DIY Tile Tabletop

A table with a ceramic tile top looks very presentable in any room, and its practicality and convenience leave similar tables made of other materials unrivaled. A ready-made table with a ceramic top costs quite a lot, and you may not like its color. A good option for purchasing such a piece of furniture is to make it yourself. Moreover, anyone who is comfortable with tools can do such work. The result of your efforts will be an exclusive table, which certainly none of your neighbors will have.

Having used the following recommendations and prepared the necessary materials, feel free to get to work.

Advantages of tile products

Ceramics or porcelain stoneware cannot be called a new solution for finishing the kitchen area. But this is an unusual way to decorate a work surface. It is easy to highlight the advantages of tiles:

practicality of ceramics - it is easy to wash and clean. No special detergents are required to clean the countertop. It is recommended to use compounds without abrasive additives;
withstands temperature changes. You can safely put on a hot kettle or put out frozen food;
moisture resistance is a guarantee that over time the work area does not deform from moisture;

Tile countertops are a great idea

To cosmetically update the table, just refresh the grout at the seams. Such minor repairs will not even require dismantling the surface. And if you choose silicone of a different color, the entire kitchen will take on an updated look.

What glue to use

Using standard cement-based tile adhesive is not advisable. Cement mortar has poor adhesion to wood. It is better to use acrylic or epoxy based glue.

It is more flexible and does not crack upon impact. It does not peel off when the wood gets wet, it is easy to apply and dries quickly. Holds ceramic countertop tiles well.

A very good option is to use Liquid Nails glue in syringe tubes, which is squeezed out with a special gun.

The glue layer should not exceed 2-3 mm. A thicker layer takes longer to dry and does not improve the strength of the connection between the ceramics and the countertop. In addition, if you lay the tiles on a thick layer of glue (mortar), you will have to use a level to give it a strictly horizontal position. Otherwise, moisture may accumulate in the recesses, and the tile may burst under mechanical stress.

The glue must be leveled with a comb spatula over the entire surface. You cannot glue tiles by applying adhesive in stripes or dots.

Types of tiles

This is an original competitor to other types of finishes when decorating a kitchen area. To cover the tabletop, ceramic squares with sides of 5, 10 or 15 cm are most often chosen. A table decorated with mosaics looks intricate and unusual.

You can successfully combine expensive designer items and textured details from other collections. The key to a stylish work area will be a natural combination of shades of elements.

This is an original competitor to other types of finishes

Ceramic variety

The material is clay. During the firing process, excess moisture is removed. Ceramics have many advantages. A variety of shades/textures, ease of installation, low cost, waterproof. Since the products tolerate high temperatures well, you can safely leave hot dishes on the table.

Disadvantage: It can crack or break off if a heavy object falls on the table. To make table maintenance easier, it is recommended to use sealed grout in a dark shade. Such compositions will not quickly get dirty and will protect the seams from grease and dirt.

Mosaic wealth

Such products are produced in squares with sides of 1, 2.5 cm. Typically, mosaics are sold in the form of large sheets attached to a mesh lining.

Advantages: easy installation, durability. The rich palette allows you to lay out original patterns and ornaments on the table. Thanks to the elegant multi-colored palette, chips on individual tiles are almost invisible.

The tiles withstand temperature changes

What tools will you need?

To lay ceramics in this case, you will need the following tools:

Grinder with a diamond wheel - for cutting tiles. A grinder will cope better with dense porcelain stoneware or thick floor tiles, as well as with shaped trimming.
The tile cutter will cut straight strips and will not produce much noise or dust.
You will need a jigsaw to update the countertop and cut the wood boards to the desired size.
A set of spatulas: rubber for grouting joints and regular metal for applying glue to the base.
Level: the cladding must be in the same plane. You can't do without a level.

Recommendations for choosing material

Basic principles of using a square:

It is preferable to line the tabletop with glazed products. This is the easiest material to maintain. Such elements are resistant to loads, temperature changes, and pollution. The main accent of the interior will be shiny squares;
The non-standard tile relief or texture will appeal to fans of original types of finishes. Caring for such products is more difficult and takes longer. Removing dirt from your countertops will require different cleaning products, time, and extra effort. The cleaning procedure will be simplified by brushes and special metal sponges;
the optimal size of squares for finishing a work area is 15x15 cm. To visually expand a small room, it is advisable to lay them out in sizes 10x10 cm or 5x5 cm. The mosaic canvas will also decorate a small kitchen in an original way and visually make the room more spacious;

A great idea is to depict a pattern or ornament made of chopped material (in the form of different geometric shapes) on the tabletop.

An original competitor to other types of finishes

This is such a stylish interior design option that the room will not require additional decor. Products with too elegant bright ornaments are used in doses - you can decorate individual zones (sink, gas stove, small countertop). In this case, the work apron is made monochromatic;
If you don’t particularly want to thoroughly wash your countertop every day, then it’s better to opt for multi-colored material. On a plain surface, dirt and minor damage are immediately visible (especially on dark-colored materials).

If other surfaces (floors, walls) are also covered with tiles, then it is recommended to take a closer look at the collections. Combining different materials (plastic, wood, ceramics) will make the work area functional and stylish.

With tiles, the room will not require additional decor

Ceramic coffee table

A small and old square table for tea drinking, which was about to be thrown away, can easily be turned into new exclusive furniture using ordinary ceramic mosaics.

After renovations in the bathroom or kitchen, several pieces of whole or split slabs are often left: they are quite suitable for mosaic decor.

Prepare for work:

Sandpaper with grains of different sizes;
Solvent for varnish and old paint;
Ceramic tiles of two samples - light and dark shades;
Hammer;
Tile adhesive;
Grout and spatula.

The work ahead is like this:

First you need to remove the old paint and varnish with solvent. The liquid is carefully applied using rubber gloves. Leave for 20-30 minutes and remove the corroded varnish with a cloth or sponge.
Next, the surface of the tabletop is treated with abrasive paper for better adhesion to the finishing material.
The tiles are placed in a plastic bag and broken into pieces of different sizes with a hammer.
On the tabletop, with a simple pencil, draw a pattern: waves of different sizes (you can lay out the pattern in three levels: the first light, then dark and again a light tone).
The work of gluing each mosaic element is very difficult, painstaking and energy-consuming, but the result is worth it.
The ends of the table are also covered with tiles.
After all the mosaic elements are fixed with glue, it is necessary to go over the voids between the fragments with grout.
They let the masterpiece dry and proudly bring it into the living room to the admiring exclamations of the household!

Installation nuances

Any construction process requires skill. If this is your first experience working with tiles, then it is better to choose a small countertop for renovation. The principle of covering walls and countertops is the same. The edges and ends of the tabletop are decorated with special ceramic corners or elements made of wood or aluminum. During repairs, several subtleties should be taken into account:

To finish the countertop, you can specifically buy materials or use leftovers. When laying it yourself, it can be difficult to accurately calculate the amount of material. Therefore, it is necessary to buy tiles slightly larger than the table area required (about 10-15%). If several types of remains have been preserved, the surface is decorated in the form of a mosaic. Moreover, the elements are selected to be of the same thickness. And to cut mosaics they use a tile cutter;
The table surface must be absolutely flat and clean. If the base of the tabletop is wooden, then it is treated with moisture-proof impregnation. For reliability, the base can be attached to the wall. The plywood base is made from two multi-layer sheets and attached to the furniture with self-tapping screws;

Stylish kitchen in a modern style

Various adhesives are suitable for installation: carpentry glue, special wood glue, cement-sand mortar with the addition of PVA. To apply the glue evenly, use a spatula. It takes 12-14 hours for it to stick well.

The finishing touch is the use of silicone sealant or epoxy resin grout.

To do the job efficiently, it is advisable to use a rubber spatula. The joints must be filled with high quality - the strength of the countertop finish depends on this. After a day, the remaining grout is removed. If you first apply masking tape, the process of removing grout residue will be quick and clean.

Loft style

Cladding base

To get a high-quality countertop made of ceramic tiles, you will need to make a reliable base.

FSF or FB plywood is perfect here.

FSF is water resistant. Its layers are connected to each other using phenolic resin;
FB is resistant to water and moisture, and is also impregnated with bakelite varnish. Not afraid of precipitation, sea water and temperature. Suitable even for outdoor use.

The base is made of 2 layers of plywood. They are connected to each other with glue or self-tapping screws. Or better yet, in a combined way. Each sheet has a thickness of 20 mm.

To complete the foundation, you will need to do the following:

first assemble and install the kitchen unit;
take measurements of the countertop you want;
on each side relative to the cabinet it will protrude 3-5 cm;
cut the plywood, cutting the fibers parallel to the facade;
impregnate plywood sheets 2 times with moisture-resistant wood products on both sides;
wait until it dries completely;
make cuts for the sink and hob;
thoroughly impregnate the end parts with moisture-proof compounds;
install the first layer of plywood sheet on the cabinet using stainless steel screws;
fix the sheet at the corners, as well as to the transverse walls of the cabinet using corners;
Apply a generous layer of moisture-resistant PVA in a zigzag pattern to the first sheet;
lay the second sheet and tighten them with self-tapping screws or intersectional ties;
an alternative solution would be confirmats, also known as furniture euroscrews;
screw the screws in increments of 15-20 cm in a checkerboard pattern;
Attach a strip of plywood 40 mm high to the ends of 2 layers of plywood.

Let's move on.

How to choose the style of the room?

The tabletop cannot be called a “capricious lady”. The surface of the table can effectively emphasize the sophistication of the kitchen set or “dissolve” against its background. It seems that the simplest solution would be to choose a countertop that matches the color of the facades. But it's not entirely simple. It is not always possible to find materials of the same shades .

There are no difficulties when installing monochrome furniture. But black will be sad, and white will be impractical. In this case, the set will visually look large and “monolithic”. To destroy these feelings, you will need bright decorative elements.

The choice of contrasting materials should be thoughtful and determined by the style of the room. A high-tech or minimalist interior can be decorated in black and white. A soft rustic mood will be better emphasized by a range of similar shades (sand/brown, white/blue, light green/green).

To create a harmonious environment, it is advisable to “link” the tiled countertop with other surfaces in the interior. A win-win way is to have the same finish on the table and window sill.

Rustic style

An excellent design move is to decorate the apron and tabletop with the same material. This duet in the kitchen can become one compositional solution.

The combination of floor finishing and work surface made of the same material looks original. Moreover, manufacturers often offer tile collections united by one shade or pattern. A stone union (squares of the same color on the floor and on the table) will give the kitchen a noble look. We must admit that such materials are not cheap.

Decoration with snow-white tiles

Necessary tools and materials for tiling a kitchen countertop with your own hands

To cover the table surface with tiles you need:

Material of the required format;
Plywood;
Special adhesive composition for laying out ceramics;
Devices for filling gaps: rubber spatula, brush, non-rigid material, etc.;
Level for construction (they use it to measure and change the arrangement of tiles);
Roulette, pen;
Apparatus for creating cuts on material;
Wood saw;
Hammer;
Electric screwdriver.

Romantic interior in Provencal style

The mild and sunny climate of the southern regions of France is associated with calm, pastel colors. Several characteristic features will emphasize the originality of the interior in a rustic style:

the color scheme is formed by light pastel shades (sand, cream, white, beige, lilac, light green);
you can lay out an interesting pattern on the work surface, but any combination of shades should not look provocative;
Provence style assumes the presence of a variety of textile decor (curtains, tablecloths, pillows, upholstery). The shades of textile patterns should be reflected in the palette of the tabletop.

As an option mosaic tiles

Ceramics with plant motifs will be an excellent decoration for the kitchen countertop. Motifs depicting fruits and vegetables look interesting as decor.

To prevent such surfaces from looking too patterned, you can use this material to decorate a small area of the countertop near the sink.

Advice To create a homely atmosphere, it is better to choose products of small sizes - 10x10 cm or 15x15 cm. Discreet and cozy interior: white and blue kitchen.

The work surface is laid out with blue tiles. A kitchen apron, decorated with pale blue squares with small plant patterns, will harmoniously complement the work surface. The role of the plinth will be played by a strip lined with the same blue tiles as the table.

The blue frieze will elegantly border the ceramic plinth. A milky kitchen set will visually soften the coolness of the blue tones. White grout will give the countertop an elegant look and make it visually lighter.

Porcelain tiles are a more budget option

An easy option for creating a cozy interior is to lay out identical squares on the kitchen apron and work table. Choose contrasting shades or to match the color scheme of the interior.

An original option for finishing a desktop is rectangular products that imitate a wooden surface . In the manufacture of ceramic elements, clay, special additives to improve the structure, and quartz sand are used. Which material to choose, glazed (with single/double firing) or matte, is up to the residents to decide individually.

The wooden surface is easily imitated by tiles of different shades. For a soft, calm Provencal style, light-colored material (oak, maple, birch) would be a win-win option. Patterned textiles with floral designs will bring a play of colors to the interior.

In calm beige color

A fashion trend is to use it with a worn effect. The material imitating aged wood looks elegant and noble.

Metal square garden table decor

Metal furniture is first painted with a special paint, using an aerosol for painting or dipping it into the paint with a regular dishwashing sponge. The dried table is covered with glossy varnish.

Then glue is applied to the cleaned and degreased surface of the countertop with a wavy spatula and the tiles are laid out in rows.
The glue dries very quickly, so apply to small areas.
All seams and irregularities are grouted with black grout (if the furniture is painted black, and light grout if the metal is white/beige).

If you wish, you can radically update the color scheme of the furniture - paint it a different color (white, for example) and select the tiles for the tabletop taking into account the shade of the legs and the supporting structure of the table.

Sunny Mediterranean flavor

A kitchen decorated in a bright mood looks summery and joyful at any time of the year. Natural materials (wood, stone, metal) are used to decorate the kitchen. The range of natural shades (cream-yellow, greenish-sand, white-blue) evokes only positive emotions. The Mediterranean interior can be given a different character:

in the Italian direction stone dominates. The material is used for finishing literally all surfaces (floor, walls, ceiling). Stone squares are incredibly convenient in everyday life and look very colorful. You can decorate the work surface with textured material. Suitable colors – gray, brown;

Stylish kitchen in dark colors

The Spanish interior will be decorated with bright azulejo tiles. This unique material will refresh a wall near the work area or an apron in an unusual way. To prevent the kitchen from looking provocative or colorful, choose a plain, dark-colored material for the tabletop decor;
Greek-style kitchens are characterized by the use of rough-finished wooden surfaces. White plastered/painted walls will highlight the natural grain of the wood. The kitchen decor looks somewhat laconic, but at the same time fresh and light.

When decorating a kitchen in a Mediterranean style, it is not necessary to create the decor in perfect condition.

On the contrary, some irregularities, chips, cracks will emphasize the naturalness of the situation.

Classic style

An excellent option for an Italian-style kitchen: the walls are plastered and painted with matte sand-colored paint. The kitchen apron is lined with decorative rectangular red brick tiles imitating brickwork. The tabletop is decorated with squares of sand-colored porcelain stoneware (to match the walls).

Appliances with chrome surfaces will dilute the brown color. The hood is made of the same metal. Light sand-colored kitchen facades will visually make the room lighter and more spacious.

Small square azulejo products will add unusual brightness to a Mediterranean interior with Spanish notes. Each square can be an independent picture or part of a national ornament. In order not to distract attention from the bright decor, single-color tiles are selected for the desktop.

To maintain the glossy shine of the wall surface, choose glazed ceramic squares or shiny porcelain tiles for the table.

When everything is in the same style and in the same color

The ascetic Greek Mediterranean style is distinguished by simple forms. The interior is strictly decorated, monochromatic light shades, combined with wooden elements, give the atmosphere coziness and tranquility . In such a kitchen it is pleasant to welcome guests and chat leisurely. The countertop, lined with square ceramic tiles, is easy to care for.

Making a countertop

You will need three square ceramic tiles measuring 80x80 cm, 60x60 cm and 40x40 cm. First you will need to make markings.

After that, cut a square hole in the center of each of the three tiles. We insert a 60x60 cm tile into the large tile, and a small tile into it. Insert another tile into the hole in the small tile. In general, everything is clearly visible in the photo below.

We make the formwork and then fill it with cement mortar. Be sure to use reinforcing metal mesh.

Laconic minimalism

Simple and practical style will appeal to dynamic people. The kitchen is not forced with many decorative elements. Therefore, the room always looks spacious and clean. Distinctive features of the interior:

the color scheme can be any. But most often the style is associated with monochrome. Surfaces made of modern materials are welcome: glass, plastic, metal;
the surface of the furniture should be smooth. Any textured items will violate the design style;
gloss is the most popular option for kitchen facades. The contours of the furniture are always strict, with clear lines.

The main thing is that everything suits your taste

This style is ideal for small spaces . Since glossy surfaces reflect light well, the room visually looks more spacious and free.

Glazed ceramic tiles or smooth porcelain stoneware are suitable for finishing the table. As a rule, no more than three shades are combined in the interior. And the tabletop is usually made white or black.

Most often, materials of the same color range are chosen for the apron and table surface.

Tiles with a glossy surface will add sophistication to the interior. Products with inscriptions have become a new trend. This type of countertop will give the kitchen a stylish, creative look. The original inscriptions look unusual. This decor will unobtrusively decorate the room.

As an option, for a small kitchen in a studio apartment: a kitchen with white plastic glossy facades, a matte dark blue wall. The surface of the table is decorated with shiny porcelain tiles in a rich dark gray color.

Advice To make the work surface and the wall look almost like a single whole, a compound for grouting the joints is selected to match the color of the finish.

Combined with wood

If you want to “hide” the kitchen in a small apartment, then choose furniture fronts to match the walls. A white kitchen with a shiny white porcelain stoneware countertop literally “dissolves” into the surroundings. To soften the sterile look of the environment, the room has a dark purple sofa. A small rug made from elements of simple geometric shapes in different colors (black, gray, white, dirty yellow) will give the room a stylish look.

VIDEO: How to make a countertop beautiful and practical?

Tile countertop

Pronounced and practical

Mosaic for a round wooden table

Tools and materials for work:

Several bags of ceramic mosaic tiles in blue, beige, orange, dark blue, green (swamp) colors;
Tile adhesive;
Sander;
Abrasive paper (coarse and fine-grained);
Light epoxy grout for joints;
Varnish-stain for wood with a light light shade.

The wooden table is prepared: it is cleaned, puttyed, primed, cleaned again and the surface of the legs is varnished, and dust is removed from the tabletop.

They take several bags of mosaics and lay out the drawing on the table to estimate the final result.
And only after that they begin to glue one mosaic element at a time.
A spiral pattern (lay from the center) or a chaotic pattern (suitable for beginners) looks beautiful.
The edges are decorated using a tile cutter and nippers.
When working, wear safety glasses and stretch your arms forward when breaking off pieces (they fly quite far).

After the tiles are completely laid and the end edges are glued, a light grout is applied to the surface. Remove excess with a cloth and a damp sponge. The table is ready!

If desired, ceramic tiles can also be glued onto glass countertops and plastic tables (using a special technology). You can update worn-out and boring tables by replacing the table top with tiled mosaics and tiles.

This decor has many advantages: budget savings, original author's design for little money and the creation of a durable coating with good performance characteristics!