How to Tile a Coffee Table With a Mid-Century Modern Look

Tile Selection

• Base your tile selection for your new coffee table on the shape of the table, the furnishings in the room where it will be displayed and the colors of your home. A wealth of different Mid-Century modern tile is available, from Arts and Crafts tiles with geometric designs to mosaic penny tiles in bold colors. Look for a tile that will follow the shape of your table's edges so you can avoid making awkward cuts along the sides. If your tile has a raised edge around the perimeter, measure the depth of the interior and select a tile that is slightly thinner than this depth to give you a perfectly flat surface when you are done.

Layout

• Take the time to lay out the tiles on top of the table before you begin installing. Ideally, lay the tiles so the pieces around the perimeter of the table are the same size, or the tiles on each of the parallel edges of the table are the same size. This gives the table a balanced look. Try starting your layout from several different places on the table and adjust it until you find the right look. Make one layout from the center of the table radiating outward, a second from the center of one side of the table, and a third layout from the center of the side perpendicular to the first. When you find the layout that works best, take a photo for reference before removing the tiles.

Cutting and Setting

• Many tiled tables require cut pieces to fill in the perimeter. Mark the tiles to be cut during your layout, holding them in place while you trace the table's edge onto the tile. Cut smaller tiles with a pair of tile nippers; cut larger tiles on a wet saw for clean edges. Spread a layer of tile mortar onto the surface of the tile with a trowel. Drag the notches of the trowel through the mortar until it is uniform in thickness. Flatten out the groove marks if you are installing mosaic tiles; leave them in if you are installing larger tiles. Press the tiles into the mortar in the same order you determined in the layout and allow the mortar to cure for 24 hours.

Grout and Finish

• Grout your tiled table to complete the installation. Spread grout over the entire table at one time with the edge of a grout float. Hold the float at a 45-degree angle to the tile and direct the grout over it from several angles to pack it into place. Allow the grout to set up for approximately 10 minutes, then wash the surface of the tiles with a damp grout sponge to remove the excess. Squeeze a bead of caulk around the outside perimeter of the tiles to give the table a clean, finished edge. Let the grout cure for 24 hours before using your table.