The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how to save a bunch of money while adding a time-honored and luxurious decorative look to any room.

Tile mosaics were used in the ancient world for domestic interior decoration. These murals can be found as far back as the 4th Century B.C. Today, ceramic tile murals are highly sought after. The problem is that they are very expensive. Tricking the eye, or Trompe L'oeil, is also very popular today. Creative painting and photo techniques allow homeowners and apartment dwellers alike to open up space, create light where there is none, and create other interesting visual effects to enhance the look of a room.

In today's smart world, designing on a tight budget is both a challenge and an opportunity. It feels great when you get the look you want and have money to spare. Here is a quick example. Once, on a whim, I applied "marble" drawer liner paper to large PVC pipes and coated with polyurethane to make my own marble columns. They look real and I get many compliments on my marble columns. Personally, I would not even want to know the cost of a real marble column. The point is, I saved a bundle, my room looks fantastic, and I feel great.

Our graphics design team was able to come up with a smart way to add the look of custom ceramic tile to any wallpaper. They have, in effect, mastered a digital art form of Trompe L'oeil. This technique was created because a client inquired about it. (As a smart man once told me, all you have to do is ask!) This client loved the look of ceramic tile and wondered if the look could be replicated on wallpaper. Well, it took a few months to perfect, but the results were well worth the effort. Now everyone can have the look of ceramic tile on their walls. Since we are still printing wallpaper and not pouring custom ceramic tile, the cost is well within the realm of most decorating budgets.

If you are looking to cover a full wall with custom ceramic tile, even five thousand dollars won't get you very far. Now you have a better option-a mosaic pattern mural printed on affordable wallpaper. With the money you will save, you just may want to think about jetting off to Istanbul, where you can marvel at real Byzantine era mosaics in person!