Paint A Terrazzo Effect To Save Money On Your Bathroom Tiles

Many people choose terrazzo floor tiles for their stylish design and seemingly endless customization options. Terrazzo tiles are made from chips of marble, quartz, glass, or other materials set in cement or resin. These tiles are a popular choice for those looking for a sleek, polished look for their bathrooms. Unfortunately, many are put off once they realize how much terrazzo flooring costs. This material can be a hefty investment, coming in anywhere from $10.82 per square foot to as much as $34.89 per square foot, and these amounts don't include the cost of removal and installation of new tiles. There is a way to get the terrazzo effect on your existing floor tiles for much less money, though. All you need for this DIY bathroom floor upgrade is painting supplies, primer, paint, decorative chips, clear coat, and a slip-resistant paint additive.

This is an easy way to elevate the look of your bathroom without spending a lot of money — the total cost of materials should come out to under $60 with some smart shopping. Painting a terrazzo effect on your tile floor also saves you from having to remove old tiles and do grout work. It's even quicker than a full install, and the only additional time you'll have to factor in is waiting for the primer, paint, and clear coat to dry. Add in the fact that this DIY can be completely customized to align with your taste and existing decor, and you have the perfect bathroom upgrade.

To start this project, remove any bits of silicone from the edges of the tiles and scrub the whole floor thoroughly. Then, rinse and dry the floor and apply painter's tape around the edges. Next, apply a coat of primer to your floor using a paint roller and allow it to dry between six and 48 hours. When the primer is ready, apply a base coat of paint to your floor and allow it to dry completely. This usually takes between six and eight hours. 

When the base coat of paint is dry, it's time for a second coat. Instead of using broad strokes to apply the second coat of paint, it will be applied tile-by-tile and you will immediately sprinkle your decorative chips into the wet paint. The chips should be spread by hand to help ensure their even distribution. Then, allow the paint to dry for another six to eight hours. When the paint is dry, mix your slip-resistant additive into the clear coat and apply it evenly over the entire floor. If you notice places where more colorful chips should be added, do that now. After a few hours, apply a second layer of the mixture and lightly sprinkle some slip-resistant powder over the whole floor. Allow your new terrazzo tile floor to dry for 24 hours before walking on it and 72 hours before placing furniture on it.

The easiest way to customize this project is to switch up the color palette. Terrazzo flakes are available in plenty of different colors, from a mixture of grey hues to vibrant red. It's also possible to make your own. This is done by mixing jesmonite, resin, and pigments, spreading it on a flat surface, waiting for the ingredients to dry, and breaking the product into pieces. You can also make terrazzo chips with just paint. To do this, spread a layer of paint onto parchment paper and let it dry for 24 to 48 hours. Once you're sure it's dry, crumble the sheet into small flakes. This is great for matching your terrazzo floor with the bathroom's wall color. You could also be strategic in your paint choice and choose a paint color that makes your bathroom look bigger.

Another fun way to customize your bathroom is to redo the counter with a faux terrazzo finish. This is done using a similar method to the floor, but you'll finish off with a coat of epoxy. If having both a terrazzo floor and counter is a little too much for you, you could simply add a terrazzo finish to just your towel and toilet paper holders to help make your bathroom look more cohesive. Another idea to add a touch of texture around your bathroom without overwhelming the eye is to paint terrazzo tiles to border your tile shower or wall. For this, you will use the same method used to cover the floor.