Rating of the best golden mosaic for 2022

Golden mosaic in the background of any interior will always become a luxurious and sophisticated detail that attracts the eye. Such a layout can be a combination of gold tile chips, amber fragments, various inclusions of glass or metal, as well as an enamel coating with sparkles. Until recently, such a design style of a dwelling spoke of the extreme wealth of the owner, but today almost anyone can create a similar interior.

Golden mosaic: general information

The main elements in the facing material under consideration are small elements - chips-plates that have a golden coating or directly contain precious metal in their structure. The latter option is very expensive and is unlikely to be widely used in the modern world, but it is quite possible to finish any mosaic panel “under gold”. Thus, a gilded mosaic can be made from:

• Sand (pebbles);
• Various natural stones and materials;
• metal;
• Ceramics;
• Glass.

Chips-plates made from these materials are subsequently covered directly with gold sputtering or gilding, and in appearance they are almost impossible to distinguish from products made of solid gold. At the same time, the coating will have the necessary degrees of protection, and therefore it can be cleaned with detergents, and its service life will be quite long. Usually, mosaic material for even surfaces is assembled from several hundred small elements (chips), with the help of which it is possible to obtain the desired picture or pattern, or create an ornament that shines with bright light.

Like all other types of mosaics, gold chips-plates can have the following shapes:

• Rectangular;
• Traditional square;
• Hexagonal;
• Octagonal;
• Oval (round);
• Wrong shapes.

IMPORTANT! It is for the mosaic of gold color that the use, to a greater extent, of traditional round and square shapes is typical.

Real golden mosaic

Its production can be divided into a couple of major areas. The most expensive direction is considered to be such a production technology in which a small piece of a sheet of gold leaf is placed between two parts of a glass chip. The latter is a very thin sheet of metal (literally thousandths of a millimeter), which is made by repeatedly striking a gold bar with a hammer. You can buy gold leaf at any jewelry point, it is usually supplied in so-called "books" of 30-60 sheets, where each sheet has a format of 10 x 10 centimeters. The average price for such a "volume" will be about 4500 rubles. By performing simple arithmetic operations, it can be calculated that a square meter of a mosaic produced by the method described above will be from 9,000 rubles. Naturally, if you purchase a "book" with more "thick" pages, then its cost will increase.

It should be noted that individualist masters most often undertake to make a mosaic based on gold leaf, making it to order, and the overall quadrature of the mosaic canvas will not impress in size, due to its high cost and laboriousness of execution. However, it is also possible to find factory versions of such products, but they should already be looked for not in hardware stores, but in specialized jewelry chains (in this field, products of the RED SOX brand are more popular).The material will (in most cases) be sold by the piece, a 40 x 60 centimeter prefabricated rectangle will cost about 600 Euros, respectively, a square meter will cost about 150,000 rubles (2500 Euros). From an economic point of view, these investments are doubtful, but their aesthetic beauty, of course, will break all records.

The second direction is more economical and involves the use of special gold-containing mixtures in chips-plates. And here we are talking not only about gold additives, because the following can be placed in the structure of the chips:

• Rhodium;
• Palladium;
• Platinum;
• Silver;
• Gold.

Combining these metals with solvents and resins will allow you to create a fairly wide range of colors, and the chips will have the qualities of a metallized surface. For example, a gold coating can give off a matte color with a gloss, be resistant to temperature changes, perfectly withstand abrasive cleaning agents, and have infusibility properties. Platinum inclusions will give the gilded surface a shade of gray or white gloss (depending on the consistency) or even turn the mosaic into full-fledged "white" gold. All of these additives can be supplied as a liquid substance for hand painting or as a gel for application to mosaics by screen printing (silkscreen). It is worth noting that the layer of precisely precious metal with such a coating will be only one thousandth of a millimeter, and its percentage in the total mass will not exceed 10 percent (the actual consumption of precious metals is much less than in the production method with gold leaf).

Benefits of Mosaic Gold

Naturally, it is its decorative value that plays a huge role in this matter. Only this quality makes it possible to create a special atmosphere in the room, giving it an aura of solidity and great luxury. If we talk about performance characteristics, then they can be the same as for other types of mosaic tiles (fortunately, it is not difficult to make the appropriate additives in the structure during production):

• Special strength and wear resistance;
• Successful resistance to premature abrasion;
• Counteracting excessive mechanical stress and damage;
• Resistance to temperature changes;
• Waterproof.

Surfaces covered with gold-based mosaics are able to maintain their presentable appearance for a long time (provided that they have a special protective coating). Caring for such a decor will not cause much trouble, and it will not be necessary to change the established interior drastically for many years.

Modern varieties of bases

The most popular option in this regard is gold-plated ceramics. It fits perfectly into the interiors of bathrooms, because it harmonizes perfectly with standard ceramic flooring. Its structure is reliable and moisture resistant, and the price is quite moderate.

It is preferable to use a gold mosaic made on the basis of glass as a decoupage for the main coating. Due to the fact that it is in the glass base that natural precious metal inserts are used, then in the general ornament (pattern) this option is used in the form of separate inclusions.

Smalt samples, although considered to be an analogue of glass, are produced according to a special method.The raw material goes through a melting process, resulting in a beautiful enamel surface. Finite elements have improved performance in terms of resistance to aggressive environments, however, they are not able to withstand mechanical loads at the appropriate level, which means that smalt mosaic cannot be used as a floor covering.

If we touch on the topic of tactile surface design, then the gold mosaic is characterized by either a corrugated (wavy) or smooth shape. The very same shade of gold is predominantly white, yellow, clarified or dark matte. The choice of the above properties will directly depend on the style of the surrounding interior. At the same time, it is worth mentioning the edges of the chips themselves - for laying out a certain type of ornament, they can be beveled in order to increase the width of the seams between the elements (this is especially true for irregularly shaped chips).

Regardless of the shape of the chips-plates themselves, they are allowed to finish almost any surface:

• Walls in rooms;
• The inner walls of the pool bowl (but not the bottom);
• window casings and their inner frames;
• Separate decor items (from vases to statues).

Principles of use in decor

The use of the material in question as a cladding for specific interior solutions has been known for many centuries. The reason for this is not only the overall presentable appearance of the material, but also the convenience of its use. Shades of gold will always be relevant, although, in most cases, such decor is quite a pretentious and bold step. In order not to overload the interior with excessive luxury, experts recommend using this decor as a complementary accent.If it is supposed to combine gold with other colors, then it is better to pay attention to neutral shades. With the help of gold mosaics, luxurious overflows are easily created, which will look great even in a minimalist interior where white and black colors predominate. The golden color also harmonizes perfectly with brown and beige colors, and with a good arrangement, gold may well fit into such a seemingly completely opposite color as blue.

An interesting effect can be a combination of different bronze and gold shades. If you correctly lay the mosaic base, you can achieve the original refraction of light, the creation of mysterious highlights and magical flicker. Simply put, with the help of gold it is easy to realize any design fantasy.

Features of use in bathrooms

Experts advise decorating this room with the following types of gold mosaics:

1. Ceramic - it has many solutions in color shades of gold - from bright gold to pale pink. Can be perfectly combined with classic ceramic floor tiles. It has special properties of reliability and moisture resistance, it is popular with potential buyers due to its adequate cost. Laying is very simple - it can even lie on old putty, and you can use ordinary two-component glue for fixing;
2. Glass - its golden glass is usually used as a decoupage base coat. The material has a catchy look, looks defiant, so it is reasonable for them to decorate separate parts of the overall mosaic picture. It can be laid individually or in whole layers.Also, it is easy to finish uneven surfaces with glass gold mosaic, for which the type-setting picture is first pasted on a flexible paper base in order to facilitate the subsequent laying process. Naturally, it will be easier to lay the finished block than to assemble the picture by separate elements;
3. Smalt - in its structure, this material is almost similar to the previous one, but it has improved performance characteristics, for example, it is able to withstand permanent mechanical loads. It is recommended to place it in common shower and bath complexes, designed for the simultaneous mass stay of people. Smalt "gold" is rarely used as decoration in paintings and ornaments because of its somewhat dullness.

Working area of ​​the sink

Decorating with a gold pattern adjacent to the sink area is a traditional design option. It can be used to solve several problems at the same time:

• Facilitate the care of the work area - soap, foam, just water often get on a vertical wall, leaving stains and stains after drying. On a golden surface, they, firstly, do not look very noticeable, and secondly, they are easy to wipe off.
• The working area will be given the most beautiful design.
• Separate gold blocks can mark the outline of the mirror located above the sink. Thanks to the mirror highlights that fall on the gold chips-plates, it is possible to visually increase the volume of the room and provide an original play of colors in it.

shower cabin

With certain types of gold mosaics, you can decorate not only the walls of this object, but also the pallet - the main thing is to choose plates with a corrugated surface and having an anti-slip coating. As a rule, such properties are possessed by ceramic variants with gold splashes.The strength of fixation can be increased by using a special cement-based adhesive composition. which at the same time increase moisture resistance.

Features of the laying process

Gold mosaics are in most cases laid by hand, although block laying is also allowed. Even when installing each chip-plate separately, it will be necessary to apply a special marking grid to the future base (which is simply necessary if real gold is present in the chips), so this work is considered jewelry. Accordingly, the stacker must have certain skills, and before starting the workflow, prepare a sketch, mix the fixing substance (glue) in the required proportions, and protect the boundaries of the future composition. All work is carried out exclusively on the principle of even placement of individual elements in a thin layer, while maintaining a uniform step for the seams between them. Of course, the whole procedure may seem very laborious, especially if not just a pattern or ornament is laid out, but a meaningful drawing.

Difficulties of choice

The goods in question are produced by not so many manufacturers, and it can be difficult to find them in retail chains. All high-quality products of this type always have accompanying documents in the set, where their technical characteristics and features are detailed. The cost will depend on the popularity of the manufacturer's brand, as well as on the material on the basis of which the golden mosaic is made. Glass with gold leaf will be the most expensive option, and painted ceramics the cheapest.

When choosing a product, you should rely on the features of the room, which is subject to future decoration. Here conditions play an important role - humidity, the possibility of temperature differences, mechanical loads.Naturally, no one will place glass samples with gold leaf on the floor of even the Sandunov baths, because they simply cannot withstand the increased traffic of these premises, even if their surface is three times corrugated.

If it speaks about the design level, then many buyers really believe that the gold mosaic brings a sense of luxury and originality to the overall interior. Nevertheless, the most expensive options remain unavailable to most buyers, so gold elements are usually used as single inclusions.

Rating of the best golden mosaic for 2022

Budget segment

3rd place: "Gold-effect glass 30 cm x 30 cm, chip size: 23×23 mm"

Made of glass with a splash of artificial gold paint. The high melting temperature of the product made it possible to create its own surface for each chip - from smooth to corrugated. The model is intended for laying in whole blocks up to 90 square centimeters. The outer parts of the chips are suitable for washing with non-aggressive detergents. It is recommended to place only on vertical surfaces. The recommended cost for retail chains is 1020 rubles.

• Different surface relief of chips;
• budget cost;
• Block styling.

• Requires the use of a special adhesive.

2nd place: "Skalini 229 30 cm x 30 cm"

The standard version of a completely artificial tile - gilded paint imitates gold, ceramic base - marble.It can be used for finishing bar counters, home decoration, for room walls and ceilings, for the bedroom, as a material for decorating columns and ceilings in the living room, walls in the bathroom, an apron in the kitchen, hammam showers, pools and baths. It is also possible facing the fireplace and the standard decoration of the premises of the house. It has high strength, moisture resistance, is characterized by resistance to elevated temperatures. The recommended cost for retail chains is 1200 rubles.

• Possibility of laying on uneven surfaces;
• Versatility of application;
• Adequate price.

• Not detected.

1st place: "COCKTAIL BELLINI 49.5 cm x 31.3 cm, chip size: 25×25 mm"

This mixture is heterogeneous and has only inclusions of gold. It is perfect for decorating rooms or for cladding them, including on uneven surfaces. The material is distinguished by amazing beauty, brightness and originality, has remarkable technical properties and aesthetics.
The Cocktail mix is ​​made directly from pure glass chips. Therefore, the walls in the house will be lined with environmentally friendly and safe material. In addition, the interior of any of the premises will acquire the features of elegance and modernity, unique style and color. The recommended cost for retail chains is 1400 rubles.

• Increased moisture resistance;
• Possibility of facing convex surfaces;
• Ecological purity.

• Not detected.

Middle price segment

3rd place: "Natural Mirror QM-2543"

This option impresses with its beauty and versatility, while it will allow you to decorate a variety of surfaces. It will be a wonderful decoration for any room and will give the interior a unique and luxurious look. It can be used for cladding floors, walls and ceilings both in residential and official premises. This finish is widely used in the interior of living rooms and dining rooms, hallways and recreation areas. Among other things, this mosaic is used to decorate furniture, fireplaces and sanitary ware. The recommended cost for retail chains is 3600 rubles.

• Simple fixation;
• Wide scope;
• A real gold-bearing mixture in the structure.

• Not detected.

2nd place: "For the pool Alma Beauty BR01"

This option consists of small tiles, so they can be faced with both flat surfaces (walls, ceiling, floor) and convex ones. The quality of such a mosaic is in great demand, for example, when finishing swimming pools, where quite often the main frame is a round or curved bowl. You can fully realize creative ideas and show imagination when using this product. An original effect can be achieved by combining tile mosaics with other materials, such as stone, where texture and reflectivity are contrasted between dissimilar materials. It is used for exterior and interior decoration of premises, on the floor in rooms with little traffic, in the shower room, on the pallet in the shower room, in pools, in steam rooms. The recommended cost for retail chains is 5600 rubles.

• Natural golden hue;
• Versatility;
• Decent combination of price and quality.

• Not detected.

1st place: Pool Natural Flex Mix TC-16

The Flex Mix series is a combination of gold and marble elements, only now these are not monochrome tiles, but mixes - mixtures. Natural Flex Mix TC-16 is made in beige and gold. At the same time, there is no strict color scheme, each block is unique and interesting. Chips are small squares with rounded edges, so they look voluminous and shiny, similar to gems. The thickness of the block is 6 mm, which makes it a universal finishing material: a material of this thickness can withstand even increased mechanical stress. But thanks to zero water absorption and staining to the full depth, this material is not afraid of water, chemically aggressive detergents, or direct ultraviolet light, does not require special care and retains its attractive appearance for a long time. The recommended cost for retail chains is 6100 rubles.

• Original combination of marble and gold;
• Excellent technical characteristics;
• Sufficient block thickness.

• Not detected.

Premium class

2nd place: "Natural Crystal BSU-11-20"

This product is a monochromatic glossy canvas. Their sparkling surface, including all the elements, looks perfect, like a crystal. The glossy finish of the coating forms an interesting play of light, making the color iridescent and sparkling. Natural Crystal not only looks great, but is also practical to use.It is unpretentious when cleaning and perfectly tolerates the effects of water, aggressive detergents, ultraviolet radiation, and temperature changes. It is possible to clad walls and floors with the product or use it as a decoration for design elements. The recommended cost for retail chains is 7600 rubles.

• High strength and durability;
• Zero water absorption of the material, which allows it to be used in rooms with high humidity;
• Environmentally friendly and safe finishing material.

• Overpriced.

1st place: "Marble and agglomerate Natural Inka BDA-1553"

The Natural Inka collection presents many original and stunningly beautiful solutions for wall decoration. In addition, various decors can be combined to create unique mosaic panels. In the production of this model, various types of natural stone were used, as well as glass with a matte and glossy, smooth and textured surface or with a pattern in the very depths of the glass. Thanks to this, an unprecedented play of light and volume is achieved. Individual elements are assembled into ready-made tiles of a convenient size, allowing you to quickly complete the surface finish. The recommended cost for retail chains is 9300 rubles.

• Environmentally friendly and safe finishing material;
• Easy to care for, cleans with ordinary detergents;
• The elements are assembled on a durable flexible mesh, which significantly speeds up the installation process.

• Too high price.

Conclusion

In addition to the great design solution that the gold mosaic will provide, the material based on tempered glass and real gold will be distinguished by increased strength, resistance to temperature changes and aggressive chemical attack. Durable and wear-resistant glass mosaic will not fade in direct sunlight, will prevent the development of microorganisms, fungi and mold.

Gold mosaic coating is characterized by resistance to moisture and various pollution, perfectly tolerates cleaning and wet cleaning, which allows the use of such a finish in bathrooms and shower rooms, bathrooms, pools, saunas and baths. There are practically no restrictions on the use of a unique golden mosaic, except for design imagination and personal preferences. Mosaic gold looks extremely impressive both in residential and official premises.