Is your kitchen decor not up to par with the rest of your home?
Are you on a tight budget right now?
Not a problem – you don’t have to wait to win the lottery or get a raise to improve your kitchen’s aesthetics. You just have to get a little crafty!
A mosaic tile backsplash is a simple DIY decor trick you can take on over the course of one weekend.
Here’s everything you need to know about the process.
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Pick your tile
Before you go into handyman mode, put your interior decorating cap on.
Make note of the colors and textures that are consistent throughout each room of the house. Or, notice if there isn’t much consistency at all.
Either way, a mosaic tile backsplash can bring everything together. Use it to compliment the style you already have, or to create a foundation for future projects.
Below are some things to consider as you weigh all your options.
Color
Color is all around your home.
Even if it’s not a mix of bold, in-your-face tones, there are at least different shades of neutrals. Consider whether you want your mosaic tile backsplash to blend in or to add some contrast.
You can choose a mosaic set that is soft and subtle. These tiles will be lightly colored, without much business.
Others will be brighter. These tiles are meant to stand out and add some life to a kitchen.
Theme
As much as color plays into interior decorating, it’s not everything.
At the end of the day, any DIY project for your kitchen should be about how you want the space to feel.
You may opt for a kitchen that is neat, calm and collected. This is a classic, modern space where everything has a place and the counters are always clean.
Maybe you want a bit of a busier kitchen instead. This is one that looks lived-in. The decor is warm and inviting – like a rustic country kitchen or a cozy shabby chic environment.
Wear and tear
Whatever your choice of decoration, always think about maintenance before buying your backsplash tiles.
Some mosaics are easier to clean than others because of the number of joints. They will always be resistant to food splashes, but maintaining a clean joint may be more difficult, requiring careful and more frequent cleaning.
Bear these conditions in mind when making your final choice.
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Clean the kitchen
Once you’ve bought your mosaic tile backsplash and all the mounting materials, it’s time to get to work.
The first thing you want to do is turn your kitchen into a workspace. This means you need to remove all appliances from the countertops. Move any storage containers or spice racks you keep on the counters as well.
You may opt to disconnect your stove and fridge for even more working room. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for this step.
Don’t forget to turn your outlets off in the kitchen, too. Then, wipe down your space and set everything up for your DIY project.
Apply painter’s tape to the edges of the walls where they meet cabinets and counters. Place cardboard or other protective material on top of your counters. This will prevent debris from becoming a problem when you clean up.
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Prepare the wall
As you’re going through the cleaning process, take the time to clean your walls.
Look for any scratches on the paint or stains that may have appeared. Cleaning helps ensure your adhesive layer for the mosaic tile backsplash works as best as possible.
Take a wet sponge with a light cleaning liquid and wipe the walls.
Wait for everything to completely dry before taking on the next step.
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Mount your mosaic tile backsplash
While the walls are drying, you can start prepping your mounting material.
The mortars, grouts, adhesive cements and adhesives to be used should take into account and the intended use of the ceramic pieces – indoor, outdoor, wall, floor – and their typology – porcelain stoneware. interior, exterior, wall, floor – and their type – porcelain stoneware.
You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
For a better visual effect of the product, it is advisable to use alternating ceramic pieces taken from various packages simultaneously.
If the product has shade variations or has different graphics and shades, it should be applied randomly.
Wait and clean after applying all the tiles, be patient.
Give everything time to set before you bring your appliances back into the kitchen.
At a minimum, wait a few hours. Maybe even take this step into the following day, just to be safe.
When you think the tile has set in, look over your final product. Wipe down the backsplash and keep your eye out for edges that may not have adhered all the way. Fix whatever minor issues appear as needed.
Then, take a step back and enjoy your beautiful kitchen!
