Mixed Tiles and Glitter Grout Make This IKEA Hack the Best of All Time
Furniture updates are probably my favorite type of DIY. I love giving old pieces a new look or cheap pieces a more expensive flair. Using mixed tiles is one of the latest trends to hit Pinterest, and I am in love for a different reason than you’d expect — they’re pretty much a freebie for imperfection. Let me explain: If you were using normal tile, you might run into needing a wet saw to cut the tiles to fit the surface — too much work, no good. By using mixed tile, you can work with different sizes to fit your surface perfectly. Head on over to our favorite money saving stores like IKEA, Overstock, and Home Depot to pick up everything you’ll need for this IKEA hack.
Materials and Tools:
- 15 pattern tiles
- 2 sheets of white square tile
- 2 sheets of white rectangle tile
- 2 sheets of blue glass tile (similar to this, bought at Home Depot)
- white grout
- glitter
- wood glue
- rubber grout float
- IKEA table
Instructions:
- Lay out your tiles in an even pattern on your table.
- Attach tiles to table with wood glue.
- Mix grout together with equal parts powder and water, then add in glitter. Stir until it creates a thick, soupy consistency.
- Use the grout floater to press grout into the open spaces between tiles. Then use the floater to pick up extra grout that didn’t make it into the crevices.
- Wait 20 minutes, and then use a damp sponge to wipe up the excess grout.
- Let the table dry for two hours, and then wipe extra residue off with a cloth.
This is the hardest part of the whole project — laying out the tiles so they all fit in place. Since we’re using different sized tile, and don’t have a device to trim them, we will need to use various spacing between each set of tile.
Here is our final design. Try to keep the spacing even and tiles straight as possible.
Use wood glue to set the tiles in place. Once they are laid down, you don’t have much time to adjust, so plan accordingly.
Time to mix the grout. We followed the instructions on the box — equal parts grout and water and then stir in fine glitter :) Let the grout sit for 10 minutes before using.
Use the grout floater to press the mixture into the crevices. Really use pressure to get it in. Make sure you don’t miss any cracks.
Use the same amount of pressure to wipe away the excess grout. Try to get as much grout off as you can.
Wait 20 minutes and then use a damp sponge to wipe away the excess grout. Make sure it is all gone; you definitely don’t want leftover grout drying on your tile.
Wait three hours for the grout to completely dry, and then wipe off all residue with a towel. Add your bowl of lemons and get ready to dine.
This IKEA table is updated in all the right ways.
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DIY Production and Styling: Kelly Bryden
Photography: Brittany Griffin
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