How to Install Peel and Stick Backsplash to a Rental Kitchen

Whenever we move to a new house, especially on base, I always hold my breath before the initial walk-thru. What will the kitchen look like? So much of a rental can be masked over – walls you can paint, the floors can be covered with beautiful rugs, but the kitchen, it’s tougher. Our current kitchen is one of my least favorites we’ve had. It dates the house more than any other space. The laminate cabinets with wood trim are not my favorite look. While there were a lot of things in this kitchen that I couldn’t change like the cabinets and mismatched appliances – I can do some things to help. I decided early on that I would do some sort of peel and stick backsplash or a stencil. I eventually landed on a peel and stick backsplash option I love.

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Here are some reasons why I like a peel and stick backsplash:
1. It’s great for rental spaces. The installation might be a time-intensive but it’s worth it for 2-3 years in a rental home. Also, the demo is really simple – it just peels right off.

2. Peel and stick backsplash makes a big impact. I’ve seen peel and stick backsplash in kitchen or bathroom, laundry rooms, around fireplaces, step risers, or below a bar. There are just so many uses and it’s really high reward for small effort.

3. It’s affordable – I think affordability is relative but in comparison to actual tile, the installation of peel and stick backsplash is very inexpensive.

4. It’s easy to clean – these peel and stick vinyl sticker backsplashes are really easy to wipe clean. I don’t know for certain that they are water-resistant but they do wipe down really easily.

5. Easy to install – I’ve installed lots of temporary wallpaper and this was the easiest to install. Probably because it was in the smallest space but it went up in just two hours and I worked all alone.

There are dozens of options for a faux tile backsplash including smart tiles, which are great because they have a look and feel of tile but are still peel and stick. They have subway tile-looking smart tiles as well as mosaic tile. The only issue with these adhesive tiles is that they aren’t easily removed.

If you are looking for some pretty patterned peel and stick backsplash, I shared some options for temporary backsplashes here. I opted for this blue faux cement tile looking peel and stick backsplash. The installation was rather straight forward but I do have some tips to share.

I did a similar wall treatment in my rental laundry room. I had a lot of experience with peel and stick wallpaper which is essentially what this is.

Some Tips for Installing a Peel and Stick Backsplash

Save money by picking a pattern that repeats both up and down and left to right. While I love the pattern I chose, I ended up with a lot of waste. If I would have picked a pattern that had a smaller repeat or repeated the same both up and down and side to side, I could have used up some of the waste I had. Unfortunately every time I would cut off the excess, it wasn’t able to be used anywhere else because the patterns did not match up. That being said, I used three rolls of this backsplash which ended up being approximately $225. That’s a small price to pay for the impact on this space. If you have a smaller space to cover, I think it’s worth the investment to splurge for the peel and stick backsplash you love even if you may end up with some waste.

Measure, measure, measure. I kind of winged it when it came to measurements. I ended up only have enough to do two walls because initially, I hadn’t ordered enough rolls. I had to order another roll leaving my job 2/3 complete for several weeks. The shop that I ordered my peel and stick from is very helpful so if you are unsure how many rolls you’ll need, you can always ask for guidance.

Get yourself a Xacto knife. I learned this trick when I did the removable wallpaper in my office at the Florida house. Box cutters will work in a pinch but a nice sharp Xacto knife is the key to cutting nice crisp lines for the edges of your backsplash.

Installation
Supplies needed:
Rolls of backsplash (I needed 3 – this is the one I bought)
Utility Knife (I used an Xacto)
Credit card or some type of straight edge to get out any air bubbles
Sharp Scissors
Tape measure

The installation of this peel and stick backsplash was pretty straight forward. This is essentially the same as backsplash tile stickers except this comes on a roll like wallpaper. The first thing to do is to remove everything from the countertops, wipe down all of the walls really well so that the sticker backing can adhere properly.

Start by gently folding back the sticker backing about 2 inches and line up the sticker at the top of your backsplash area. I started on the edge of the wall, working your way over – here I’m starting on the edge of my stove. Press firmly to adhere the sticker to the wall. Swipe your hand across the sticker to make sure it’s secure, then gently and slowly start pulling the backing away, pressing down the sticker to the wall as you go.

As you reach the end of your peel and stick backsplash area press down firmly where the wall meets the countertop, I run my finger along the ledge to make sure it’s secure. That’s where you’ll use your Xacto knife to trim off the excess backsplash sticker. I find that cutting right along the caulk line to be most effective. You’ll continue to do this along your backsplash area making sure to line up the pattern as you.

Here’s a little tip for when you get to the outlets. I place the sticker right over top of the sticker, then gently cut an X shape in the sticker right where the outlet is. Doing this gives you a little flexibility in that spot and you can gently use your Xacto knife to cut around the outlet. Another option is to take the outlet cover off so that your sticker doesn’t have to be cut perfectly around the outlet cover.

It’s hard to overstate how much of a difference this peel and stick kitchen backsplash makes in our home. It’s just that good. Not only does it bring your attention to that pretty tile rather than the ugly cabinets, it truly makes the small space feel much larger.

This peel and stick tile is obviously great for kitchen backsplashes but you can use them in so many other ways: bathroom walls, around a fireplace, on a kitchen wall, etc.

Here are some beautiful backsplash options that I found on my search for the perfect one for my space.

If you’re a renter – what are some things you’ve done that have really brought your temporary place to the next level? Let me know in the comments!