How to Decorate With Stone Tile on a Kitchen Countertop

Lay out your design. Arrange the tiles how you would like them to go on your countertop. Place the tiles in order on a flat surface nearby. This will help you visualize your new countertop as you work and make it easier to see which tiles you will need next.

Cover the counter surface in tile mud. Use a trowel to apply a thin layer of about 1/4-inch thick to the counter surface. Smooth out the mud and use a marking trowel to create ridges in the mud so the tile will adhere properly.

Begin laying the tile. Start with your border tiles on one corner and lay out the entire first row of tile. Press each tile into the mud firmly. If you are using grout between the tiles, use spacers between each tile to keep the space even. Once the first row is complete, move to the second row and repeat. Use your regular center tiles, except on the edges where the border goes.

Lay the center design tiles. You should have a blank space between the finished tile and the rest of the countertop. Arrange your center design tiles and press them firmly into the mud. Finish the decorative section and move on with regular and border tiles to complete the row. Place spacers between each tile as you work.

Finish laying the tile. Place the remaining tiles according to your design. Scrape off any excess mud around the tiles with your trowel before the mud dries.

Add your grout. Remove the first row of spacers and add grout between the tiles. If grout gets on the tile, wipe it off gently with a damp cloth. Continue until all of the tile has been grouted. Do not place anything on the countertop for up to 48 hours, until the mud and the grout have enough time to cure and set properly.