I generally think of mosaic projects as summer time endeavors, mainly because they can be messy, and I prefer to do them outdoors, but I just came across this photo of a project that I did years ago and wanted to share it with you. This is a great project for those who've never tried mosaic, because you can do it by simply buying glass mosaic squares and pre-cut mirrored pieces! Then all you need to do is figure out your pattern, glue the tiles onto the furniture piece, and apply some grout! It's quite simple, you'll see.
In the future I'll let you see some of the larger mosaic projects I've done, but this week I'm going to show you some smaller projects that can easily be done on the kitchen table.
I loved this old wooden side table, but stripping it was just too much work. I stripped the top and the face of the drawer and decided to give the rest a new coat of paint. The mosaic detail on the door transformed this piece from old and battered looking to fresh and interesting! The geometric pattern may not suit everyone's style, but this would certainly look cute in a guest room, children's room, or in a setting mixed with rustic details. And truthfully, making this idea work for your home is all about the colors you choose! A creme colored cabinet with mosaic details in white and mirror, could be elegant and lovely!
You'll Need:
- a piece of furniture, or just about any object such as a picture frame
- glass mosaic tiles, available in a few sizes and many colors at your local craft store
- pre-cut mirrored pieces, or a piece of mirror and a glass cutter to cut them yourself
- silicone or any other tile adhesive, depending on the surface you're working with
- grout, creme or colored (I use powdered grout that you can mix with water, good for small projects)
- a damp cloth
How To:
- Design your pattern by laying tiles directly on piece. Move pieces around until you're very happy with how the design looks. You can fill in an entire area, or leave blank spaces as I have. Note: If the piece will be near small children, make sure no sharp edges are exposed! The way I have placed the mirrored pieces is potentially dangerous, so don't follow my example without giving it some thought.
- Adhere tile pieces with adhesive, leaving small spaces between the tiles for grout, and allow to dry overnight. (The grouting gives the mosaic work a more finished look, highly recommended)
- Prepare grout and apply to tiles by rubbing grout over entire tiled surface, but not on the piece of furniture itself. Make sure all crevices have been filled. After grout sets, 15-20 minutes or so, go back with a cloth and carefully rub off the grout that is covering the tiles. If grout had hardened too much, a finger nail brush can be helpful.
- Sit back and enjoy the results, and think about doing a more advanced project next time!
