Specialty Products
Listellos, Tile Inserts and Mosaics
First things first, let’s talk about the different types of decorative tiles:
- Listellos - these are decorative tiles that are often referred to as liners, feature strips, borders and a variety of other terms. Listellos are usually long and linear in shape rather than square.
- Inserts/Decos - inserts are usually 2x2, 4×4 or 6×6 decorative tiles that are often sold individually and have a decorative design that indicates that they are to be used as accents and not to cover a large area.
- Mosaics - Tile sizes 2”x2” and smaller are usually referred to as mosaics and are often used with different colors to create a pattern or decorative inset. Some of these smaller tiles also come in different shapes, such as hexagon.
Here are some ideas about what you can do with them!
Remember that sometimes simple is better. If you fall in love with a decorative tile, mosaic or insert - that doesn’t mean that you have to use as many as you can, everywhere you can. Another way to think about these types of tiles is as accessories or jewelry. Sure, the shower or outfit will look fine without them, but think about how much better an outfit looks when it is properly accessorized.
Walls:
- Use a listello as a decorative band. These can be installed at chair rail height or around eye level in a wall application.
- Create a picture frame border on the back wall of a shower, tub surround or backsplash and change the inside of the picture frame to a different tile or different direction.
- Use decorative inserts to randomly scatter throughout an area. Remember that sometimes simple is better. If you fall in love with a decorative tile, mosaic or insert - that doesn’t mean that you have to use as many as you can, everywhere you can.
- Mosaics can be used in many different ways. Mosaics usually come on a mesh-mounted sheet for easier installation. These sheets can be cut into different size strips, squares or any shape you can imagine. You can really use your imagination when it comes to mosaics as to how they can be applied. Unlike listellos and inserts, mosaics can be used in large quantities for drama and effect.
Floors:
- Use listellos to create a border for the floor that will give the appearance of an area rug. Like with walls, you can change the tile on the inside to a different style, size or color.
- Inserts/Decos can be used in modular patterns to create a unique geometric looks. When using these patterns, consider using the decorative tile and scattering them randomly with the remaining tiles the same as the field tile. (if available)
- Mosaics can be used the same way as inserts in a modular floor pattern, but can also be used to cover the entire floor. This is particularly helpful when additional slip resistance is needed.
- Mosaics can also be cut down into strips and used in the same applications as listellos.
Get creative and use your imagination!
These are just a few ideas of how you can use decorative tiles to dress up an area or give it a designer look. Keep in mind that these decorative products can often be used on the floors or the walls, but not all decorative tiles can be used on the floor. Also, check to see if the tiles can be used in exterior applications or if they are only rated for interior use.
If you plan to install these items yourself, be sure to tape off any detailed or intricate designs to avoid the grout getting caught in all of the crevices. Also, when working with glass and metals, a non-sanded grout will prevent scratching of the surface of the tiles.
Shopping tip: When mixing field tiles and decorative tiles, especially from different manufacturers, keep the thickness of the tiles in mind. These differences as well as detailed designs can add additional labor costs to your project because they can be much more labor intensive.
Listellos, inserts and mosaics can transform a room from utilitarian or plain to fashionable and personalized.