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May 19, 2020 4 Comments

How to Add a Peel and Stick Kitchen Backsplash in a Rental

Filed Under: home decor, kitchen, Rental Living 4 Comments

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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 faux backsplash and eventually landed on a peel and stick kitchen backsplash option I loved.

Adding a peel and stick kitchen backsplash draws the eye away from the ugly cabinets and towards a vibrant pattern that adorns the walls. Let me show you the difference.

Beautiful Kitchen Backsplash - it's FAUX. How to install a peel and stick backsplash. Great for renters!

For your convenience, this post may contain affiliate links. That means, at no additional cost to you, I may make a small commission on your purchase. Click here to read my full disclosure policy

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

Peel and Stick Kitchen Backsplash - how to install and where to buy!

Some Tips for Installing Peel and Stick Kitchen 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)
Xacto Knife
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 kitchen backsplash was pretty straight forward. The first thing I did was remove everything from the countertops, wiped down all of the walls really well so that the sticker backing would 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 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 peel and stick backsplash options that I found on my search for the perfect one for my space.

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

How to Install a Faux Backplash in a Rental

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About Chelsea

Chelsea Coulston is the resident decorator, baker, and pillow hoarder around these parts. A wife to an active duty Sailor and mom of two girls, Chelsea's got a knack for decorating even the most challenging spaces (just see her military base house!) She's inspired by cool beach tones and warm natural elements that remind you of a day at the beach. After living in a half dozen rentals, she's enjoyed spending the last few years in a cute ranch style home that she and her husband have almost completely renovated themselves. Chelsea lives in sunny Jacksonville, Florida with her husband and two daughters.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jennifer says

    June 6, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    I found your blog site through Abby Lawson’s email from her site.
    I see your watch on the right wrist! Are you a lefty?!

    Lefty here, military kid to boot. You being military family means you really know weird and odd homes and the space issues they provide and the rules and regs of things you can and cannot do to modify and improve while you’re renting/housed somewhere.

    I look forward to reading the rest of your blog and hope you have some e-courses and stuff like Abby. She has some of my first buy home goal ideas in her e-course series. (we rent still)

    Reply
    • Chelsea says

      June 7, 2020 at 10:49 am

      Hi Jennifer! So happy you found me. Abby is a dear friend of mine. And yes, I’m a lefty too!! So is my daughter 🙂

      Reply
  2. Mary Jo says

    August 28, 2020 at 1:35 pm

    I have the same cabinets in my laundry room, and used a ship lap contact paper over them. Totally changes the vibe!

    Reply
  3. Sue Lewis says

    September 13, 2020 at 8:35 pm

    This looks fantastic!

    Reply

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Hi! I’m Chelsea!

I'm Chelsea. Wife to Matt, and mama to P and Millie. I'm a fan of making and decorating things and everything blue + white. I believe that there is no such thing as too many throw pillows. Lover of iced coffee and cocktail Fridays. I'm glad you're here.

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75% of the country is snowed in and I’m wearing 75% of the country is snowed in and I’m wearing shorts about to take my kids to the park. I feel a little left out. No snow day in this desert. 😭
Anyone else craving a change? Idk if it’s becaus Anyone else craving a change? Idk if it’s because we’ve spent so much time at home or what but I just want all new things. 😬 I changed out the pillow covers and that’ll do for now. Do you know this feeling??? #coastalliving #howirent #decorating #homedecorblogger #kismetcheckoutmyhouse #layeredhome #howihome #abmathome #bhghome #liketoknowit #LTKhome @liketoknow.it.home With the @liketoknow.it app you can shop everything in this space #liketkit http://liketk.it/38qta
This guy and I met at 14. Married at 20 and I have This guy and I met at 14. Married at 20 and I have been following him around ever since. Valentine’s Day is whatever but I did want to give a permanent spot for this one because I really do love him.
Removable wallpaper is a game changer! A couple mo Removable wallpaper is a game changer! A couple months ago Matt and I spent an afternoon slapping this up on our bedroom wall and it completely transformed the space. It can be super hard to put your stamp on a rental but I’m pretty pleased with the way this room turned out! #rentalfriendly #bedroom #milspouse #diyprojects #removablewallpaper #coastaldecor 
Download the LIKEtoKNOW.it shopping app to shop this pic via screenshot http://liketk.it/36TCW #liketkit @liketoknow.it @liketoknow.it.home
#ad Homeschool/General parent “pro” tip - buy #ad Homeschool/General parent “pro” tip - buy a shower caddy and stuff it full of art supplies to keep your kids from having their markers and crayons all over the place. For real though, this was a game changer. Previously, I had one hard and heavy caddy for all of our supplies that I would plop on the table during our school day but I found my kids constantly getting up to grab a pink crayon or the blue marker. Or at the end of the day things weren’t getting put away properly and the next day we couldn’t find the glue or the scissors. Now, they each have a caddy that they are responsible for. I’ve partnered with @walmart to share this simple organizing solution. The girls keep their supplies together and carry the caddy around to wherever they choose to school that day/minute. I used my Walmart+ membership again to pull this off. I was able to order all the art caddy necessities online using the W+ free shipping, no order minimum (excludes oversized/freight & Marketplace items) benefit so I can limit my time in stores. #walmartplus
Sitting here thinking about everything that’s go Sitting here thinking about everything that’s gotten me through this last year.
1. My family - having my girls home has been everything I never knew I needed. 
1a. My mom - in those early pandemic days, when we didn’t leave the house, she would meet me halfway between here and Vegas. We would sit in the middle of the desert with our masks on and just visit. I needed that so much and I know she did too.
2. My friends - it’s hard to imagine making it through this year without the friendships I have. They’ve carried me. A small group of neighbors here that would meet at the park for some outdoor fellowship and our weekly dinners made life feel a little more normal. Having regular calls with my best friend in FL was gold especially since we can’t see each other. And regular chats with @bykaithanson got me through especially in those early days.
3. Regular therapy - if I wasn’t already going before all this happened I surely would need to now. This all is very heavy stuff and having someone that is outside your circle to talk to is so important. This saves me again and again.
4. Making bread. I started making last year so when it blew up during that first quarantine I was so excited that we all were baking together. Whenever I’m feeling anxious making dough helps.
5. Exercise - this was the year I finally made exercise a priority. I love how much better I feel when I move my body each day. I’m less anxious and I’m more at peace.
6. All the technology that connects us. Marco Polo, FaceTime, texting, FB Messenger, all of it. Being able to reach all of my loved ones with the tips of my fingers has made it a lot easier when I can’t see them.
7. Television - how many shows have we binged this year? I don’t even know but I remember tackling Friday Night Lights in the beginning of the pandemic and being so sad it was over. 
8. This community. One thing I wanted in 2020 was to CONNECT with you all here and that has happened and its been wonderful getting to know each of you!
💙
We’ve been through a lot this year what has carried you? Tag a friend that’s gotten you through. 
Hoping and praying for a truly happy new year. 💙💙

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