaic from home centers: $5-15 per square foot
• Quality ceramic or glass mosaic from specialty tile retailers: $15-40 per square foot
• Marble mosaic: $20-80 per square foot
• Moroccan zellige: $35-120 per square foot installed (the install is the expensive part)
• Custom hand-cut artistic mosaic: $100-500+ per square foot

Related materials

Mosaic is part of a family of small-tile and patterned surfaces that includes encaustic tile (patterns within cement tiles), terrazzo (composite with embedded chips), penny tile (specifically circular small tiles), and zellige (Moroccan glazed mosaic). For homeowners who want mosaic effects without the install complexity, large-format porcelain tiles printed with mosaic patterns provide a cheap alternative for some applications.