Mosaic Tiles for Kitchen Splashbacks and Walls
By Wall Boulevard
Mosaics are small tiles supplied mounted on backing sheets, so you set a grid rather than placing every piece by hand. They come in porcelain, ceramic, glass and natural stone, in squares, rectangles and hexagons. That variety is most of the appeal, because very few other products give you this much control over pattern.
In a kitchen they hold up well. Mosaics are durable, resist stains, moisture and scratches, and they clean easily, which matters in a room that produces grease and splashes daily. They are equally at home in other high moisture areas.
The splashback is the obvious place to use them. Glass mosaics in particular reflect light and give a subtle shimmer, which is useful behind a benchtop where natural light is usually poor. Kit Kat is one of our ranges worth a look for this.
Pattern does as much work as colour. Herringbone, a staggered subway style layout and circular designs all read completely differently in the same colourway. Decide the layout before you decide the tile, because it narrows the options quickly.
Grout colour changes the whole result and it is the decision people leave to last. Dark grout outlines every piece and gives a graphic, dramatic finish. Light grout lets the surface read as one plane, which suits a quieter kitchen.
Finish is worth thinking through as well. Gloss reflects light and brightens a working area, matt is more understated, and a textured tile will hide imperfections in a wall that is not perfectly flat. If your wall has a history, texture is your friend.
Mosaics are fixed with thin-set mortar. A modest splashback is a realistic DIY job if you are patient, but larger runs and complex patterns are better handed to a tiler. The fiddly part is always cutting the sheets around power points, window reveals and cabinetry.
Maintenance is light. Mild soap and water is enough, and harsh chemicals will damage the tile surface over time. Seal the grout periodically, and deal with any loose tiles or cracks promptly before water gets in behind them.
Talk it through with us at either store. 19 Mantell Street, Coburg North VIC 3058, (03) 8683 6514. 1/8 Lakewood Blvd, Carrum Downs VIC 3201, (03) 9005 5027.
