What to Buy for a Mosaic Workshop

A mosaic workshop needs more than tiles and glue. You’ll need enough cutting tools, wooden bases, brushes and protective equipment for people to work without waiting, plus covered tables and good lighting. Plan drinks and simple catering separately, and check power access before bringing kettles, a coffee maker or a projector. This shopping list helps you gather the materials, tableware and equipment before participants arrive.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 36
Work stoolsqty 4
Tableclothsqty 8

Equipment

Projector
Projection screen
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 6
Portable lampsqty 8

Kitchen

Kettlesqty 2
Coffee maker
Coolersqty 3

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 40
Platesqty 40
Bowlsqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving spoonsqty 8

Art supplies

Mosaic tilesqty 12
Mosaic tilesqty 15
Wooden basesqty 36
Tile nippersqty 12
Mosaic pliersqty 12
Glue brushesqty 36
Mixing bowlsqty 40
Spatulasqty 36
Spongesqty 40
Apronsqty 36
Floor matsqty 36
Glovesqty 40
Safety gogglesqty 36
Pencil setsqty 12
Rulersqty 12
Templatesqty 12
Drying racksqty 6

Decorations

Name badgesqty 40
Table signsqty 8

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 4
Cleaning clothsqty 12
Waste binsqty 6
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Mop setsqty 2

Safety

First aid kit

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 pack
- Milk - 4 liters
- Oat milk - 2 liter
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 4 bottles
- Cola - 3 bottles
- Cola Zero - 3 bottles
- Sinas - 2 bottles
- Apple juice - 2 cartons
- Lemons - 6 pieces
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Paprika chips - 3 bags
- Plain chips - 3 bags
- Tortilla chips - 3 bags
- Salsa - 3 jars
- Mixed nuts - 2 bags
- Rice cakes - 3 packs
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 1,5 kilograms
- Carrots - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 2 kilogram
- Apples - 36 pieces
- Bake-off rolls - 40 pieces
- Wraps - 40 pieces
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilogram
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Plain hummus - 4 tubs
- Chicken breast slices - 1 kilogram
- Avocado - 8 pieces
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Pesto - 3 jars
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Cookies - 5 packs
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Sugar packets - 1 box
- Stir sticks - 1 pack
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Cling film - 1 roll
- Aluminum foil - 1 roll
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 4 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Paper towels - 4 packs

Tips

Buy enough mosaic tiles for each design, with extra pieces for mistakes and breakage. Sort them by colour or type before the workshop so participants can start working straight away.
Provide enough tile nippers, mosaic pliers and glue brushes for each table, not just one set for the whole room. Sharing cutting tools between several people quickly creates delays.
Cover every workstation with tablecloths and protect the floor with mats before materials are distributed. Keep sponges, spatulas and mixing bowls together so adhesive and grout can be handled without searching.
Count chairs and work stools against the confirmed participant list, then leave clear space around each table for guidance. Portable lamps are useful when overhead lighting does not show small pieces clearly.
Prepare drinks and serving items before the workshop begins: chill drinks, set out reusable cups and arrange coffee and tea equipment near the reception table. Keep gloves and aprons easy to reach during the safety briefing.

Frequently asked questions

How many mosaic tiles do I need per person?: Use enough tiles to cover the planned wooden base, then add roughly 15–20% extra for cutting, mistakes and breakage. The exact amount depends on the base size and the design, so prepare a test piece before buying the full quantity.
How many tile nippers should I buy for a mosaic workshop?: Aim for one pair of tile nippers or mosaic pliers per 2–3 participants. For a group of 12, that means 4–6 cutting tools, so people spend less time waiting.
What should I protect the tables and floor with?: Cover every table with a tablecloth and place floor mats below work areas where tiles may fall. Set this up before distributing materials, because small shards are harder to clear once the workshop has started.
When should I prepare the mosaic workshop supplies?: Sort materials, prepare designs and print handouts at least 1 day before the workshop. Set up tables, lighting, drinks and participant materials on the day itself, before arrivals and the safety instructions.

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