Mosaic tiles enhancing living spaces for centuries
The predilection these days in interior design appears to be quite safe, with beige and grey the main colours. This may not change in the near future, as it does increase the salability of a home, but don’t let it put you off investigating the tremendous world of mosaic tiles, to add a much needed splash of colour, taking the edge off many bland colour schemes .
Mosaic tiles can completely transform living spaces, bringing colour and texture to places such as bathrooms, kitchens and even mat wells in porches. Adding an effect such as a mosaic splashback in a utility room will add charm and appeal to even the dullest area.
Talking a little about the roots of this fine craft, the world of mosaic tiles goes back 4,000+ years, with beautiful effects made with the raw material such as ordinary terracotta. By the 8th century BC, random coloured stones were used to make pavements. The Greeks some 4 centuries later, brought style and form to the randomness of design and invented an art form with these small, coloured objects .
The pictures they made were very involved , depicting lovely scenes of flora and fauna. In 200 BC these small pieces were manufactured into specific “tesserae” to enable the artists to add fine detail to their great works of mosaic .
With the expansion of the Roman Empire, the craft was taken further afield; however, the British preferred different techniques to the fine detail of the Romans and Greeks, concentrating more on the geometry of pattern and line.
Even later still, the Byzantines would decorate the walls and ceilings with stunning pieces, depicting for the most part religious themes. As the small tesserae were left ungrouted the beauty of each piece is enhanced with light glistening through and reflecting the rays to dazzling effect, especially when one is passing by.
You won’t need to create works of art with mosaic tiles, but the simple to lay sheets in 300x300mm will certainly add captivation to your home.
