Warm summer days are not as long as we would like. I really want to preserve the positive summer, its sunshine and festivity in the off-season, when daylight hours are short and we lack bright colors. Meanwhile, there is such a wonderful way of decorating landscape elements as mosaics. Thanks to such a simple, at first glance, method of decoration, you can give exclusivity to any structures on the site. Modern designers forced us to rediscover this half-forgotten reception, and returned to it its former attractiveness and freshness. As in practice, you can apply the mosaic on your site, we will try to tell you.
Selection of material for mosaic compositions
There are a variety of materials with which you can create wonderful mosaic compositions. In this quality, not only standard glass mosaic tiles purchased in the store can appear, but also completely unexpected products that we usually neglect. For example, plastic bottle caps.
Materials for making mosaics are as diverse as the decorating technique itself. The mosaic lover has a chance to make his house and garden unique
In addition to the already mentioned materials, they most often use:
- ceramic tiles (whole and in pieces);
- any battle of glassware, ceramics, earthenware or porcelain;
- colored quartz sand;
- pebbles or small pebbles;
- melted colored glass;
- coins;
- shells or their elements;
- any small format material if it can be used for paving.
The very idea of the panel, its drawing is important. The right combination of the place chosen for the mosaic, the texture of the material and the intended image will give the very effect that we need so much.
Where can i apply the mosaic?
Experts say that modern mosaics can decorate the surface of any configuration and curvature. It can be not only a flat wall, but also a bowl-shaped bottom of the pool, a detail of a garden sculpture. In order for elements that are 2.4 x 2.4 cm in size to accurately cover the entire surface of the figure, a minimum radius of kink of 5 cm is necessary. For example, a ball that looks like a small peach meets the necessary parameters!
Do not be afraid, no one covered the cat with mosaic. This small garden sculpture is just an illustration of the enormous potential of the mosaic.
Option # 1 - decorate garden paths
Sometimes the desire to make a beautiful mosaic path runs into a shortage of supplies. But it’s not at all necessary to cover the path with mosaic along its entire length. A combined design option is acceptable, in which only one surface segment is closed with decor. You can alternate segments with mosaics and ordinary ones, covered with elements of concrete, stones or brick. Quite often, colored pebbles are used to decorate garden paths. There really should be a lot of material in this case.
Such a garden path looks nice and functional: in the rain, water will not accumulate on it, and it is unlikely to become slippery
Option # 2 - paving the courtyard
The best option is not to decorate the entire courtyard, but only the dining area or the area near the pool. Often this is how the area around the fountain is decorated in buildings made in oriental style. You can, of course, cover the entire space with a mosaic, but will it be beautiful? It is very important to maintain a sense of proportion, and be guided by it.
The drawing can be created in accordance with the general style decision chosen for the site. The easiest option for paving the courtyard is to use contrasting strips or an elementary geometric pattern. Using different materials, you can even imitate complex carpet ornaments.
The use of mosaics in this corner of the garden is justified. Here you can sit, drink coffee, enjoy the fresh air, and just relax
Option # 3 - mosaic pool
It is possible to revet not only the sides of the reservoir, but also the very bowl of the pool. Not only the elaborate panel, but also the most ordinary plain cladding looks spectacular. However, having such a field for creativity, it is difficult to deny yourself the creation of a unique design for this building. Although it is sometimes easier to buy ready-made panels in the store. It is important not to overestimate your capabilities.
Such a panel can only be done by a professional artist who has mastered all the subtleties of craftsmanship. If you want to decorate your pool with it, just buy it
Ceramic or glass mosaics are most often used for lining pools, but pebbles may also look peculiar, which should also not be forgotten. If you use pebbles to pave the bowl of the pool, then a walk along its bottom will be at the same time a light massage for the feet. In addition, the surface covered with this natural material will not be too slippery.
Option # 4 - fountains, waterfalls, outdoor showers
A mosaic can be an excellent decoration for small objects related to water: drinking and decorative fountains, small drinking bowls for birds, artificial waterfalls of various sizes, as well as for a summer shower, which is operated only in the heat. If the courtyard is made in modern style, it is preferable to use a smooth cladding. For the classic version, textured material is more appropriate.
Like a piece of the Garden of Eden - this is exactly what you can say about this wonderful waterfall, next to which I would like to be a hot day
Mosaic can cover not only a new shower, but also a building that was erected on the site for a long time. You can refine several walls or only one. Smooth cladding can greatly simplify object care. Modern minimalist shower panels look very original. In order to freshen up after gardening, such a panel is optimal. You can bring water to it directly from the house.
This bright element of garden decor is small, but very appropriate in the heat. No wonder the very form of the soul reminds of freshness, coolness and sea waves
Option # 5 - wall decoration
A smooth vertical surface simply asks to put some kind of image on it. If the courtyard is small, it is recommended to enclose the walls, entwined with greenery. Such a frame creates an amazing optical effect: it seems that you are surrounded by a large and spacious garden. But it takes some time to grow such a wall. So why can’t you create a suitable wall picture with a mosaic?
Covering the wall with a mosaic imitating a growing and flowering tree, the artist seems to push away the barrier to the eyes, makes the garden permeable to positive emotions
The mosaic can cover the part of the facade adjacent to the recreation area. For this purpose, you can use a ready-made panel or show your own imagination and creativity. Surely you and the material suitable for the case after repair and construction work remained. One that throw a pity, and the use of which has not yet been found. We offer a video with an example of such work:
The beauty of the mosaic is that with its help you can realize anything! Fantastic landscapes, fairy-tale heroes, incredibly beautiful landscapes will appear in your garden - something that under no circumstances would not be here if it weren’t for your amazing fantasy and purposefulness in its embodiment.
Garden, retaining and decorative walls in a mosaic version can avoid complex landscape compositions and even reduce the need for a large number of decorative plantings. And this means that you can, without losing the external attractiveness of your site, spend more time on outdoor recreation, close friends and pets, and not on weed control and plant care.
This panel on a solid fence makes the fence itself and the surrounding space part of a fantastic landscape that just gushes in positive
Option # 6 - flowerbeds, flowerpots, borders
Flower pots, flowerbeds and flowerpots can be decorated with pieces of glass, ceramics, tiles and even DVDs. Any flowers in such a frame will look festive and bright. Properly selected decor will emphasize your chosen style of the site. To give the tree a formal look, the border surrounding it must be lined with fine tiles of the same tone. Contrast or a single tone will help to highlight it or, conversely, integrate it into the common space of the yard.
Uncomplicated, but pleasant to the eye mosaic decor refreshes the flowerpots and, importantly, gives them the same look, helping to fit them into the planned landscape design
Option # 7 - decor of garden furniture
Thanks to modern adhesive compositions and mortars used in construction, you can mosaic literally any surface from metal to wood, not to mention concrete. Most often, the table top is decorated in a dining group or an “apron” in the summer kitchen. Although you can even veneer chairs or makeshift chairs and benches.
An absolutely charming table is served for tea. Now they will put on it a dish with buns and a bowl of jam, and fragrant tea will be poured into cups
General rules for performing mosaic work
In order for the mosaic to please you with its presence for at least ten years, listen to our recommendations:
- choose a picture that is guaranteed not to annoy you: try not to use too many different colors;
- adhesive or mortar should be suitable both for the elements of the mosaic and for the base on which it will be attached;
- primers give the desired roughness to a smooth surface;
- for absorbent (wood, concrete) and non-absorbent (metal) substrates, different primers are needed;
- All materials used must be for external use.
When creating a complex mosaic pattern, we recommend sketching it. The large-scale drawing is better to lay out on the ground first. Suppose we decided to make a round mosaic in a garden on the surface of the earth.
The concrete base hardens quite quickly, so it is very important to arrange the pebbles in advance in color and prepare for work
For marking, we need pegs and a strong twine. We drive one peg into the supposed center of the future composition. Using the rope tied to it and the second peg as a compass, we outline the circle of the desired radius. Approximately 12 cm in depth, we take out the soil from the formed circle. We make the bottom of the formed pit even and compact it well.
The more thoroughly all stages of work are completed, the better the result will look. Mosaic is worth a little time.
From thin strips of metal that can be bent, create a rounded formwork, place it around the perimeter of the pit. Pour crushed stone (5 cm) into the circle, fill it with a solution of sand and cement (3 cm), place the reinforced mesh on top, on top of which we pour the remaining solution (3 cm).
You can lay out the mosaic after a short period of time, when moisture from the surface evaporates a little and the solution sets. So that the pebbles placed in the solution deepen well, we drive them into it with a mallet. After the completion of the work on the formation of the pattern, we close up all the joints using a special mixture that is used in working with tiles.
The work is coming to an end. It is necessary that pebbles not only imprinted in concrete, but also all its elements were well bonded to each other
Video collection of other unusual ideas
Wait a few days for the mosaic to dry completely. Then you can fully enjoy your creation.
