Panel of broken dishes. Do-it-yourself mosaic from broken tiles: detailed instructions with step-by-step photos, sketches and examples

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It is difficult to surprise anyone by decorating a room with ceramic mosaics. There is a large selection of these products on sale to suit every taste, as they say, in various shapes, sizes and colors. The abundance and choice of mosaic ceramics, of course, is pleasing, but there is only a small, and maybe a big “But”... The price for this type of finishing product is traditionally high, and I really want to tidy up the walls or floor of the bathroom with beautiful mosaic tiles, or tile kitchen apron with colorful and cheerful small tiles.

The technology itself is not very different from laying conventional tiles

Mosaic made from broken tiles, in practical terms, is no different from its store-bought counterparts. From the remnants of tiles, after some simple preliminary preparation, experience in laying ceramics, imagination and great desire, you can literally create miracles in decorating a room.


There are many materials from which a mosaic can be made; the list is limited only by the imagination of the home craftsman and the availability of the necessary material at hand. These can be various stones, shells, broken glass, old porcelain dishes, even eggshells and any types of cereals.

The most widespread are mosaics made from broken or unused tiles, primarily due to the availability of the source material. Some ceramics can be found at home after previous renovations, or substandard and broken tiles can be purchased for free or for a purely symbolic price from stores selling ceramics. A neighbor who decides to retile a bathroom or kitchen will definitely thank you very much for taking away the old tiles from him; “buy and sell” advertisements in print or on the Internet can also become an unlimited source of supply of the necessary material.

Patterns from broken ceramic tiles

After the required amount of tiles has been prepared, you can begin to directly obtain mosaic fragments. Do-it-yourself mosaic from broken tiles comes in two types:

  1. Mosaic tiles with smooth edges and a certain geometric shape. Most often, these are rectangular or square shaped elements obtained by cutting marked ceramic tiles using any known method (tile cutter, glass cutter, etc.).
  2. Free-form mosaic. The simplest way to make mosaic blanks, which does not require the use of additional tools, as in the previous case, the only thing you need to obtain a mosaic is a common hammer. To prevent fragments of ceramics from flying off to the sides, the tile must be wrapped in a rag and through it, strike the workpiece, while knocking on the back side of the tile.

Before you start, you need to prepare the surface for installation

To make the patterns of mosaic decoration more interesting and rich, you need to strive, when making blanks, to obtain elements of different sizes.

Mounting options

There are two ways to make a mosaic from leftovers or broken tiles:

  1. Make a specific pattern or ornament according to the previously selected sketch. This method is quite complicated, because you first need to draw a sketch on paper, then transfer the image to the surface to be finished, and only then begin the actual laying of the fragments.
  2. Chaotic styling. This option for installing mosaic elements is much easier than the first method; the blanks are glued in random order onto the surface to be finished, and two conditions must be taken into account:

1). Nearby fragments of the mosaic should have different colors, the mosaic patterns, in this case, will be bright and saturated.

2). Pieces of ceramic located nearby should differ in size and sometimes in shape. You need to glue the fragments so that the edges of the blanks do not touch each other, and the seams between them, then rub thoroughly.


Laying technology

In order to make mosaic decoration of walls and floors from the remains of tiles, or to make a colorful apron or tabletop, you will need the following tools and materials:

  • remains of ceramic products, all colors and sizes;
  • regular spatula (flat);
  • fine-toothed spatula;
  • rubber mallet;
  • tile adhesive;
  • grout for seams;
  • pencil or marker;
  • ruler;
  • sketches of drawings (if necessary);
  • rags and sponge.

A mosaic of broken tiles is glued with tile adhesive

As with traditional ceramic tile installation, mosaic installation begins with surface preparation. Is it worth reminding that the base must be perfectly flat, therefore, if necessary, the surface is leveled with plaster and primer. After adjusting the base, you can begin installing the mosaic.

A layer of glue is applied to the prepared surface and to the laid fragments using a notched trowel; this must be done taking into account the thickness of the tile pieces used. Thus, the thickness of wall tiles is less than floor tiles, and therefore an additional layer of adhesive mixture is applied to it.


If you choose the random installation method, then the pieces are haphazardly glued to the base, with seams between them. If preference is given to a drawing, then first a sketch is made, from it the drawing is transferred to the surface and then, in a certain order, the mosaic pieces are mounted on the base.

After the ceramic mosaic is glued to the base, you need to rub the seams and let the product dry

When all the fragments are put in place, the mosaic needs to stand for a day until the pieces are completely glued to the base and then begin to seal the seams between the mosaic elements, 20-30 minutes after treating the seams with grout, the remains of the fugue can be removed from the cladding with a damp cloth or a sponge.

Caring for mosaic tiles

Having spent a lot of effort and patience to get a wonderful mosaic cladding, there is very little left to do, namely, follow the rules for caring for the mosaic surface:

  • Do not use products with abrasive properties to clean the cladding;
  • do not treat mosaic with substances that contain wax, oil or phosphoric acid;
  • To care for the cladding, you need to use products with a low acid concentration, and after cleaning, rinse the surface thoroughly with plenty of water.

Each person has his own approach to decorating a home: some use stained glass, some photo wallpaper, and some gravitate towards various kinds of stencils and sculptures... But of all this, mosaics deserve more attention.

Even as a student, studying at the Faculty of Design and Architecture, I enthusiastically studied the work of the great Antonio Gaudi. It’s my dream to go to Barcelona and see his unsurpassed creations live. But absolutely anyone can create at least a small piece of furniture in his style.

Mosaic cladding- one of Gaudi’s favorite techniques. For his collages, he used fragments of dishes, ceramics, and bottles. Masterpieces were made from trash!

It was these photographs that fueled my desire to create a “piece of Barcelona” at home.

Broken ceramic tiles is an excellent material for creativity. It is great for creating decorative elements both in the country house or in the house, as well as in the apartment.

Broken tile mosaic

This type of work does not require any special skills, but perseverance will come in handy. And if you, like me, want to try yourself in this field for the first time, then for starters it’s better to choose something not particularly grandiose. As you gain experience, you can move on to more complex fantasy decorative elements.

Editorial "So simple!" I have selected 25 great ideas for you on how to use remnants of broken tiles for home.

  1. What a magnificent frog! It is somewhat reminiscent of the famous Gaudi lizard from Park Güell.

  2. An original solution for restoring an old table. An interesting effect can be achieved by adding a layer of glass on top.

  3. A wonderful idea for decorating a work area in a country kitchen.

  4. Your breakfasts and dinners at such a table will be even tastier!

  5. And I just fell in love with this table!

  6. This is a truly unique job...

  7. The decor of such small architectural forms will obviously require some work, but the result is worth it!

  8. Path made of broken tiles- a great solution if you have recently had a renovation and have a lot of spoiled or unused material left!

  9. Amazing magnificence!

  10. You not only want to sit on such a bench, but also take a photo!

  11. There's something about it!

  12. What a wonderful fragment of a snail image made from the remains of broken tiles.

  13. This is the kind of garden sofa you can create if you wish. Beautiful and practical!

  14. A bright and unusual solution for the facade of a country house or cottage.

  15. The combination of colors makes them look very stylish.

  16. There are simply no words... I didn’t expect such a decision!

  17. A very interesting and unusual technique. Inspiring!

  18. What a magnificent dragonfly. Just a sight for sore eyes!

  19. Using leftover broken tiles you can decorate almost any furniture.

  20. Exclusive stands for flowerpots: definitely no one has these!

  21. And you don’t have to invest a lot of money in buying expensive tiles for the kitchen. This is simply a wonderful solution for a kitchen apron that does not require any special expenses.

  22. It’s not at all difficult to create such decor, but the effect is impressive!

  23. A very gentle and pleasing combination of colors.

  24. An interesting idea plus your perseverance, and a real designer piece is ready!

  25. A painstaking but very interesting solution for cladding a balcony wall.

Coziness in the house is created with the help of fancy details, chosen with taste. And better - made with your own hands with soul and immense love for creativity. I hope these ideas have inspired you to create your own home decorating solutions.

Mosaic is one of the most spectacular and original ways to decorate any interior. Mosaic, which has been popular since ancient times, is today used in swimming pools, saunas, lobbies and foyers, and is used to decorate the facades of houses. Broken ceramic tiles are an excellent material for creativity, so if you still have broken ceramic tiles after renovation, do not rush to throw away their fragments. They can enliven the interior by decorating a wall or floor, or laying out a garden path. A mosaic made of broken tiles will add charm to your home, since, given the need for imagination and painstaking work, patterns made of broken tiles are not found very often.

Mosaic - a unique interior decoration

Patterns made from broken tiles, created by yourself, can become unique masterpieces. This could be a wall panel, a floor in a bathroom, kitchen or hallway, a table top or an independent product (a painting, a box or a souvenir). Mosaic is a very interesting technique, the application of which can always be found.
At first glance, it seems that everything is very simple and pieces of broken tiles can be laid at random. However, before you start work, you need to think through all the details and take into account all the nuances. It's best to start with a sketch. The work consists of several stages. To begin, prepare a life-size drawing template. Next, each stone (shard) is laid by hand, with the texture, shape and color carefully selected. When creating mosaics, professionals often use natural stone and smalt. Small squares (modules) are prepared from these materials, sawing them out on a machine or creating them by hand if uneven edges are needed.

There are many materials and their combinations from which mosaics can be made:

  • stones
  • shells
  • stained glass
  • beads
  • glass tile
  • crushed ceramic tiles
  • seeds and cereals
  • eggshell.

Broken tile mosaic

Decorating your home with mosaics made from broken ceramic tiles is an inexpensive way to give your interior an original and unusual look.

This modern method of decoration has quite a few advantages:

  • Broken tiles are inexpensive, even if you specifically buy broken tiles at a hardware store (sometimes they give it away for free).
  • When laying, no special skills or abilities are needed, everything is done by eye, if only you had a sense of taste and the ability to distinguish colors and shapes.
  • The end result will not leave anyone indifferent.

In fact, the technique for laying broken tiles is quite simple. In this case, there are two options: according to the drawing (sketch) and chaotically.

The first option is reminiscent of painting with paints, and the second is attaching pieces of tile in a random order.

But here, in order to get a beautiful pattern, you need to follow two rules:

  • For the mosaic to look impressive, the pieces of adjacent tiles must differ in size by at least 20%.
  • The color of adjacent tiles should be different. It should be borne in mind that the more different the color is, the brighter the pattern and the less different the shades are, the calmer the pattern will be.

Features of laying mosaics are as follows:

  • Mosaics are made with regular tile adhesive. The tools and installation principle are the same as for laying standard tiles.
  • It is very important to carefully prepare the surface before starting to lay the mosaic, since any unevenness will make itself felt when drawing up the pattern. To do this, the surface is primed. The glue is applied in the required amount, and in some cases, when different types of tiles need to be equal in height, its layer is made a little larger. The main requirement: the level of all pieces must be the same above the surface and different pieces must not touch each other with their edges. Small gaps are left between them, which are subsequently erased.
  • The tiles are laid according to the sketch or in a chaotic manner. After the glue has dried sufficiently, the seams are rubbed in the same manner as for standard tile work.

It is necessary to take into account that if some pieces do differ in height, the grout can hide deep-set small elements, damaging the design. In such cases, individual elements can be removed with a small crowbar and replaced with more suitable ones.

Decor made from broken cups

Another option for a stylish and unique mosaic is the use of broken cups, saucers, plates and tiles in the form of inserts. For example, from several lids from a teapot you can make original hangers for kitchen towels and oven mitts, and from broken cups, fitted with a glass cutter under the surface of the tile and glued to it, you can make stands for small items. A large number of broken cups can make a whole panel.

Photo: Decor made of broken tiles and cups

Technology for laying individual pieces of broken tiles

  1. First of all, the elements of the future mosaic are prepared. To do this, cut the figures using a tile cutter. You can save on a tile cutter and chop the tiles with a regular hammer. To do this, it is more convenient to put it in a bag or wrap it in a rag so that the fragments do not fly away.
  2. A pattern is assembled from individual fragments on the floor or the pieces are laid out randomly.
  3. The surface on which the mosaic will be laid out is carefully primed to ensure its complete leveling. Next, using a notched trowel with a fine tooth (about 4 mm), glue (regular tile) is applied to the surface and evenly distributed.
  4. Pieces of ceramic tiles (ceramic granite can also be used) are transferred to the glue. They are laid from the center to the edges of the picture. Floor tiles and porcelain tiles are wider than wall tiles, so they are laid out first and set a certain height for the covering. The layer of glue is increased under the pieces of wall tiles in order to obtain a perfectly flat surface. The laid out patterns from broken tiles are left for a day for the glue to harden.
  5. The seams are treated with grout in the color of the pattern or a neutral color, and after 20 minutes the finished mosaic is wiped with a damp cloth.

If drawings from broken tiles are laid out on the wall, the technology is slightly different:

  1. The surface and pieces for the mosaic are prepared.
  2. The outlines of the future pattern are applied to the wall.
  3. Pieces of tiles of the required size and color are carefully selected.
  4. Each piece is glued separately.
  5. Rub the seams of the finished pattern and remove any remaining glue with a damp cloth.

Of course, creating a mosaic from broken tiles is a painstaking and time-consuming process, and it also takes a lot of time. However, the creative process will bring incomparable pleasure, and the result of your work will create a stylish design and a unique flavor in your home.

Laying a garden path from broken tiles

A DIY garden path will allow you to express your creative imagination and, using available means, save a lot of money.

Before you start creating a garden path from broken tiles, you need to stock up on the following materials:

  • a large number of broken tiles, and you don’t have to buy tiles in a store, you can try driving through construction sites or wholesale construction bases
  • small stones
  • sand and cement
  • container for cement mortar
  • a special wooden block for compacting sand.

In order for the future garden path made of broken tiles to be beautiful and unusual, you need to think through its design in advance: shape, size and pattern. The narrow wavy path, reminiscent of a small river, looks tempting. The main thing here is not to overdo it and not to make the bends of the “river” too steep, otherwise it will be uncomfortable to walk along such a path.

Next, according to a well-thought-out sketch, a foundation is made for the future path: a 4-5 cm depression is made in the ground along the area of ​​the path, which is lined along the edges with small stones of the same size. The stones should fit tightly together; they will help maintain the integrity of the path in the future.

The resulting base is filled with sand, compacted with a wooden block and filled with water, which will compact it even more. The height of the sand layer should be 1-1.5 cm below the stone form.

After the base for the path is ready, a cement mortar is made in a ratio of 1:3 (1 part of cement and 3 parts of sand) and evenly applied to the base. In order for the solution to be convenient to apply, it must be sufficiently liquid. You can also use tile adhesive. The mosaic elements are laid on the solution and pressed into it in such a way that they do not protrude above the surface of the solution, but do not go deep into it. In the first case, this will contribute to the accumulation of debris between the elements, and in the second, water will stagnate on the path, which will quickly lead to the destruction of the cement mortar. After laying the mosaic, the stones are decorated.

In any case, a self-made garden path made of broken tiles will become a decoration of the site or garden and the pride of the owners.

Video: Tile mosaic is easy

Mosaic is an interesting and popular finishing option; in addition, it can be easily made with your own hands from scrap materials. The easiest way is to use broken tiles.

Creating panels yourself is a fascinating creative process

Features of homemade production

At home, mosaics can be made from the following materials:

  • dishes;
  • tile;
  • glass;
  • stones;
  • shells;
  • beads.

The most popular option is made from tiles. The good thing about this method is that it allows you to create products similar to traditional mosaics and saves money by using inexpensive tiles, as well as their unnecessary remnants.

It is worth noting that using the same material completely different samples of elements are obtained. Much depends on the manufacturing method. To figure out which technique is best for you, consider a master class on making home mosaics.

Materials used

  • old tiles;
  • remnants after renovation;
  • shards;
  • purchased substandard;
  • new tiles.

When creating a mosaic, any ceramics will do: broken dishes, old tiles

The cheapest option is to use unnecessary remnants after repairs, defects obtained during the process of cutting or laying tiles. Mosaic made from broken tiles allows you to turn construction waste into an extraordinary material for interior creativity.

If you have started producing mosaics at home that are as similar as possible to purchased ones, it is better to purchase new tiles. To save money, pay attention to defective samples in a batch of tiles or leftovers. This material is sold at a discount.

Process of creation

Here is a small master class on making two options for mosaic tiles:

  1. Smooth fragments. Select suitable samples and mark them into strips. Cut the tiles using a tile cutter or glass cutter. Using the same tools or pliers, a transverse break is made into small squares.
  2. Mosaic made of broken tiles. Wrap a cloth around the tile to soften the impact and prevent splinters from flying around. Hit the back side with a hammer, then detail the large shards.

Homemade mosaics are made using a tile cutter and a hammer.

If you use the second approach, try to make elements of varying sizes. This way their layout will look more interesting. Additionally, create individual pieces in a precisely marked configuration to form a specific pattern.

Scheme selection

Now let's look at how to make a whole composition from the resulting pieces. Evaluate what parts you have: their sizes, shape, colors. The last factor is the most important. With single-color tiles, the most advantageous solution is to create a standard layout. With different-format fragments you will diversify the monotony of the coating. Nevertheless, colored parts can also be obtained from plain tiles. They are painted or covered with film.

Before laying the mosaic with glue, experiment: try to make a pattern, lay it out randomly or in the form of shapes

You have a lot of room for creativity and experimentation. If there are a lot of multi-colored fragments, make a variegated lining. The more contrasting details, the brighter the picture.

Lay out the mosaic not only according to a chaotic principle, but also according to a clearly defined pattern. To create an image on the surface to be coated, draw it on paper. The simplest patterns or simple images, such as flowers, are suitable. For more complex options, paintings and landscapes are suitable.

Adjusting the pattern

To ensure that mosaic tiles look neat, be extremely careful when laying them. With a chaotic installation, this will not be difficult, but if you have started an artistic composition, even the simplest ornament, take care that all positions coincide.

For some, broken ceramic tiles are just unnecessary waste, but for creative people they can become a means of implementing an original design solution or a cute craft. A mosaic made from tiles divided into fragments can create an extraordinary, exquisite decoration in any part of the interior and exterior.

From tile mosaics you can create amazing panels, even “portals” to other worlds, as in this photo. Using fragments of ceramic tiles and imagination, you can implement a lot in the interior and exterior

There are many examples of what can be made from broken ceramic tiles, for example:

  • finishing of interior items such as flower pots, vases, watch dials, picture or photograph frames;
  • garden paths made of broken tiles;
  • decoration of furniture (bathtubs, countertops, etc.);
  • cladding of swimming pools, fireplaces and stoves;
  • laying broken tiles on the floor and walls;
  • creating panels as a separate decorative element or as part of an overall surface finishing composition.

And these are not all the options where you can use broken tiles; ideas for this are presented in numerous photos on the Internet.

In crafts made from broken tiles with your own hands, you can include auxiliary elements: shells, stones, large beads and others

Basic moments

The process of finishing with tile mosaics opens up a lot of scope for creativity and involves countless ideas for decoration. You can use the pattern to create interesting designs from broken ceramic tiles. A chaotic arrangement of pieces of different sizes and colors will look no less impressive. In the first case, you can use both ready-made patterns and create an ornament from broken tiles yourself. In the second, you can forget about strictly following the graphic plan and tune in to improvisation, the result of which can be a pleasant surprise.


Some manufacturers have caught on to the trend and are producing ready-made versions of “broken” ceramics; this material is suitable for simulating aged paintings or panels

The use of broken ceramic tiles usually involves the presence of elements not only of different shapes, but also of color and texture. This type of mosaic produces the brightest and most expressive patterns. When creating decor according to a scheme, you need to take care of the presence of fragments of certain shades and their relationships.

Worth knowing!

A mosaic of broken tiles glued to special sheets is more convenient in terms of installation, but it will not be possible to lay out such intricate patterns as from fragments, which can easily be matched to any curved lines and smooth transitions.

Effective surface design can also be achieved with the help of a monochromatic design. For example, lay out paths in the country house, create an interesting pattern from broken ceramic tiles and whole tiles of the same color, or finish any other desired area.

Installation features

The principle by which a tile mosaic is laid with your own hands (diagrams and drawings for this you can come up with yourself or contact specialists) is similar to finishing with ordinary ceramic tiles, only the process is more painstaking and requires the use of imagination.


For creative people there are no restrictions in combining ceramic tiles with any other ceramics. In this photo, the master combined broken dishes and pieces of tiles. This option is suitable for a kitchen or cafe...

Finishing with broken tiles involves sequential implementation of the following points:

  1. Drawing a sketch.
  2. Preparation of material.
  3. Surface treatment for cladding.
  4. Preparation of the fixing solution.
  5. Laying out fragments.
  6. Grout.
  7. Polishing.

During the first stage, a diagram is drawn up for the desired pattern, according to which a mosaic will be laid out from tile scraps with your own hands. This point is especially important for performing complex drawings. The resulting sketch can be applied directly to the cladding area, or can be left on a sheet of paper or in an electronic version.


This kind of material can be found at sellers of finishing materials in any city. And sellers should take this opportunity into account and instead of throwing away tiles, they should organize thematic creative competitions, and sell the resulting panels and donate the proceeds to charity...

Elite smalt or gilded mosaic of broken ceramic tiles is perhaps more impressive, but its price is much higher. And broken tiles can be obtained for free or at a minimal cost. It is enough to contact the nearest construction stores or ask your friends.

Sometimes, even before making an impromptu pattern, it is advisable to think through a successful combination of shades in advance.

When you can’t find ready-made material, you create a mosaic from broken tiles with your own hands.

There are several ways to do this:

  1. Cutting out the required pieces using a tile cutter? the elements are smooth and neat, but a special tool is required.
  2. Separating parts with wire cutters? suggests some restrictions on the shape of the mosaic.
  3. Breaking fabric-wrapped tiles with a hammer? provides a faster result, and mosaics from broken ceramic tiles are obtained in different shapes. It is advisable not to overdo it with the impact force so as not to turn the material into small crumbs.

Mosaic made of broken tiles looks great in monochrome; it is a classic combination that does not require deep artistic knowledge. For more complex designs, you need to create layouts and sketches before starting work...

A mosaic made from the remains of tiles is laid out with your own hands on a surface that has been cleaned of wallpaper, dirt and covered with putty. Paths made from broken ceramic tiles require more complex base preparation, which involves digging a shallow trench and filling it with sand.

Before covering the stove with a mosaic of broken tiles, it is worth sanding the surface of the bricks and clearing the seams between them to a depth of 3 mm.

Glue or white mineral mixtures are best used as a fixing solution. If the composition requires preparation or dilution in water, then it is better to do this in small portions, since it is also applied to the surface in parts.

Finishing with broken ceramic tiles is done on a surface coated with an adhesive solution. Elements, as a rule, are not laid closely, but with small gaps, which are subsequently treated with grout.

The final polishing stage gives the mosaic pattern a spectacular appearance. But it is not recommended to subject floors made of broken tiles to this procedure in order to avoid the risk of increased slipping.



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