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You heard it here first - peel and stick is the new bend and snap! Make your space more appealing and attract the attention you’re craving with this very simple action.
Okay, so it might not be an exact parallel, but you know what we mean - you’re craving an upgrade for your home, and peel and stick tile is the hero that can make that happen. It’s easy, it’s removable, and you can do ever so much with it.
Interested, but not sure how to make it happen! We’ve got you - we’ll go through the process of how to install peel and stick tile and then give you some serious inspiration fodder. Peel and stick tile is super accessible, totally beginner DIY friendly and pretty cost-effective too, and don’t limit yourself to just a kitchen backsplash. We’ve come up with some really fun ideas that might surprise you - so read on and get excited about peel and stick tile!
First of all, we’ve got to stress - FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS. Different tiles have different adhesives. Some are activated with water, some aren’t. So read the directions carefully before you get to sticking.
Second of all, regardless of the directions for your specific tile, do a super thorough clean of the surface you’ll be tiling. Scrub thoroughly, use a degreaser (especially if said surface is in a kitchen!) and, while you’re at it, make sure it is perfectly flat. Any disturbances in the force - read: bumps or lumps or holes, etc. - could upset the tile. Make sure there’s no wax coating, because the tile won’t adhere to it.
Before you remove the backing of your peel and stick tile, test out the placement. Hold it up to or place it on your surface, and, if necessary, sketch out some quadrants so that you have guidelines when it is time to adhere it for real. You want to be sure when it’s go-time - remember, we’re not talking about vinyl stickers which you can put down and pick back up. We’re talking tile, and you don’t want to make any mistakes.
When you’re ready to place your tile, it’s time to follow the directions. Some tile products are truly just peel and stick - remove the backing, and get to sticking. Others, like the peel and stick tile featured on our website, require dampening of the adhesive to activate it. You’ll have a few seconds to rearrange if you need it, but try to keep your hands sure!
Now that you know how peel and stick works - isn’t it just the EASIEST??? - we’ve got some tiling project ideas for you! From standard to spicy, we’ve got some great inspiration for you.
We’re going to start with the kitchen, because it’s the home of the most standard use of peel and stick tile - the backsplash! You know, that space between your counter and your cabinets. It’s the perfect place for a SPLASH, pun intended, of personality. Whether you want to go neutral and fit in with the rest of your color, or if you’d like to introduce some contrast, a kitchen backsplash is a great choice because it’s not a huge commitment. You can test out a new style in a small, controlled environment, but in a place that gets a lot of use, so you can really see how it works for you!
Want something a little more interesting than a backsplash? If you’ve got an island in your kitchen, consider tiling one of the sides (whichever one doesn’t have cabinets, if applicable). It’s unexpected, it’s fun, and it adds visual interest to a surface which might otherwise be a bit of a dead zone.
Another great use of peel and stick tile - floor! You’ll want to avoid spaces which tend to experience direct water, such as a bathroom (hold out for real time for bathrooms!) or a mudroom (who wants tile in there, anyway). But when it comes to creating a closet, or a powder room, or even a foyer - peel and stick tile will do the JOB. Of course, make sure you read the specs - not all peel and stick tile is cleared for floor use.
Our favorite use of peel and stick tile as a floor update is for a laundry room. It’s a space that you’re in often but is just as often neglected, so if you’re looking to give yourself a little gift and beautify that space, consider a peel and stick tile floor.
We think a whole lot about the horizontal surface of our stairs, the treads - but have you ever seen a flight of stairs with a spiffy riser? It’s absolutely something else. This is a great space for a graphic tile, something with a bold print or bright color, or a beautiful marble look. It depends what your treads look like.
I love the look of a wooden tread paired with an encaustic tile, something with a mediterranean or moroccan look. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t include an ode to a painted tread paired with a more graphic tile - for example, a black staircase with something like a black marble look peel and stick tile, or something completely contrasting. In this case, you could even pair it with a vinyl-type sticker, for a really fun galaxy look or even a graphic print. Risers are a totally underrated surface just rife with possibility!
Tiled fireplace surrounds have been trending for quite some time now, and we love the use of a peel and stick tile to execute this look for less. The hearth of your home is a place you sit around for comfort and warmth, and tile adds a lot of personality and calls attention to this central space. I’m drawn to warm and earthy textures around a fireplace, but if you’ve got more of a farmhouse style or even just a more cool-toned space, you can’t go wrong with a clean, white or silvery tile.
Tiled tables are one of my favorite looks these days. Side tables, patio tables, kitchen islands, night tables - any table surface, you name it, you can tile it! It’s a functional, attractive way to add a whole lot of visual interest to something generally nondescript.
Whether you’re planning on covering the entire surface or creating an accent in the center or the corners, be sure to sketch it out and place your tile carefully so it’s symmetrical and even.
If you’re looking for some SERIOUS table-tiling inspiration, may we recommend you check out Fayre and Square, makers of incredible tiled cubes perfect for use as night tables or accent tables. They create gorgeous pieces in stunning colors including a couple of black and white checkered options that leave us absolutely swooning!
Ready to make your bathroom vanity Instagram-worthy? Think about tiling your vanity. There’s no better way to emphasize and adorn your mirror than a beautiful tile surround - and there’s no easier way to do it than with peel and stick tile!
Bathrooms aren’t the perfect place for peel and stick tile, generally - since it isn’t waterproof, you can’t install it in a shower, or on the bathroom floor. But the vanity area is a pretty safe bet, and it’s an incredibly effective upgrade without having to shell out for a new vanity altogether, or a new mirror cabinet. It’ll also make your mirror look bigger, and we all know bigger is better (and, usually, more expensive!)
The gals at Decorner are REALLY. BIG. FANS. of unique, DIY headboards. You might remember the noodle headboard we featured a while back in a round up of DIYs that were living in our brains rent free. So a tiled headboard is an absolutely no-brainer, unanimous YES from us!
There are several ways to get this effect - maybe you’ve already got a simple headboard that is simply screaming for some tile. You can also build your own with plywood that you can pick up from any local hardware store and cut to your specifications. A rectangular shape is pretty standard, but a stylized arch is so specific and individual, and with the right tile, can look incredibly luxurious.
We’ve got another suggestion for you, and it’s a major hack - no actual headboard necessary. Stick that tile on the wall behind your bed - it’ll create the illusion of a large, grand headboard, and make your space look large and spacious.
You’ve seen painted accent walls, painted arches, even mural walls. Add a peel and stick tile accent to that list. An accent wall for your entry way, your living room, your dining room, - even your office or your bedroom! It’s also a great way to zone a small space: separating an office area in your bedroom, or to decorate a small closet office.
Don’t forget about your fifth wall. Maybe you’ve got a light fixture that you’d like to emphasize - imagine a swath of tile framing it. Peel and stick tile would also look incredible around the edges of a ceiling - or, if you’re bold, the whole ceiling! This is especially effective if you’ve got relatively high ceilings, as too much detail above can shrink your room down.
We hope we’ve convinced you that there are ENDLESS uses for peel and stick tile - it just depends on your space and your level of gung-ho-ness! Is there a surface or a space that is just screaming for tile that we had the AUDACITY to forget? Be sure to let us know - we love your ideas. Drop us a line in the comments, or in an email!
We've got a whole selection of peel and stick tile, so if this post has piqued your interest, be sure to check them out!
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The Rhubarb Crumble table by Fayre and Square - absolutely covetable!
