How to Make a Mosaic Table Top

A mosaic table top can be a nice decorative piece to add to your home. This could be a coffee table, side table, cafe table or even your dining room table. It's a fairly easy process but it does take some time to complete.

1. Select your mosaic tiles. If your table is small, you can purchase tiles at your local craft store, but if not, choosing large leftover tiles from a home improvement store or a flooring store might be a better option. Alternatively, you could use old china with a pattern you like.
   • You may opt to purchase some square tiles that you can use around the perimeter of the table to create a border. You could also choose special corner pieces or a focal piece for the center.
2. Break your tiles down to size. Put a tile or plate into a large paper bag or towel and hammer it from the outside of the bag. Check periodically to see how broken up the glass is getting. You could also use a tile nipper or tile saw to cut the tiles into pieces with straight edges. You can skip this if your tiles are smaller and already broken into the sizes you desire.
3. Lay out a pattern on your table, starting at the edges and working in. Try not to gap the tiles too far apart because the grout may crack. Make a pattern of your choice.
   • If you choose to use a centerpiece for your mosaic table top, lay that first, then start the border.
   • If your pattern is very intricate, try drawing an outline on the top of the table to use as a guide. A dry run can be too time consuming for detailed pieces.
4. Spread mosaic glue or mastic onto a tile and push it into place; keep repeating this until you complete your mosaic pattern. Or, if your design is an intricate one, spread the glue onto the surface of the table and then quickly press your mosaic tiles into place. Allow your mosaic design to dry overnight before proceeding.
5. Mix your grout according to the instructions on the package. Some grouts are pre-mixed. You can also add some acrylic paint to your grout to color it.
6. Use a float or your gloved hand to spread the grout into the spaces between the tiles. Push the grout down into the cracks all the way. Wipe off any grout that gets on the tiles with a wet sponge. Allow it to dry overnight, then wipe it again to ensure that you remove any excess grout.
7. Seal the grout using a small brush, or spray a sealant onto the mosaic entire table top. This will prevent the grout from returning to a pliable state when it gets wet; if you know the table will never get wet, you can skip this step.

• If your table is finished or very dirty, you may need to sand the top before applying the mosaic design to ensure that the tiles stick as well as possible.

• Mosaic tiles, flooring tiles or decorative plates
• Large paper bag or towel
• Hammer, tile nipper or tile saw
• Table
• Mosaic glue or mastic
• 2 small paintbrushes
• Grout
• Acrylic paint (optional)
• Float or gloves
• Wet sponge
• Grout sealant or spray sealant