We get it - using a mosaic for your entire floor seems overwhelming at first. But trust us, it's not. Using mosaic tile in large areas may seem counterproductive, like filling a space with hundreds or maybe thousands of small pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic will make it look busy. But, it won't. It will add texture, interest, and if you use the same of anything in a large area, it will be consistent and not at all busy.
The perks of using mosaics in "large" areas (ex. bathroom floors + shower floors, shower walls, kitchen backsplash, & bar backsplash):
Mosaics will add texture aesthetically and physically. Physically because each piece of tile is surrounded by grout which creates traction. This is why people use mosaics on shower floors, because it is grippy (also because they are malleable sheets and are able to "slope" towards the center drain) . Even if the tile is polished, the grout will add so much texture - even if it is unsanded grout that is "smoother", it is still concrete. Aesthetically mosaics create texture because well, they do. You can definitely tell the difference between a smoother looking wall or a floor installed with large tile vs. a mosaic which varies from tile to grout every .5" or so. Each look lends itself to a certain aesthetic.
Mosaics are fun to design with. If you are wanting a soft design without a lot of contrast then you can easily achieve this when designing with a mosaic tile. It all has to do with the grout color! If you want less contrast, use a grout color that is closer to the color of the tile. If you have a mosaic with multiple colored tiles in it, then you either pick a color that blends in with one of the colors that you want to dominate or you pick a neutral that doesn't match any of the colors that is a nice background. And if you don't want a soft design, and you crave contrast, then mosaics are the perfect choice - the grout ends up being so much of the final design. So the grout color you choose can really make a difference (see a more detailed report on the impact of grout color in our last blog post).
You can use polished mosaic tile on floors - you get safety along with the shine! Because of all the grout surrounding each polished piece of tile you get plenty of friction and grip, even on a shower floor. The gritty, matte concrete will protect from slippage but wont take away from that polished, upscale design.
Mosaic tile lends itself to different designs. They add texture which goes well with earthy, simple designs - especially when they are of the neutral variety. Mosaics can also be fun and whimsical, especially when they are of the colorful variety, and circles instead of squares, for instance. There's so many different types of mosaics out there that deciding which look you want to go for first, is really important.
Mosaics are malleable, since they come on sheets, which allows you to use them on curved surfaces. They are ideal for curved shower benches or on half rounded walls, for example.
The cons of using mosaics in "large" areas (ex. bathroom floors + shower floors, shower walls, kitchen backsplash, & bar backsplash):
Mosaics need more grout which could result in more upkeep. We always recommend getting your tile and grout sealed by a professional after installation so that your investment is protected - even if you use grout with sealer already in it. This provides you peace of mind and if the professionals can come and perform "maintenance" every so often - even better. One company we highly recommend is Hydro Shield Services.
Mosaics are typically more expensive - x2 or higher than the price of a standard sized porcelain. Mosaics involve a lot more labor to produce. They involve cutting larger pieces of stone or porcelain into smaller shapes and assembling them onto a sheets.
We hope that this has been informative and feel free to reach out to us with any questions you may have about all things tile!
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