Mosaic Table Top Steph Potter Blue Mandala

Centering Mosaic Table Top Designs

Artist Stephanie Potter‘s mosaic table top designs are mandalas that catch and hold the eye with contrast, symmetry, and visual interest. They are centered so that the outer circle of tile is at the edge of the circular table tops.

Mosaics made on wooden table tops are for indoor use. Outdoors, the wood swells and contracts with changes in humidity, and that causes tiles to pop off.

Mosaic Table Top Steph Potter Iridescent Glass Mandala
Mosaic Table Top Stephanie Potter Iridescent Glass Mandala

Of course, it is easy to explain how you keep a design centered if you draw out all the work lines for the rows of tile, which would be more or less required for such detailed, symmetrical designs like these made by Stephanie.

But how do you center a mosaic on a round table if your pattern doesn’t show every row of tile? What do you do when you want to improvise a figure in the center of a table but still surround it with concentric rings of tiles where the outermost ring of tile is at the edge of the table?

The answer is that if you need the outermost ring of tile to be at the edge of the table, put them there. Then improvise the figure in the middle. Then fill in the background between the figure and the outermost ring of tile.

For improvised mosaics, this portion filled in last is where you can make slight adjustments in number of rows or spacing or piece size if needed.

Mosaic Table Top Steph Potter Blue Mandala isometric
Mosaic Table Top Stephanie Potter Blue Mandala isometric

Sides of Table Tops

What to do about the sides of a mosaic table top?

Many people choose to leave the sides un-tiled because the sides of a table top are subject to sharp blows from chairs, walls, door frames, etc., and there tends to be a lot of impact behind these blows because of the weight of the tiled table top. Tiles can get knocked off that way, and so leaving sides un-mosaiced is a natural choice if you are making something for a restaurant or other public space.

For the homes where more care is taken, the sides of the table top could be mosaiced without too much worry, and it does make the mosaic table top look more substantial.

Mosaic Table Top Steph Potter edge detail pre-grout
Mosaic Table Top Stephanie Potter edge detail pre-grout

Cut Edges

Cut edges of tiles should be smoothed with a Ceramic-Marble File or better yet, a Diamond-Grit File. Sharp edges can cut hands during the grouting process, and grouting doesn’t fully cover the edges. Grout can erode from gaps over time and expose sharp edges even more.

Mosaic Table Top Steph Potter Violet Mandala Pre-Grout
Mosaic Table Top Stephanie Potter Violet Mandala Pre-Grout
Mosaic Table Top Steph Potter Violet Mandala detail
Mosaic Table Top Stephanie Potter Violet Mandala detail

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7 responses to “Centering Mosaic Table Top Designs”

  1. Kay Stone Avatar
    Kay Stone

    I really appreciate you taking the time to share “how to’s” with us. It really helps me with my mosaics and gives me confidence to try new things. Thank you.

  2. Mickie Reynolds Avatar
    Mickie Reynolds

    Love This!

  3. Alice Sperling Avatar
    Alice Sperling

    Is there anything you could finish these with for outdoor use? We’d bring it in for the rainy winter (Oregon).

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      Hi Alice,

      In most locations, the day-night humidity cycling are enough to cause problems. If I were forced to place a wooden mosaic table outdoors, I would varnish the devil out of the non-mosaic wood to seal out the humidity.

      I hope this helps!

      1. Alice Sperling Avatar
        Alice Sperling

        Yes, helps a lot!

  4. Dawn Mackey Avatar
    Dawn Mackey

    Would Tempered glass work better outside. Is there special grout for outside?

    1. Joe Moorman Avatar
      Joe Moorman

      I’ve not seen tempered glass tile on the market. Grout is the same indoor and out, and it should be sealed with a tile and grout sealer. Thanks!

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