Lots of people ask us about how to mosaic a table. Especially, how to mosaic a design onto a table top. This is one of our favorite types of mosaic projects and we have lots of tips and tricks to share.
In this step by step tutorial we’ll tell you how to transfer your design onto the table using the grid method. We’ll show you how to cut the tiles to fit into your design. Then we’ll share how we mix the grout and apply it to the mosaic. It’s a super fun project, and when you’re done you’ll have your own cool mosaic table made by you! We have a whole course in Mosaic on Curious.com including how to make this table. Curious is a super fun way to learn anything and you can find our lessons here.
How To Mosaic A Table
Materials
17 3/4″ Wood round
4 Table legs
Krylon Primer and Spray Paint in Mushroom Gray
1# Bag 3/4″ Mosaic Mercantile Classic Glass Tiles in each color: Mushroom (Gray), Urchin (Green), Surf (Dark Blue), Tide (Frosty Blue)
1 pound Sanded Grout – Snow White
Beacon Quick Grip Glue
Tools
Wheel cutters or tile nippers
Putty knife
Other Supplies
Disposable mixing container (like an oatmeal canister)
Stirring stick
Sponge
Paper towels
Cup for water
Pail for rinsing sponge
Spray bottle of water
Masking tape
Dropcloth
Latex type gloves
Face mask (optional)
Protective leather gloves
Safety glasses
Yardstick
Chalk
Pencil
Steps
1. Prime and paint tabletop and legs.
2. Draw your design on the tabletop with chalk. To do this, print out your design. Here’s our design if you want to use it. (Right-click to download.)
Draw a 16-square grid on the template (3 horizontal lines and 3 vertical lines) using the yardstick and pencil. Start by drawing a line through the center horizontally, then one vertically. Draw a line halfway between the horizontal center line and the top edge. Then the bottom edge. Then draw a line halfway between the vertical center line and the left edge. Then the right edge.
Draw a scaled-up 16-square grid on the wood round tabletop using chalk. The grid on the tabletop will be larger, but will have 3 horizontal lines and 3 vertical lines just like the template.
Copy the design from the print-out square by square onto the tabletop using chalk.
3. Break tiles into smaller pieces. To do this, start by putting on your safety glasses and protective gloves.
Grasp the edge of a tile with the blades of the nippers or cutters. Hold the blades in the direction you want to cut. Gently squeeze the nippers or cutters to break the tile. Repeat to make several smaller pieces of all the tile colors, but do not cut all the tiles. Leave some whole.
Here’s a video we made showing how to cut tiles for mosaics:
4. Fill in your design on the tabletop with each tile color.
Glue each piece down as you go by dabbing a small amount of glue on the rough side of each tile piece. If you can’t find a tile piece to fit in your design, repeat the tile cutting process from step 3 to cut the right size and shape piece. This is the fun part. Kind of like doing a puzzle! Continue to glue down tiles until tabletop is entirely covered. Let the glue dry thoroughly.
5. Mix the grout. Lay down a drop cloth. Tape off the edges of the tabletop with masking tape. Wear a dust mask if desired and don your latex-type gloves. Mix the grout according to the directions on the package. (Our grout required one part water to seven parts grout.) Blend the grout and water in the oatmeal canister using the stirring stick until it is the consistency of natural peanut butter. The grout stays workable for about 15 minutes, so be ready to grout the mosaic!
6. Grout the mosaic. Spread the grout onto the surface of the mosaic right over the tiles. It seems like you’re ruining the mosaic, but you’re not!
Use a sponge or putty knife to spread the grout around all the tiles. Make sure you apply the grout around the outside edges of the tabletop tiles and in between each and every tile. Remove excess grout from tile surfaces with the sponge without digging the grout out from between the tiles. Let the grout dry for 30 minutes. Check on the grout as it is drying and spray it with a mist of water if there are any areas that look like they are drying faster than the rest. This will prevent cracks.
7. Buff the mosaic. After 30 minutes, use a paper towel or damp sponge to wipe the grout haze off the mosaic tiles.
Be careful not to remove the grout from between the tiles. Let dry for another 30 minutes.
8. Buff the tiles again with a paper towel or damp sponge. Repeat the drying and buffing process if necessary.
Now sit back and enjoy your handiwork! Good job!
Jennifer & Kitty
This is BEAUTIFUL ??
Thanks Dawn!
I have been doing mosaic for a few years and feel it has never been explained so clear. thank you so much. ill grout more confidently now
How wonderful! Hooray! So glad we could help and thanks for letting us know!
Jennifer & Kitty
Can this be done on a glass table top? Like an outdoor side table.
It’s gorgeous, really love it
Yes, Debra. You can mosaic onto glass. If you want light to shine through, you can use color glass for the tiles.
Here’s a how-to: RunningWithSisters.com/party-pretty-glass-mosaic-candleholder/
Cheers,
Jennifer & Kitty
Very beautiful work
Thank you!
J&K
Where did you purchase the tile?
Hi Grace! We got these tiles from Mosaic Mercantile. You can buy their tiles on Amazon too. We also like to buy tiles from Mosaic Trader USA. https://www.mosaictraderusa.com/ Hope that helps! J&K
I am going to attemp this, in the spring. I am handicapped so I was also looking for a project that wouls also be therepuetic
Mosaics are very fun and relaxing. Hope you love it!
I would like to mosaic a wooden picnic table. Would it be possible to mosaic right over the painted wood or would I need to add something like cement board first?
Thanks.
You should be able to mosaic right onto the table. We’d recommend sanding it and priming it first to give the glue and grout a good surface to attach to. Good luck! Jennifer & Kitty
I need to do this for a company that wants a conference table, but I want to put the company name in the middle of the table, can that be done, and how?
Hi David, You can transfer a larger design using the same technique. Draw the design actual size (or make it on the computer and enlarge it). Then transfer the outline to the tabletop. Sounds like a cool project!
J&K
I made a 24X40 sign for my son-in-law’s bistro using wall tiles. The name of the place was across the entire board and looked awesome.
Hi! I have a lot of Mexican talavera tile that I am wanting to put on top of a coffee table and end table. Not mosaic, but same idea with grouting and placing tile. How did you finish your edges so nicely? Did you have to inlay the tile at all? Your project looks beautiful!
Thanks Kyla! We added grout around the outside edge and then wiped it smooth with a gloved finger. We actually have a video class for this project at Curious.com. Here’s a link. (Not sure if it still free or not.)
https://curious.com/oneilsisters/how-to-mosaic-a-table-with-a-design/in/diy-mosaic-projects?ref=w2JTTnk9Lmw
Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
Is this a free app?
Do you mean Curious? It is a paid app. But our YouTube channel is free. https://www.youtube.com/user/oneilsisters
J&K
Do you have a youtube link? Looks like curious.com is a paid site.
Yes we do! https://www.youtube.com/user/oneilsisters
Subscribe to get our new videos. We publish new ones all the time.
Cheers,
J&K
Can you please send me the diagram used for the mosaic table?
We’ll email it Sheri!
J&K
Can this be done on a glass-top table? Can I get a diagram of your design?
Thanks so much!
Yes Jennifer. You should be able to do this on glass. We’ll email the design to you. Cheers, Jennifer & Kitty
Can this table get wet? Does the grout and glue keep the pieces in place if they are rained on? Thanks.
Also, what brand or type of glue did you use?
This is beautiful. I don’t see a reference to the adhesive in the instructions. What kind did you use?
We used Beacon Quick Grip Adhesive. You could also use 100% Silicone Adhesive. Hope that helps!
What glue was used? What’s the secret to doing the edges of the table?
We used Beacon Quick Grip but you could also use clear silicone adhesive or E6000. For the edges, we made sure we grouted the outside edge of every tile, then smoothed with a damp sponge. Hope that helps. J&K
Tried grouting broken glass. Didnt eork out. Some pieces were larger than others and the edges of table were not covered. Idk.
Hi Brad, Sorry your mosaic didn’t turn out as planned. We’ve grouted broken china and cut glass. The cut glass was all the same thickness so it grouted nicely. Here’s a link to that:http://runningwithsisters.com/party-pretty-glass-mosaic-candleholder/
The broken china pieces were a little different in thicknesses, but we tried not to use pieces that were too different. http://runningwithsisters.com/how-to-mosaic-a-garden-bench/ Not sure what other tips to share without knowing more about your project. Here’s a broken glass piece we did using resin. http://runningwithsisters.com/smashing-glass-tray/ Let us know how else we can help you. J&K
Ive been collecting tables for these projects for years. Finally have some time to do them. Looks so fun; cant wait to start.
Sounds like fun!
It is fun!! J&K
Easy and beautiful. I’m going to try this
Easy and beautiful. Explanation is v. Clear. I’m going to try this
Thanks Hasanga!
Do you sell patterns for mosaic table tops. Do you sell the tiles to complete the patterns, the other things like glue, grout.
Hi Lori! We don’t sell any mosaic materials. We like Mosaic Mercantile and you can find their products online: https://www.diamondtechcrafts.com/mosaic-supplies/mosaic-mercantile/
J&K
I am new to mosaics and want to use some of my left over stained glass. Have you used stained glass for any of your projects? Looking for any tips.
Love the table and will definitely try it. What is the best base to use for outdoor use?
Thank you.
Hi Jenny, We have a glass mosaic candle holder tutorial here: https://runningwithsisters.com/party-pretty-glass-mosaic-candleholder/ That kind of project could be really pretty with stained glass leftovers.
For outdoor mosaics, we have used a wooden table and primed it against the elements. Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
Thanks for the tile cutting tips!
You are welcome! J&K
Many thanks for sharing information on how to mosaic a table, I will definitely make an attempt. Keep on being creative
Fay
Thank you so much Fay!
I wonder if this technique can be used on top of square concrete step stones
Thanks
That seems do able. We have a stepping stone project too.
http://runningwithsisters.com/steampunk-stepping-stone/
Jennifer & Kitty
I love this table. Just have to find a place to get the exact tiles. I live in Canada.How many tiles are in a package?. Pattern doesn’t state how many of each color tiles you need. Can you elaborate on the #of tiles.
Also, is it possible to email me a pattern of the table?
Thanks
Alana
Does the Beacon quick grip glue hold as well as traditional tile mastic?
Hi Catherine,
Yes, we have found it works as well. We also like 100% Silicone Adhesive.
J&K
Thank you. I have wanted to do a table like this for years. Now that I am retired I’ve got the instructions. Very nice.
Wonderful Patti!
Thank you . Really need to try.
Very well done. Congratulations. The instructions are phenomenal and I appreciate your effort..
I do steppingstones using stained glass technique. Occasionally I use the grinder. My left over glass from other large projects I use to do small projects. Nothing is discarded into the trash cans.
Very cool Luis!
I love this idea! How could I make one for outside on my patio? All the ones I’ve seen you can buy are metal…any ideas? Maybe buy a plain metal table and then attach the wood round to it? I guess it needs to be watertight, which is what is puzzling me. What do you think?
Great question Genie! You do need to be aware of weather-proofing for outdoor mosaics. So if you can do the mosaic on a metal table or cement base, that would be best. You can attach the tiles directly to the metal using the glue. Then grout it. We have a wooden table outdoors that we sealed before doing the mosaic. And sealed after. It is not direct rain and has weathered fine outdoors.
Hope that helps,
J&K
What do you use to seal the finished table or whatever when you want to use outside?
Great question Marcia,
You can buy grout sealer and paint it on. It is clear. We have our table outdoors but protected from direct weather like rain. It still looks great! Hope that helps. https://www.diamondtechcrafts.com/mosaic-mercantile/grouts-slash-adhesives-slash-sealers/grout-sealer
J&K
What do you use to edge a mosaic table top please
Hi Barbara,
We didn’t edge the mosaic. It is just the grout going around the outside edge of the mosaic pattern.
Cheers,
Jennifer & Kitty
Hi, I’ve never done a project like this before. But I have an old metal patio set I’ve been refinishing. The top of the table is metal in an open diamond pattern. Would I need to put a base down for the tile? And can it be sealed? I live in Southern Louisiana and the heat and humidity destroy most outdoor things
Hi, I’d like to do a mosaic design on a old patio table my husband brought home. The only problem is that the table is made of metal with a open triangle design. What can I put on top of the table to put a mosaic on?
Hi Darlene,
Could you have a top cut for it? Here’s a very informative article detailing all the types of substrates you can use for mosaic and their pros and cons: https://witsendmosaic.com/surfaces
Hope that helps,
J&K
It has been explained so clear. Thank you so much.
Thanks Martha!
J&K
I did a mosaic on a wood table top for outside, it started to warp and caused the grout to crack. Is there a way to prevent that from happening? Also would this work the same if I used stained glass instead of tile?
So sorry that happened! Wood is a difficult substrate (base) for an outdoor mosaic. We have had pretty good luck though, if we seal the wood with a base coat like a primer. And we try to keep wood based mosaics out of direct weather.
We have a mosaic we did with stained glass on the blog. Here’s a link: https://runningwithsisters.com/party-pretty-glass-mosaic-candleholder/
Hope that helps!
J&K
Marine ply is a wood suitable for outdoor use and weathers well – after all it was designed to be used on boats. Most people, I think, already have a table or other item they wish to put their mosaic design on so I am not sure just how useful this tip will actually be. If anyone is starting from scratch though marine ply is your best bet.
This is a fantastic tip Helen. Thanks for sharing!
Jennifer & Kitty
Hi there, I have a old metal table and would like to apply tiles to the top. Will the process you use work on this table?
Yes, it should work fine!
J&K
This is beautiful and something I’ve really wanted to try. But how did you get the glass to go from cloudy and muted to sparkling and vibrant? Did you use something special during the buffing portion of this process?
Thanks Crystal! The tiles looked muted and cloudy after the grout was applied (Step 6). After the grout dried for 30 minutes we buffed them with a damp sponge to remove all grout from the surface of the tiles. And voila! Bright tiles! Just water and a sponge!
J&K
Mosaic Artwork is our passion and specialty. We love what you ladies are sharing!
http://www.mozaico.com
Wow your shop is full of amazing mosaics! Thanks for sharing!
J&K
Hi there, I have all my materials from your list to start my project. I asked my daughter to get them as I am not allowed to leave the house at this time. ? Instead of the sanded grout, she got simple grout pre-mixed. Will this work?
Hi Penny,
We’ve had success with pre-mixed grout before, but we’ve also used one we didn’t like. The important thing is the consistency. The grout needs to be the texture and consistency of natural peanut butter. If it isn’t runny enough, perhaps you could add a little water. But be sure to read the label first. Maybe they have directions to adjust the texture and consistency.
Hope that helps!
J&K
Hi,
thanks for the instructions. My teenage son and I made a beautiful round mosaic tile table based on it. We used a wooden table top and sanded grout. I did spray it often during the drying process, but there still were several hairline cracks in the grout in the morning. I don’t mind it aesthetically, but want to make sure the whole thing isn’t going to crumble apart over time. I read your previous responses and think I will at least get grout sealer to protect it further. But is there anything else you recommend? Would it be a good idea, for example, to put some more grout on top of the finished table to fill the cracks, or would that not work/make it worse? Thanks for your advice.
Hi Monika, How fun to make a mosaic with your son! We think it would help to add more grout to fill in those cracks. Let it dry for a good long time before sealing. And yes grout sealer would be a good idea.
Good luck!
Jennifer and Kitty
Thank you for your advice. Interestingly enough the cracks shrank again over the course of the next 2 days. Now they are barely visible. So I opted to get the sealer and applied it last night. We have gotten a lot of compliments for the table already.
Thanks again,
Monika
Thanks for letting us know Monika! So glad the cracks shrank. Great news!
J&K
Thank you so much for your easy step by step process. During the pandemic it has been hard to motivate myself to do anything creative. I made a cute mosaic table top using all your directions. I just wanted to say, Thank You, and stay well.
So glad you got to do some creative stuff Pam! It has helped us so much to keep busy doing crafts.
Stay well!
J&K
Hello I checked that sight for these tiles and am unsuccessful in dining them I only see assorted bags but not the sparkly like this one. Any other information for a distributor for these tiles? Thank you!
Hi Angel,
For the Mosaic Table (https://runningwithsisters.com/how-to-mosaic-a-table/), we used a 3/4? Mosaic Mercantile Classic Glass Tiles in the Mushroom (Gray), Urchin (Green), Surf (Dark Blue), and Tide (Frosty Blue). These exact sizes and colors may no longer be available, but we found lots of pretty tiles at Amazon (https://amzn.to/30ZoVJH) and MosaicTrader (https://www.mosaictraderusa.com/). Is the Mosaic Table the project you are wanting tiles for?
Jennifer & Kitty
Ok wonderful thank you so much!!!!! I can’t wait to try this!!!!
I’m almost in tears….I worked for a month, a little bit at a time, on my first mosaic attempt. I purchased the products specific for it, and tried hard to do everything correctly. Just now I put the grout on – after letting the sea glass dry for a whole day after gluing the last pieces – and the glass pieces just started going everywhere. It was like the grout just pulled them up and the glue dissolved. I am heartbroken…..
Oh no!!! We are so sorry to hear that! Heart breaking! What kind of glue did you use? What kind of grout? Maybe you can retrieve the glass pieces and clean them to reuse them. Also perhaps you can scrape off the grout to salvage the table top. We hope you’ll try again. Sometimes having to re-do a project isn’t as bad we think. You learned a lot from the first go round and this next one will be even better. We really believe that.
How can we help you?
Jennifer & Kitty
For an outdoor table wouldn’t I want to put another product on the table after the grout process is done? I’m afraid water will end up sealing into a tiny spot. What about a polyurethane over the surface. Maybe more than one coat to give it that shiny, clear surface? Making my first mosaic anything and hope to make it so it lasts. Thank you, Patti
Hi Patti, We have used resin over mosaics before. Works great! Here’s a how-to: https://runningwithsisters.com/smashing-tile-table/
You could try polyurethane, but we haven’t tried it ourselves.
Good luck!
Jennifer & Kitty
Hi there. I love that I found you two! I bought a table specifically to do a mosaic on. The top is a laminate finish. Will the glue and grout adhere to this type of surface? Thank you
Hi Janet,
We recommend roughing up the laminate surface with sandpaper to help the glue and grout stick. You might also try a test by gluing some tiles down, letting the glue cure, then seeing if they easily detach or not.
Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
Do you think this could be done on a glass table top?
Hi Monica, Yes, we think so. We have done mosaic on glass before. Here’s a how-to: https://runningwithsisters.com/party-pretty-glass-mosaic-candleholder/ Ours was glass on glass so you can see light through it, but it should work to use opaque tiles too. Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
This is amazing. My wife and I just inherited a 6 foot round table from my grandparents made of MDF. We plan on routing out the center and doing a table like this. How many bags did you use on your 17 3/4″ round?
Hi Nate,
We used a 1 pound bag of grout. Can’t recall how much of it we used. We just googled the grout coverage and found this: A 25-pound bag of dry grouting compound, when mixed with water, usually is sufficient to grout around 200 square feet of typical 4 1/4-inch square ceramic tile that is 1/4 inch thick, with 1/8-inch grout lines. A 200-square-foot area is equivalent to a wall about 8 feet high by 25 feet wide. Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
I’d like to use your design on a 14 x 18 rectangular table. Do you have a template for that?
Awesome project and excited to try? How do you attach the table legs?
Thanks Bridge! We used four unfinished wood table legs (16? tall for a side table, 28? tall for a pedestal table) and 4 mounting plates for the legs with 5/8? screws. Similar to these: https://amzn.to/3E2pbdI
Here’s another tile table that shows how to attach the legs: https://runningwithsisters.com/smashing-tile-table/
Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty
What process do you use for a table top outside? Glue that is best for direct weather exposure?
Thank you!
Hi Sherry, For an outdoor mosaic, make sure the table can withstand moisture. We recommend sealing the table top with a primer/sealer before you mosaic. As for glue, you can use clear silicone adhesive for the mosaic. It is suitable for bathroom tiles, so it’s good for outdoor mosaics! Then seal your mosaic grout when you’re done or keep it out of direct weather. We have a wooden table outdoors that we sealed before doing the mosaic. And sealed after. It is not direct rain and has weathered fine outdoors.
Hope that helps!
Jennifer & Kitty