Not only are mosaic tiles eye-catching, they're also great for tying in colour schemes, making luxurious statements, and are incredibly practical and easy to maintain. Let us indulge you on why you should consider using mosaic wall tiles for your kitchen splashback featuring inspiration from our beautiful range.
Why Choose Mosaic Tiles for Your Kitchen Splashback?
Whether you’re renovating an old inherited kitchen or investing in a new one, the kitchen is widely perceived as the heart of the home and a space that can really add value to your house. Although mosaic tiles themselves date back to the third millennium BC which consisted of coloured stones, shells and ivory, they have evolved into one of the most influential and commonly used components in the interior world, and If you are looking to transform your kitchen into a space that reflects your style and personality, mosaic tiles are the way to go.
First and foremost, mosaic tiles are highly practical. Their resistance to heat, moisture and stains make them the most ideal option for spaces such as the kitchen. They also require very little maintenance and are easy to clean, which is an incredibly appealing factor for those who are constantly on the go and make a bit of a mess when cooking!
But practicality doesn't mean compromising on style. Mosaic tiles offer endless possibilities when it comes to creating a splashback that reflects your personal style. From eye-catching features of geometric patterns, vibrant colours for something abit more eccentric, to sleek and modern designs for contemporary living, there is a plethora of options to choose from.
Not only are mosaic tiles visually appealing, but they are also incredibly easy to install. With their small size and mesh backing, you can easily cut them to fit any space or shape, making the installation process a breeze and a DIY'ers dream!
What to Consider
It’s not always easy to envision how you particularly want something, and when you do it, you want to do it right. Getting inspiration for your kitchen can be challenging and should be approached from different directions, considering factors such as the kitchen size and style, the aesthetic you want to achieve and the colours you want to employ. Here at the Stone & Tile Company, it is important to us that we provide our customers with plentiful options to accommodate to all tastes and personalities. Let us take you through some different factors to consider when looking for the perfect mosaic splashback tile for your kitchen.
Kitchen Styles and Aesthetics
Firstly, consider the overall style and mood you want to create in your kitchen. Do you want a modern and sleek look? Or maybe a cozy and rustic feel? The colour scheme, design and finish of your kitchen mosaic tiles should align with your desired aesthetic.
Modern contemporary kitchen designs, such as the Luna range from Magnet Kitchens, allow for more freedom for home owners to really express themselves; appealing to those who prefer a cleaner and sleek aesthetic that lends a minimal and effortless vibe. We would consider this a more versatile kitchen style; a blank canvas, to employ any style, finish, colour and design of your personal preference. Keeping in line with a sleek vibe, why not pair gloss cabinets with either a glass mosaic such as our couture black glass mosaic tiles or a polished marble mosaic such as our Mystique range? This ultimately allows for more light to bounce around the room.
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Mystique Grey & Silver Diamond Mosaic TilesSpecial Price £9.00 Regular Price £17.00 -
Mystique Black & Gold Chevron Mosaic TilesSpecial Price £9.00 Regular Price £17.00 -
Couture Black Glass Mosaic TilesSpecial Price £6.50 Regular Price £12.99 -
Mystique Grey & Silver Chevron Mosaic TilesSpecial Price £9.00 Regular Price £17.00
A classic style, shaker kitchens are "simple, functional and high quality" as quoted by the Kitchen Design Centre, lending themselves very well to modern and traditional houses alike. In more traditional or period homes in particular, we feel pairing this kitchen style with a patterned mosaic such as our Zelige range will offer a more authentic and hancrafted feel, whereas more modern homes will benefit from a more simplistic yet textured approach such as our "fluted effect" Kit Kat range.
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Kit Kat Azure Green Mosaic TilesSpecial Price £7.00 Regular Price £13.99
Another beautiful kitchen design is a rustic country/ farmhouse style. Boasting a perfect mixture of a contemporary and traditional aesthetic, you will usually find more natural elements and fine craftsmanship. As stated in this article covering "29 Farmhouse Kitchen Ideas For the Perfect Rustic Vibe" in Country Living, you do not need to own a farmhouse nor live on a farm to acheive the rustic farmhouse of your dreams. Designed in a popular chevron design, our Chicago marble mosaic range would add charming character to this space, also pairing beautifully with antiqued copper or silver elements such as cookware and utensils, commonly displayed around the kitchen.
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Chicago Gold Marble Chevron Mosaic TilesSpecial Price £8.50 Regular Price £14.00 -
Chicago Honed Marble Chevron Mosaic TilesSpecial Price £7.25 Regular Price £14.00
Colour Consideration
Next, think about the existing colours in your kitchen. Consider the colour of your countertops, cabinets, and appliances. Typically, you want to choose mosaic tiles that will compliment and enhance these elements. For example, if you have dark cabinets, consider using lighter-coloured tiles to create contrast and balance to avoid compromising the overall sense of space. However if you are opting for a more streamlined and minimal approach, definitely sought after a colour combination that ties in with exisiting colours. This is not to say that a mixture of colours within your kitchen is wrong, this is far from the truth, it's your house, your rules and we encourage you to be daring. Maximalist kitchen designs are becoming increasingly popular as a result of people injecting more personality into this space.
Kitchen Size
Another important (yet often forgotten about) factor to consider is the size of your kitchen. For those with smaller kitchens, the natural instinct is to open up the confines of the space. This means employing lighter colours and using reflective surfaces to amplify the effect of natural and artificial light. As stated in this journal article by John Lewis of Hungerford, "having a mirrored spashback not only transforms your kitchen into something of elegance, but it creates a simple yet extremely effective way to make your small kitchen feel bigger, especially if it reflects the view from outside". This is also a briliant read for those looking to fully maximise space in a small kitchen.
On the other hand, if you have a larger kitchen, you have more flexibility in choosing darker or bolder colours and designs.
Budget
Last but certainly not least, is the price and budget. As you can imagine, mosaics of different materials will come in at different prices owing to the manufacturing behind them. However, due to our purchasing power and close relationships with factories all over the world, we work hard to offer our customers the very best prices without compromising on quality and design.
Due to the ease of installation of these tiles, it means you may not have to fork out a fortune for a tiler, ultimately saving you money on your project.
Installing Your Mosaic Splashback
One of the most desired qualities about using mosaic tiles is that they are one of the most simplest, fun and rewarding DIY projects that can completely transform the look of your kitchen; ultimately saving you a pretty penny on a professional for those who feel confident enough to try their hand at it. So, roll up your sleeves and follow the steps below!
- Grout Float
- Notched Trowel
- Tile Marker Pen
- Spirit Level
- Scraper
- Tile Cutter
- Tile Nibblers
- Tape Measure
Check your substrates suitability for tiling before proceeding. The surface must be properly prepared, suitably level, sound, clean, dry, and free of dust, grease or any loose material. All surfaces must be completely secure without any obvious deflection.
As a general guide, consider the natural focal point of the area to be tiled, and plan the tile layout and the starting point with this in mind. When you have finished marking out your surface you will often come to the end and realise that you will need to cut a sheet to fill the remaining area. In this case, depending on the size of the gap, you will either need to cut your mesh panel or revisit your marking out and shuffle it around a little so you're not left with an awkward bit of surface to tile or cut.
To cut the sheets to size, make sure you have a wooden worktop and that it is well covered. Using a Stanley knife, turn the sheet over so it exposes the mesh and at an angle, cut straight down the mesh ensuring there is no mesh left sticking out of your cut piece.
If you have to cut the glass we recommend scoring them on a tile cutter and then use nibblers to snap after scoring. Knock the sharp edges off with a diamond stone if required.
Mosaic Tiles must be solidly bedded with tile adhesive. Please check the suitability of your adhesive prior to fitting your mosaics. If using a cement based adhesive, please check if your wall requires priming first. We would recommend priming with our Pro Primer Multi Surface Primer
Using a suitable notched trowel apply the adhesive onto the marked out areas, spreading only enough adhesive that remains workable. Take the flat side of the trowel and smooth over the adhesive to produce a uniform, ridge-free bed.
We recommend that light coloured mosaics or transparent glass are fixed with white adhesives.
Carefully follow the mixing recommendations supplied on the reverse of the adhesive product.
As mosaics can have smaller grout spaces it is recommended that you use a fine grout such as our colourful selection of ProGrout.
When grouting mosaics there will be a lot more grout gaps and lines so ensure you have enough to cover the surface as once applied the grout will disappear quite quickly. The tiles may also be slightly uneven which means you will need to use the edges of your grout float to push the grout further in and ensure it fills all the gaps.
Once you have grouted a few metres of your surface you will need to wipe off the excess grout from the front on the tiles. Do not let excess grout completely dry out before removing from the tiles using grout stain remover and tile cleaner, as hardened grout can be very difficult to remove and could damage the tile.
Cleaning and Maintaining Your Mosaic Splashback
Moasic tiles are massively sought after for splashback areas due to their very low maintenance, perfect for those who tend to make a bit of a mess in the kitchen. Taking the appropriate care of your mosaic tiles ensures their longevity and leaves them looking as good as the day they were installed.
With any tile, we advise avoiding any harsh chemicals such as bleach that could potentially cause irreversible damage to the appearance of the tiles. To clean your mosaic tiles, we recommend using a neutral tile cleaner such as LTP's Waxwash Neutral Tile Cleaner, which is perfect for cleaning mosaic tiles that require sealing.
Mosaic tiles that are made up of natural stone will also requiring sealing. For polished marble, we recommend LTP's MPG Polished Tile Sealer which is easily appliable with a soft roller, cloth or paint brush. This same application can be replicated on other natural stone mosaic tiles that require sealing with an impregnating sealer.
We hope you have found this blog insightful with inspiration for your kitchen splashback project; answering questions you may have had or raising points you may not have even thought of. Should you have any questions or queries on any of our mosaic splashback tiles, the installation process or the aftercare, please do not hesitate to contact us, our wonderful customer service and sales team are more than happy help.
