Project Ideas for Ceramic Tiles

Endless options of creativity exist with ceramic tiles.

For those who are remodeling a home, extra ceramic tiles seem to appear everywhere. Bathroom and kitchen stores often give out sample tiles for free, so when the decisions are made, many ceramic tiles are left over. Luckily, there any many project ideas for cool things to create with ceramic tiles.

Ceramic Mosaic Table

For a colorful, simple-to-make table, use old, broken pieces of ceramic tiles. You can use as many colors and size of tiles as you desire, and the result is gorgeous. Wrought iron tables are perfect for this project, and all you need is a piece of wood cut to the measurements of the table, grout, which is available at any home store, and a strong tacky glue. Gather the pieces of ceramic tile that you have, or use a hammer to crack large pieces of tile. If you are cracking large pieces, cover the tile with an old cloth so that the pieces will not fly everywhere. Pieces will come out different sizes and shapes and odd uniqueness to the table. To create the table, simply choose whatever design you want. You could make a border of one color, and put multi-colored tiles in the middle, or simply place random colors everywhere. Glue each tile down with tacky glue, leaving about a quarter of an inch in between the tiles for the grout. Wait for a day or so, mix the grout and spread it in between the tiles. After the grout has dried, wipe a wet cloth across the tiles to get extra grout off. Use your new, colorful table inside or outside.

Funky Porch Ceiling Decor

For a funky, artsy look, make ceramic tile pieces into a creative ceiling hanging. Use larger pieces of tile that have enough room to drill a small hole into it. Select seven or eight pieces in various colors and shapes, and drill one hole into the top of each. With a strong, clear fishing line, tie each piece securely to a round wire circle, and affix it to the ceiling of a screened-in porch. If you live in a windy area, tie pennies and other pieces of glass close to the tiles to get a wind-chimes effect. Use this same idea with one long piece of fishing line and the tiles become a vertical wall hanging, which is an inexpensive and funky way to add color and character to a room or porch.

Cheese Tray and Coasters

A simple use for a ceramic tile is to turn it into a classy cheese tray. If you have a large, unbroken tile, simply clean it off and set it on a counter with cheese, crackers and a knife, and you've created an elegant tray. If you have several pieces of broken tile, simply get a piece of round or square wood or an old tray, and use the same mosaic method as described above. With a little bit of work, you have a lovely tray to use again and again. If you're feeling really creative, apply the same method to smaller pieces of wood to create matching coasters.