• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation

DIY Self-Stick Tile

September 12, 2020

Hey! Hi! I hope you had a great summer. With this pandemic and social distancing in place, it’s been a very different time.

Some good news, we’ve been blessed with our 7th grandchild this summer. A beautiful baby girl!

Where normally we’d be rushing down to meet her and celebrate her birth with her parents, the pandemic put a huge damper on that. Not gonna lie, that’s hard. We did visit over one weekend, but the entire time that I wanted to be feeling pure joy, it was replaced with a knot in my stomach worried I may have picked up some germs traveling to get there. After experiencing a different granddaughter get suddenly and very seriously sick earlier this year, the fear was real.

I’m happy to say we were careful and managed to meet our sweet baby girl.

I hope you’re getting through this difficult time and are able to still stay connected to your loved ones. Staying busy helps!

I’ve been extraordinarily busy getting so many small and large projects done before it’s time to come in and hunker down for winter.

Last month I re-did one of the units in a duplex we have owned and rented out for the last 16 years. My contractor helped me bring my vision to fruition for a fresh new look.

In-between doing the design, ordering, running for supplies and scrubbing (and scrubbing!) the dirt away. I painted every square inch of the place, all the while careful to stay out of the contractor’s way so as to not slow him down. It was like a slow motion waltz working around each other, making sure the wet paint and dust didn’t meet.

The re-do turned out so well, we actually sold the property! The kitchen was an amazing transformation with some paint, a fresh floor and super easy DIY self-stick subway tiles on the backsplash which really brought the room up a notch.

This was the before:

A prior tenant had painted the kitchen red and it was horribly aged, dirty and just ‘old’.

After some of the cabinets were upgraded and the remainder were scrubbed, removing years of layers of dusty grease, they all were painted a fresh coat of medium grey.

The ceilings, walls and trim were all painted fresh white using THIS paint.

Finally the floor was installed. It is this luxury vinyl laminate I wrote about HERE. I love this floor. I’ve used it in my own house and I’m absolutely tickled with it’s performance!

Finally, to the backsplash…

This was the first time I used self-stick tiles. I wanted to finish the backsplash with tiles, but didn’t want the time and cost to hire my contractor to do it, so I decided to chance it with these DIY self-stick ones.

HERE are the subway tiles I used.

Can you see the faux ‘grout’ lines between each tile? They look absolutely real once up on the wall.

These self stick tiles seem quite durable. They wipe clean. The directions state they’re even safe in a shower application! The front of the tile are made out of a hard, shiny plastic type material. The grey grout lines are more of a matte finish, like real grout would be. The back of the tile have a super duper sticky rubber type backing.

I also added skinny self-stick trim to finish the outside edge. It has a dado edge to cover a little bit of the edge of the subway tile and looks finished.

THIS is that trim piece I used.

Once the wall was clean and relatively smooth, my tools for installing these self-stick tiles were simple:

  • Tape Measure
  • Pencil
  • Razor Knife
  • Straight Edge
  • Spray Bottle filled with a little soapy water

This whole backsplash project was easy to complete in a day, and it had relatively no mess. Yay!!

The biggest tip I got, and will pass on to you, is to use a little soapy water in a spray bottle to spray the wall lightly before applying the tile. This will allow you to move the tiles slightly to align them just right. Otherwise, once you remove the wax paper and expose the adhesive on the tile back, it is so crazy sticky it’s nearly impossible to move it, or get it back off the wall. (Yup, I learned that the hard way!)

Another tip is to unscrew the outlets from the boxes before sticking the tiles on the wall. That way they can be screwed back in, sandwiching the tiles behind them.

The actual install was pretty simple. I started at the corner and just worked across the backsplash, sheet by sheet, carefully placing the next sheet next to the mounted tiles to match the seams. In my case the countertop was fairly level so that actually helped be my guide.

The tiles are mounted on a flexible backing and cut fairly easily with a razor as I guided it with a straight edge. I held the straight edge carefully on the tile face and went slow with the razor. A few times to score a line, then once through the hard face of the tile, it was easy to penetrate through the tile to finish the cut.

There were a few little gaps in the corner where my cuts weren’t absolutely perfect to the wall. To fix that I used grey grout caulk. After all the tiles were on, I taped the face of the tile and the edge of the wall with green painter’s tape, leaving only the small crack open for the caulk application. I carefully caulked a small amount in the gaps. After wiping it smooth, I removed the tape and the caulk totally blended in with the faux caulk on the tiles and covered my bad cuts.

The transformation of the kitchen was incredible!

So would I use DIY self-stick tiles again? Like my Minnesota friends say here, ‘You betcha’! The finished look is really lovely and the durability seems great. The lower cost, easy installation and lack of mess, (not to mention lack of trying to nail down a contractor to install) is huge too!!

How about you? Have you ever used self-stick tiles? What was your experience?

Thanks so much for stopping by! Please feel free to follow and share this blog with your friends, as well as on MeWe, Facebook, Pinterest, Flipboard, Bloglovin, YouTube and Instagram! I appreciate you reading along.

Here are more DIY projects I’ve written about:

Proportion
DIY Inspiration
How-to-Age-Galvanized-Metal
DIY Vintage Window Shadow Box
Repurposing: Stencil a Vintage Window
Restoration Vintage Medicine Cabinet
6 Furniture Projects to Inspire You
Simple Stool Re-Do
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to Make a Pulley Light
tips to find the right lampshade
Painting Tips
How to Create Let it Snow Artwork
How  Why I Made Faux Delft Tiles
How I turned this $10 piece of junk into a Masterpiece
before and after antique dry sink re-do step by step
How to DIY Soapstone Restoration
Tips on Restoring Antique Hardware
sofa table redo before and after
Counter stool makeover and my 1st attempt at chalk paint
Inspiration for Colors
Coastal Cottage Style Table
DIY Directional Arrows
DIY Table with a Coastal Design
Mirror Mirror on the Wall
Before and After Retro Cart Re-Do
Creating a Trophy Wall in a Whimsical Library
A Lesson in Identifying Furniture Age
Vintage Umbrella on Door
Before and After Headboard Re-Do
Handpainted Table
DIY Picket Fence Wall Hooks
Creating a New Faux Finish on Antique Tin Tile

Did you know that I am an interior (including some exterior) decorator? Here you can find more info: Frame and Frills I do e-decorating consultation, via online from my office to your home!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Householddream says

    October 19, 2020 at 5:58 am

    Hello Liz! It look so beautiful. i feel so clean!

    Reply
  2. phyllis e says

    September 12, 2020 at 8:20 pm

    Hi Liz! Those look great! My son and daughter-in-law used stick on subway tiles in their camper. They wanted to protect the walls behind the kitchen counter, but needed to keep the weight down. Theirs turned out great, too!
    I don’t like the color of my subway tiles (sort of a pale yellow-beige) and had wondered if something like this would work over the top of them. Do you think these could go over the top of other tiles?
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Liz says

      September 12, 2020 at 8:23 pm

      In a camper, what a great idea! You know these are so sticky on the back, I do think they would go right over existing tile. Be sure to double check with the manufacturer to be sure.

      Reply

Share Your Thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Our Whole House Renovation: Mid-Century into Colonial Revival Cottage Style

SimpleDecoratingTips.com Repurposing Cabinets
Simple DIY Curtain
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Adding a Front Porch
Tiling the 2nd bath floor
SimpleDecoratingTips.com we had to cut down 13 trees
Wall Mounted Pot Rack
SimpleDecoratingTips.com From a Tub to a Shower
front porch addition mostly done SimpleDecoratingTips.com
hall closet into library simpledecoratingtips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to Change a Door Lock
Front Entry Portiere
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating Update Post
Fireplace Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Progress Report on our Whole House Renovation
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating a Whole House is a Lot
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Door & Window Decisions
SimpleDecoratingTips.com
How to Install an Interior Storm Window SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Dining Room Progress SimpleDecoratingTips.com
Re-Thinking the Living Room Furniture Plan
Creating a Built-In Faux Fireplace
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Cedar Closet Lining
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Progress
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Surface Mounted Suspended Ceiling
Main Floor Completion Celebration Giveaway SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How I Made Curtains without a Sewing Machine
Incorporating Vintage & New Light Fixtures SimpleDecoratingTips.com
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Renovating the Basement Apartment
Vintage Window Awning Redo SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com How to tips Window Well Installation
Antique Inspired Kitchen Island
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Luxury Vinyl Planks
Before and After Living Room Renovation
Repurposing Vintage Screen Door
Before and After Front Entry Renovation SimpleDecoratingTips.com
SimpleDecoratingTips.com Basement Apartment Bathroom Renovation Done

Footer

Shop Decor Steals

AntiqueFarmHouse

Have you noticed this site is faster?! It’s because I switched to SiteGround!!

Web Hosting

Disclosure Policy: According to FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that some of the content of this blog may be a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Copyright

Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Graphics Fairy

Graphics Fairy

Feedspot

Feedspot


My Household Tips and Tutorials for You:

First Aid Remove Sticky Residue
Five Ways Hardware made a Difference
How to Avoid a Greasy Mess when Frying on the Stove
How to Remove Carpet Depressions
How to Remove Pet Urine Stains
how to naturally clean silver
How to hang a window box SimpleDecoratingTips.com
7 Simple Hangers and How to Use Them
How to Hang a Wall Mounted Lamp
Hang a Group of Pictures with even spacing
Housekeeping Naturally
How to Mount a Door Knocker in a Hollow Steel Door
How to Clean Spilled Wax
Make your own Natural Potpourri
how to install a floating shelf
DIY  natural sachets
how to install a vintage ceiling light fixture simpledecoratingtips.com
DIY Natural Simmering Potpourri simpledecoratingtips
Plate Hanger
Packing & Moving Tips

Gardening Tips

Garden & Landscape Inspiration
rooftop-garden
DIY Simple Deer Proofing
raised bed container gardening title
spring-planter-arrangement
The-Beauty-of-Fences1
before  after circular garden
How I re-did these Concrete Lions
Creating-an-Oasis-with-a-Water-Fountain
snug-harbor-farm
Humidity Tray for Orchids
The-Story-of-a-Blue-Jay-Title-Page
DIY Brick Edging
before  after front garden landscaping
install this arbor and fence in one day
DIY Hanging Terrarium
1-in the garden with water walls and cloches
Growing Grass in a Vintage Scale
DIY Window Well Installation
Tips on Forcing Bulbs Indoors
we had to cut down 13 trees
Before and After Landscape and a DIY Pergola
Transplanting Stella D'Oro Daylilies
What-is-this?
Window-Boxes-inside-a-2nd-story-porch
Backyard Boat Pond
Ingenious Tips to DIY this Planter
Kid's Craft DIY Miniature Fairy Garden
Creative-Planters
DIY Compost Bins
Potting Shed
Turtles and Window Boxes
before and after front terraced garden
How to Prune a Peegee Hydrangea
moving-a-screened-gazebo-onto-the-property
2 pergolas  garden update

Copyright © 2021 · Genesis Sample Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Blog
  • Reno Projects: House by House
    • Colonial Revival Cottage Reno (our current home)
    • Old House Reno (our last home)
    • Coastal Cottage in Maine
    • Aaron and Melissa’s 1970 Redo
    • Condo Renovation (a client’s home)
  • Details
    • Before & After
    • Holiday & Seasonal Decorating
    • Gardens
    • Details about House Parts
      • Interior Windows
      • Mantels
      • Details on Creating Tablescapes, Vignettes and Hanging Pictures
      • Lighting and Lamps
      • Closets and Storage
      • Furniture, Antiques & Accessories
    • Chalkboard Art and Hand Lettering Projects
    • Travel to Inspiring Places
  • DIY, Tutorials & Tips
  • My Favorite Shopping Links
  • e-Decorating Consultation
↞
↠
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.