A Blast From The Past! Mosaic Swimming Pool Designs and Medallions
How do you know that something is good?
Personally, I believe in the test of time.
In other words, if something has been around for a long while and people continue to use it, the odds are that it’s probably something great.
This isn’t always true of course.
Headaches, earthquakes, and Madonna’s music have all been around for a long time, but I’m not a fan of any of those.
However, those things are more of the exception rather than the rule.
When it comes to things like architecture and the building materials that people have used over the years, the best things are often the ones that have been around seemingly forever.
You don’t see any old houses that are made of blueberries, cotton balls, and turkey feathers, right?
And I’m sure it’s not just due to the fact that it would be pretty cruel to take that many feathers from turkeys.
No, there’s a good reason why wood, brick and mortar are popular for home building.
Those things just work and they’ve been used for a very long time.
So what if I told you that there’s something out there that has been around since the third millennium B.C.?
Seems like a crazy long time to think about, doesn’t it?
I can hardly remember who won the last few Super Bowls, let alone trying to imagine how many generations of people have been around since the third freakin’ millennium!
So if all of those people have been using something for literally thousands of years, I figure it must be worthwhile.
This *something* that I’m talking about is mosaic tile art.
And yes, it has indeed been around a very, very long time.
The very first mosaic that was ever found was located in a Mesopotamian temple, but other cultures have continued to use mosaic artwork all throughout history to decorate their swimming pools and hammams.
Now let me ask you something else.
Do you want to go through all the trouble and expense of having a swimming pool, only to have it look lame?
I’d be willing to bet that you wouldn’t!
The swimming pool is often seen as a luxury item.
If you’ve got it, you flaunt it. No house tour is complete without showing off the pool!
If you don’t, you’re probably jealous and wish you were able to go for a swim anytime you want during the hot summer months.
So it is only befitting that a lavish pool deserves to be decorated with the best materials that have withstood the test of time.
Party it up like you’re in ancient Mesopotamia, baby! Woohoo!
Sorry, I got a little carried away there.
Anyway, we’ve established that mosaic art has been around for a very long time and there must be something good about it because people continue to use it.
Now let’s talk specifics.
What is it about swimming pool mosaics that makes them such a popular choice?
For starters, almost anything can theoretically be converted into a swimming pool mosaic design.
The mosaic tiles are like tiny pixels and the pool itself is like a blank canvas where you can put virtually any design that you can come up with.
Different techniques can be used to arrange mosaic tiles in a way that create the images and artwork of your choice.
When it comes to themes, it’s really fun to get creative and figure out what you want your pool to look like!
Inspiration can come from virtually anywhere, even from some seemingly unlikely places.
Our past clients have gotten ideas from photographs, architecture, magazine clippings, famous paintings, fabric swatches, and even their dinner plates.
No matter what you choose, your pool will most likely end up looking unique and amazing, which is a huge advantage of mosaic swimming pools.
Things get especially interesting with the use of mosaic medallions.
They’re kind of like the centerpiece in the pool and they are fantastic!
They can be used by themselves or together with a matching border.
A popular choice is to have an outline around the pool using mosaic tile and then use a mosaic medallion to draw the eyes to the center as a focal point.
Just like everything else with mosaics, the medallion can be pretty much anything you want it to be.
The possibilities are seemingly endless!
Of course, none of this would matter if the artwork wasn’t durable and didn’t last over time.
Fortunately, that’s not a concern when using mosaic tile.
Mosaic tile is usually made of glass, which is a great material to use for many reasons.
Glass is non-porous, which makes it very resistant to mold, mildew, microbes, and fungus.
It’s both frost and thermal shock resistant, meaning it won’t crack from cold climates or temperature changes.
It’s also resistant to most chemicals, so things like pool water chemicals, detergents and cleaning solutions aren’t going to damage it or make the colors fade.
And best of all, it’s easy-to-clean and low maintenance, which leaves more time for enjoying the pool rather than cleaning it.
Oh, and glass is anti-slip, especially the pool floor tiles, so you can rest assured that you or any potentially clumsy people you may invite over for a swim are unlikely to slip and fall.
Another option is to use ceramic tiles, which are perfectly fine in their own right.
Ceramic tiles are covered with a layer of efficient glaze.
This makes them alkali and acid-resistant.
And much like glass, ceramic tiles are virtually unbreakable.
The ceramic material goes through a process of high-temperature firing, which gives it a very strong vitrified finish.
All truly great stuff!
Ok, now let’s talk colors.
Just like the freedom of choice you have when designing the themes and images, so it is the case with colors.
The choices are virtually limitless, but some are better than others.
The color choices that are used can create a certain ambiance and even change the appearance of the entire pool area.
Blue, turquoise, and aqua are probably the most popular choices for mosaic pool designs in terms of color scheme.
In general, lighter blue, green and aqua tiles tend to enhance the natural blue effect within bodies of water.
On the other hand, darker blue tiles can create more of a dramatic impact.
Other popular colors are green, white, grey, beige, and cream.
Each one of these choices have a distinct impact on the look and feel of the pool.
For example, green pool tile tends to give off a somewhat more natural appearance. Many people experience a cool and calming feeling when looking at green tile.
And if you have an outdoor pool, it’s best to avoid darker pool tile colors because they absorb more heat, which makes the temperature of the pool rise beyond the ideal range, especially during the hot summer months.
A much better option for outdoor pools, would be beige and cream tiles.
Those colors can create a beautiful turquoise effect.
They can also be a great choice for indoor covered pools as well, especially if they complement a beige interior.
Pro tip: consider looking at some mosaic tile samples and mood-boards before making a final decision on which colors to use.
Seeing colors on a computer screen can make them appear distorted, so it’s always better to view them in person.
Of course, the other part of the equation when it comes to swimming pool mosaics is selecting a design.
The design can make a really big impact, so it’s important to think about the desired effect that you want to create.
Would you like the pool to look bigger or wider?
Do you want the mosaic pool designs to appear modern, retro, minimalistic, eclectic, or opulent?
These are all important questions that need to be answered.
In general, having a design with horizontal lines tends to make a space look wider. Whereas, vertical lines make it longer.
You could even have criss-crossing diagonal lines to give the pool a broader look and making it appear bigger.
I especially like the criss-crossing look because it creates the illusion of movement and momentum that draws the viewer’s eye across the pool.
Another important thing to consider is how the tile relates to the walls.
Would you prefer the pool floor mosaic artwork to extend to the walls or would you rather have a visual break?
Mixing tile within a color palette that matches the floor mosaic can create a great look.
So as you can see, swimming pool mosaics, mosaic medallions, and mosaic pool designs are all amazing things!
I don’t blame the ancient Mesopotamians for using mosaics such a long time ago and I think you’d be very well off following their example as well.
Mosaics have withstood the test of time and will continue to be great well into the future.
I hope I’ve inspired you to envision just how awesome you can make your pool look with mosaics!
And when you’re ready to make those dreams a reality, don’t hesitate to contact us and ask for a quote!