Keep Calm and Decorate your Home with Mosaic Made of Tiles

People live fast in the 21st century. We eat fast food and junk food, we sleep very little and everything we do, we do rapidly. Before we reach our forties, we are very much in pain, and not just physical, but mental as well. Our bodies are designed to live in a slower pace of life, because technology made it move fast and we cannot keep up with it. However, the thing we should definitely do in order to avoid all the stress caused by living fast, is to find and do something that will bring balance to our life. And I do not mean to do that for a living, but rather as a hobby. There are many things you can and you probably already do, such as fishing, cooking or even playing football with your friends. However, I want to talk about doing something that has a calming effect as well as artistic value. I want to talk about home decoration. Home decoration is one of the greatest things to relieve stress. But that is just one of many aspects that decorating your home brings to your soul. But, there is a more specific way of home decoration, which you have maybe heard of, and that is with a mosaic – and not just an ordinary one, but one made of tiles. Tiles? Yes, it actually can be done, and the results are rather enchanting.

A word or two about this unusual art

Well, it seems unusual when I write about it, but you have probably seen this kind of works somewhere. For example, this technique is used and has been used for a long time in all sorts of public venues, but the most important ones you have probably seen in someone's bathroom. That's right, people have their bathrooms redesigned with tiles. They are placed in such a way that they make a mosaic. But, most of these mosaics in bathrooms are not purely for decoration but rather for protection, and therefore, people do not pay much attention to the looks of it. When I had my tiles put in the bathrooms, workmen had done it all wrong, and he had put all the tiles upside down not knowing that they are supposed to form a mosaic. Therefore, I decided to do something more with this kind of art and I did a little bit of researching on the internet, and found out a very surprising fact. Our tiles need not be placed only in our bathrooms, they can also be placed in other rooms in our house, even in our garden. When I saw the pictures, it seemed so... normal. People have found different ways to make the tiles fit in the environment. The colors and shapes of tiles were perfect on those pictures, as if they were shaped by Michelangelo himself. I wondered for many days how can a piece of ceramic be shaped and yet stable like that? And then, after doing a little bit of deeper research I found out that there are actually many different types of tiles, and when I say different I mean different materials out of which those tiles are made. Let me tell you a word or two about these materials, since that is the most important division in this type of art.

Stainless steel tiles to decorate your living room

Stainless steel tiles can be described as rather stylish and modern. Their color can vary, but it is usually grey, because steel is usually grey itself. But no matter the color, what you can get from stainless steel is the quality of endurance. Steel lasts for ages, and therefore, your mosaic made of this type of tiles will last for as long as you want it to last. The name itself suggests that this kind of steel does not bow to the passage of time, and it literally cannot rust. Of course, there are things that you should keep stainless steel away from, such as acidic food. This type of food may seriously damage the steel by leaving a stain that cannot be removed. Considering the matter of decoration, stainless steel can be added to almost every room, but the living room is the best place for it. It simply melts down with the technology that is usually found in the living room, such as TVs, stereos, recorders, etc. No matter where you put the mosaic made of stainless steel, I can guarantee you that it will fit perfectly.

I'm looking at you through the glass... mosaics made of glass

When I mentioned glass, you probably thought to yourself that this kind of mosaic is fragile and breakable. Well, you are wrong. Although they are not as durable as stainless steel, these tiles are certainly stronger than the glass on your on your windows. Their best feature is the reflection they provide when there is not enough light in the room. That reflection is not blinding, furthermore, it has a pretty calming effects, both for your eyes and your brain. The best place to put glass tiles mosaic is definitely the bedroom, because the morning sun reflects best upon these tiles, thus providing you with that „morning“ feeling of rest so that you feel as you are full of life. But then again, glass mosaics need a little bit of cleaning. If you devote five minutes a month to clean stainless steel mosaics, this kind will take you twice as much, which is not too much, when you look at it objectively.

To sum up, taking a hobby or doing what you love can literally save your life. You should slow the pace of life down by doing what you love. There are things that can both calm your nerves and make the world that surrounds you a more beautiful place. For example, home decoration is one of them, and finding new ways of decoration is the best way to decorate your home. I wholeheartedly recommend that you should try this kind of art – mosaic tiles.

Changing Yourself Means Changing You and the Things around You

Many people get bored at one point at their lives, knowing that some kind of change is inevitable. That is why women sometimes dye their hair, change their hairstyles or even go and tattoo themselves. That is also the reason why men change their vehicles, change their hairstyle or even go and tattoo themselves. Yes, I know that there are things in common that both men and women do in order to make some important change in their lives. You will notice, however, that these changes always have something to do with styles. So, here is a proposition: instead of changing your body and appearance, it is much better to change your surroundings. But this word – surroundings – sounds like a very broad term, and when I say it, I mean your home in particular. Our body and our clothes sure do represent who and what we are, but the second most important things that define us as individuals are our homes. (Maybe, our Facebook profile can come somewhere in between these two, but that is a topic for some other time.)

There are many ways to decorate your home. But the first thing that probably comes to your mind when I say decoration is probably those colorful New Year decorations. Well, I'm talking more serious stuff here. Maybe decoration is just the wrong word, so from now on I will say „home design“. There are people who have degrees in this particular job. Although it sounds easy, it is really much more than that. I'm definitely not one of those guys, but I will try to explain as well as I can the importance of this particular activity. Furthermore, I will focus only on one of them, which is the topic of this article. This kind of home design is called mosaic.

Have you ever seen the sun in your room?

Let me explain this title. Namely, there are certain mosaics that are made of tiles. Now, the term tiles is also a broad one. But the kinds of tiles we are talking about here are the ones that are similar to the ones you have in your bathroom. The only thing that differs is that these kinds of tiles used for mosaics can be made out of different materials. Their shape can also change a bit, and they need not necessarily be square-shaped. But, when we talk of materials, I feel the need to mention a few. There are tiles made of glass, stainless steel, wood or even stone. But the ones I like to talk about in this paragraph are those made of glass. The tiles made of glass are very specific because they are transparent. Mosaics that are made with this type are very stylish and sophisticated. When you put this kind of mosaic towards the sunshine, it can literally reflect it and have this beautiful glow to give off. That is the explanation to the title of this paragraph. So, if you are a type of person that enjoys sunshine and likes summer and hot weather, this is the right choice for you. Since I started this article with changes that will tell a slightly different story about ourselves, I can wholeheartedly say that the glass mosaic will present you as an extrovert, fun seeking and party loving person, who enjoys every bit of his life and dares not miss any opportunity that comes his way. It also says that you have simple taste and needs and that hedonism is your primary objective in life.

What will stainless steel say about you?

The second kinds of tiles I'm going to write about are stainless steel tiles, as the subtitle suggests. Now, they might not reflect the sunshine as the first one, but they certainly are very fashionable. Stainless steel mosaics are also very adaptable, because you can fit them practically everywhere. You can either put it in your bedroom and enjoy the beauty of it, or you can, for example, put it in your front yard and share the beauty with all the other neighbors and guests. It's all up to you. Now let's get to the part where this kind of mosaic defines your character. Stainless steel can certainly represent you in two completely different ways. If your room is dark and you add them to that dark room – this will say that you are an introvert who likes spending his time at home. You like reading books and watching movies. You do not have many friends, but those you have are very good ones. You like going to parties, but your favorite part is the one where you meet people outside the club, where the music is not that loud. On the other hand, if you fit stainless steel mosaic in, for example, a white room, with a lot of bright colors, that will say that you are a family person and that you like spending quality time with people that you are really close to. It may also say that you enjoy simple things in life, and that you find joy in interesting sports and hobbies. Believe it or not, stainless steel mosaics fit perfectly in a living-room with a fireplace and wooden, vintage furniture. But, then again, it is up to you to decide how are you going to place it and what message would you like to send to your friends.

There are, of course, several materials I haven’t written about and I hope that you became just a little bit more interested in this topic. But after all, if you are reading this article that means that you have internet connection. Therefore, Google it – there is a lot to read about on this topic, and that way you can also learn a lot about sending a message through the design of your house. Just remember, the most important thing in the world is who you are as an individual, and that is not achieved if you do not define yourself through the style of you and your surroundings.

How to Install Stainless Steel Mosaic Tiles

Stainless steel is a very common choice for material used for making mosaic tiles. This is due to the fact that stainless steel has properties that are very desirable when it comes to tile constructing. 

These properties are:

●             It is lightweight;

●             It doesn't oxidize easily;

●             It cannot just simply stretch or discolor;

●             The shine it has can last for more than 20 years…

So, it is safe to say that stainless steel is a very durable material.

People have had these kinds of mosaic tiles installed as various, both commercial and residential interior decorations. Some have put them on walls, floors and ceilings, while others have put them on backsplashes, countertops, various water features, and so on.

Full and detailed mosaic tiles installation guide on ExoTiles.

http://www.exotiles.com.au/mosaic-tile-installation-guide/

The following article is concerned with tips on how people should perform the installation process, when stainless steel mosaic tiles are concerned:

●             At the very beginning, it is very important to note that the installation process of these kinds of mosaic tiles should be done by people that are experts in the field. This is because you have to watch out for various possible problems. For example, if any sort of electrical work is being done around the tiles, people can get electrocuted easily (since metal is a good conductor of energy). Also, care is required in places where high temperatures will surround the stainless steel (fireplaces, stoves, etc.), as well as extremely cold places. Furthermore, if you are installing this kind of mosaic tiles, you should avoid installing them in places that may be subject to impact by a strong force, or where there is heavy abrasion. Having all this in mind, you can conclude that an expert hand is somewhat necessary.

●             Sometimes, stainless steel mosaic tiles can be installed on gently curved surfaces. In order for them to have uniformity between each individual tile, the tiles themselves have to be manipulated. This is done by using both larger and smaller individual tiles. This design can end up being very stunning and impressive.

●             The substrate (the underlying layer) should be prepared well. It should be fixed, flat, cleaned of all contaminant materials such as dust, or oil, or paint, and it should be dried properly. All this is done in order for the tiles to get attached to the substrate correctly. Special care is required in humid areas, such as bathrooms and kitchens. The material usually used for substrates is concrete, cement and is some cases treated plywood.

●             Waterproof membranes are also a very important thing to have when installing tiles made out of stainless steel. They are used to prevent water leakage through walls and floors. Special care is advised when adding the membrane up the wall and outside shower areas. Actually, the waterproof membrane system is advised to be used in all wet and humid areas. Keep in mind that some systems may require the use of a primer.

●             There are various adhesives (glues) available on the market for purposes of installing tiles. It is highly advisable to follow the instructions provided by the adhesive manufacturer within the package point by point. There are many brands of adhesives available on the market and most of them are suitable for installing stainless steel tiles. The most commonly used are cement-based adhesives. They are usually recommended for places where no movement is anticipated. On the other hand, there are modified cement-based adhesives that can be used where there is movement. 

●             Grout is used to fill up the spaces between the tiles and to keep them joined together. For the best possible results, a constant use of a firm sponge is advised. This is due to the fact that grout gets separated from the tiles after it is dried. So, therefore, you should apply the grout at least 2 (in some cases more than 2) times. The second time the grout is supposed to be non-sanded.

So, after you have gone through all this, you should end up with having stainless steel tiles installed wherever you want. Now, you are advised to clean them regularly, in order for them to keep their original shape for as long a period of time as possible. Most stains can be cleaned just by the usage of a small cloth or sponge to which you can add a soft detergent. Fingerprint stains can be cleaned with olive oil. Just do not use soap or bleach, as it can damage the tiles.

To sum up, this is all you need to know concerning the installation of stainless steel mosaic tiles. Here are some examples, just to show how beautiful and well installed tiles look like.