🏠 What is the mosaic: species, origin and use in the interior

What is a mosaic? Origin and types of art Decoration interiors - the theme of this study from HouseChief edition. The modern market offers a wide variety of materials facing and decorative trim all surfaces. And mosaic among them is the most advantageous way.

From small modules of different textures obtained durable and water-resistant lining, wherein the complex structure patterns
From small modules of different textures obtained durable and water-resistant lining, wherein the complex structure patterns

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    • 0.1 What is checkered
    • 0.2 What is a mosaic: the origin and types of stories
    • 0.3 Materials for various kinds of mosaic
      • 0.3.1 Glass and smalt
      • 0.3.2 Ceramics and metal
      • 0.3.3 Natural and artificial stone
      • 0.3.4 Other materials
    • 0.4 The main methods of laying mosaic
      • 0.4.1 Marquetry
      • 0.4.2 tarsia
      • 0.4.3 Inlay
      • 0.4.4 block mosaic
    • 0.5 The size and shape of the individual modules
  • 1 Color palette
    • 1.1 Advantages and disadvantages
    • 1.2 Mosaic in the interior design of modern home
      • 1.2.1 Panels in living rooms
      • 1.2.2 Facing the kitchen and bathroom

What is checkered

Mosaic is called the art of making an ornament or a holistic picture of small-format pieces of hard materials. Translated from the Latin «musium» - a work dedicated to the Muses, and the Italian - built from parts.

The current mosaic art for many centuries has undergone a number of significant transformation and has become, in fact, the building trade. The modern decoration is mainly used ceramic tile different colors or patterns already suffered. Because of small dimensions of rings - Tesser, develops planned pattern or fantasy composition.

What is a mosaic: the origin and types of stories

Mosaic art originated more than 5 thousand years ago. The most ancient mosaic found during excavations of the Sumerian temples in the cultural layer 4 millennium BC.

Pattern of geometric ornament was made of baked clay pieces
Pattern of geometric ornament was made of baked clay pieces

The history of antiquity is characterized by a wide spread of mosaics in the decoration of religious buildings and houses nobles. At this time, there are technology colored glasses and tesselirovaniya (jokes) stone.

Ancient monuments using podkolki - mosaic in Morgantina, Sicily (III century BC. e.)
Ancient monuments using podkolki - mosaic in Morgantina, Sicily (III century BC. e.)

The flowering of art takes place in the Byzantine era. Using finer details and refined masonry with a gold background gives the product of the intrinsic refinement.

Mosaic mural in the church of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul)
Mosaic mural in the church of Hagia Sophia, Constantinople (Istanbul)

The Russian mosaic image came much later, in the tenth century, and just did not get much development due to lack of the necessary material. Start of production in color glazes Kiev marked the heyday of this area.

Kiev Sofia is the most famous in the world of monumental mosaics and frescoes of the beginning of the XI century
Kiev Sofia is the most famous in the world of monumental mosaics and frescoes of the beginning of the XI century

Materials for various kinds of mosaic

today's technology very different from primitive antiquity and allow you to create a wide range of materials for the mosaic coverings. Varieties such facings determined by the type of material and its quality characteristics.

Glass and smalt

Glass is the earliest finishing material. In our time is shown first on demand.

Noble Game of glass mosaic colors
Noble Game of glass mosaic colors

Preference is given to the Venetian glass with superior physical characteristics:

  • durability;
  • heat and frost resistance;
  • impact resistance;
  • water resistance;
  • richness of color.

Smalt - is the same as glass, but with the addition of potassium salts, and certain organic compounds. Bright and totally opaque material obtained by secondary baking of glass with the addition of dyes. The resulting pieces have bright colors with a glossy and matt surface.

Modern technologies allow to receive up to 10 thousand colors, which creates space for creativity
Modern technologies allow to receive up to 10 thousand colors, which creates space for creativity

Ceramics and metal

Pottery also highly demanded material for decorative mosaic lining. for her work laying differ from conventional tiling only the size tesserae - constituting the mosaic picture.

What is a mosaic: the types of materials and elegant examples of interior
Indisputable advantage of ceramic mosaics - a wide range and variety of color palette, texture and structure of the material

However, when choosing a need to know that the more dense ceramic structure less subject to contamination and abrasion resistance. The porous material, despite the high decorative, more durable and less prone to wear.

Metal - a purely modern material for mosaic works. Its use in the design is usually justified by the general stylistic direction.

For such coatings use stainless steel in the form of thin sheets of 0.5 mm, which provides ease and strength of the liner
For such coatings use stainless steel in the form of thin sheets of 0.5 mm, which provides ease and strength of the liner

The individual modules are mounted on special rubber substrate, imparting flexibility and coverage allows you to decorate with mosaics any uneven surface. However, the metal most often used as an expressive accent and very rarely - for solid surfaces.

Natural and artificial stone

Natural stone - very expensive raw materials. Even cheap tuff, not to mention the marble, malachite, onyx and jasper, requires repeated crushing, grinding and giving Tessera desired shape.

This is extremely mosaic color saturation, strength, but requires a careful and meticulous care
This is extremely mosaic color saturation, strength, but requires a careful and meticulous care

This coating does not tolerate the action of acidic liquids - wine, juice, vinegar, and intensively used areas we recommend rubbing special wax compositions. Usually used in the creation of composite designs for flooring.

Porcelain tiles - building a new synthetic material with many advantages: the impact resistance and ease of styling, high resistance to damage.

The wide color palette allows you to solve any designer ideas
The wide color palette allows you to solve any designer ideas

Stoneware tiles characterized by a variety of textured coatings. This may be a glaze, relief, an imitation of antiquity, various inlays. It is used for decoration bathrooms, Household and work areas, external facades.

Other materials

Among other types of non-standard materials for mosaics can be identified plastic. Tesserae from this raw material are thin (4 mm) PVC plates with ceramic imitation tiles.

When proceeding certain standards such coating is different quality and durability
When proceeding certain standards such coating is different quality and durability

With its help it is easy to modify and update interiorWithout drawing a lot of money. A person even with minimal skills are not difficult to make a separate installation.

Gold and platinum - the most expensive materials used in mosaic panel.

Precious metals in the form of very thin foil are laid between the panes and are used as insert piece
Precious metals in the form of very thin foil are laid between the panes and are used as insert piece

This mosaic of items on the walls and in the clear blue of the pools.

The main methods of laying mosaic

Selecting the material for the mosaic, it is important to use the correct method of laying. There are four main installation options.

Marquetry

One of the easiest options for styling using prepared stencil. Matched tesserae are generally rectangular in shape and small size, glued on the side surfaces and fill the space pattern given color combinations.

It is used in the creation of works of art, as well as simple patterns
It is used in the creation of works of art, as well as simple patterns

Most often, the marquetry technique used for mosaics of glazes, but the composition and wood with bronze or copper inserts look very interesting.

tarsia

A more complex method for mounting a stacking module in the recess in advance of the cut contour. In this technique tesserae are selected with the maximum accuracy, glued together and then grinded or polished.

Intarsia allows to implement more intricate and elegant designs
Intarsia allows to implement more intricate and elegant designs

The basic material for mosaic is wood with inlays of stone, ivory, mother of pearl, bronze and brass.

Inlay

Very complex and time-consuming method of laying, rarely used nowadays. It is accomplished by tapping into the prepared surface modules of different materials.

The main feature - the tesserae are mounted flush with the surface
The main feature - the tesserae are mounted flush with the surface

Maximum attention is paid to the choice of materials. When the metal inlay to the dark background light inserts selected from silver, nickel silver, stainless steel and various alloys. Light background requires dark inserts made of copper, ferrous metal.

block mosaic

mosaic process of manufacturing this type of long enough, but not too complex. First, from the various modules of the base material are bonded blocks, which are then cut into small plates with uniform design. The items are inserted into the prepared recesses or simply mounted on the surface.

Wall panels of laminated plates are block drawing
Wall panels of laminated plates are block drawing

For units mainly used wood, but there are other options - bone, horn. The modern way of mechanical pressing to reduce the complexity of the process.

An example of a mosaic decoration in this small video:

The size and shape of the individual modules

Mosaic items are available in various shapes and sizes from 1 to 10 cm².

The most frequently encountered in selling modules in a square and a rectangle, at least - six, octagon and circle
The most frequently encountered in selling modules in a square and a rectangle, at least - six, octagon and circle

For individual work the authors themselves often made the necessary forms in order to avoid hollow gaps in the composite fabric.

Demand mosaic, fixed on the basis of paper or mesh
Demand mosaic, fixed on the basis of paper or mesh

The standard size of a matrix of 30 × 30 cm². It consists of 225 modules with dimensions of 2 × 2 cm².

When planning colors mosaic, it should be noted, first of all, general room style. There is a set of some of the traditional templates that simplify the choice of colors for any decor.

Neutral and universal colors are all shades of white and beige.

Such shades visually enlarge the space, which is important for small apartments, and a beneficial effect on the emotional sphere of a person
Such shades visually enlarge the space, which is important for small apartments, and a beneficial effect on the emotional sphere of a person

Mosaic ornament in cold tones very elegant and often used by designers to create a presentable interior.

The palette of blue and blue colors is often used for swimming pools and bathrooms
The palette of blue and blue colors is often used for swimming pools and bathrooms

According to psychologists, this range helps to relieve stress and relax. A person in such premises is especially needed rest and relaxation.

mosaic tiles colorful shades suitable for lovers of bright interiors.

On mostly restrained and cool background organically mosaic looks slick all colors of the rainbow
On mostly restrained and cool background organically mosaic looks slick all colors of the rainbow

This palette is versatile for combination with any base color.

Winning stylistic devices is the use of a gradient - a smooth game of shades of saturation.

Color stretch and tonal variation allow virtually decorate any room
Color stretch and tonal variation allow virtually decorate any room

Plain tiles in the mosaic set is good for lining of large areas, multi-colored variant is chosen to create kitchen apron, A panel at the bottom basin, Ornaments mini fountain.

Advantages and disadvantages

Recently, as a mosaic facing decor is widespread thanks to many advantages. Finishing materials are of high consumer demand, as they have these qualities:

  • versatility and practicality;
  • a huge variety of textures and colors;
  • resistance to wet environment and high temperature;
  • resistance to chemical cleaning agents;
  • UV resistance.

The disadvantages of such coatings are the high cost and complexity of installation.

Mosaic in the interior design of modern home

More than just a veneer, but also beautiful decor, mosaic will be appropriate in any room. With this decorative techniques can be decorated with a city apartment, private house or office.

Panels in living rooms

Thanks to the eco-friendly materials, mosaic patterns organically fit into bedrooms and living rooms. And not only on the floors and walls. The texture of the material allows even convex surface finish.

Well-chosen colors in the mural composition with fireplace
Well-chosen colors in the mural composition with fireplace
The pattern on the accent wall
The pattern on the accent wall
In the living room a mosaic solution involves various options: in the form of panels, and even the whole wall
In the living room a mosaic solution involves various options: in the form of panels, and even the whole wall
You can decorate the fireplace to make it kind of a completed
You can decorate the fireplace to make it kind of a completed

Facing the kitchen and bathroom

For kitchen space optimally decorate mosaic work area, where she will be a bright accent or temper the intensity of the general background. Tint range should be selected under the general Interior Design. Materials should be preferred the most stable - smalt, ceramics, glass.

Disseminated gold in the original apron add space lighting
Disseminated gold in the original apron add space lighting
Bright accent kitchen apron always give the room a touch of freshness
Bright accent kitchen apron always give the room a touch of freshness
Apron programmed mosaic pattern
Apron programmed mosaic pattern

Bathroom the best solution is to use tiles of glass or glazes.

What is a mosaic: the types of materials and elegant examples of interior
Design exquisite bath will be very expensive, but the durability and high aesthetics recoup costs
Mosaic covering in the style of "Gaudi" will give the bath a magical flavor
Mosaic covering in the style of "Gaudi" will give the bath a magical flavor
Turkish hammam - a beautiful decor for the private sauna
Turkish hammam - a beautiful decor for the private sauna

Mosaic, in comparison with any other finish, the design in any interior looks more interesting and significant. It emphasizes the use of well-being and the aesthetic taste of the house owners.

And how do you feel about the mosaic? Write about it in the comments!