How To Wallpaper A Backsplash

Wallpaper can be a great budget friendly alterative to tile. Let me show you how to wallpaper a backsplash.

Before we get into the nitty gritty, today my friend Pasha from Pasha Is Home, is hosting eight friends to share our kitchen updates inspiration with you.

If you came from Renae at Peacock Ridge Farm, welcome! Wasn’t her kitchen beautiful?

First let’s talk about wallpaper.

Homeowners often shy away from wallpaper in fear of it getting dirty or peeling due to moisture. These days wallpaper are much more durable.

What are some of the best types of wallpaper to use in the kitchen for a backsplash. An important factor is durability. You want something durable and wipeable.

You want to look for wallpaper that is vinyl finish or durable washable surface. Before ordering wallpaper read the product descriptions.

Can Peel and Stick Wallpaper be used for a kitchen backsplash? Absolutely, it can be used. In fact, I am using Peel and Stick Wallpaper for my kitchen.

Why? Because I need something that will be temporary. We plan to have ceramic tile installed. Like many families, we have to save up for this project. A project for installing ceramic tile or stone can run upwards of $4,000+ for a backsplash for my size kitchen.

How to wallpaper a backsplash

1. wash and clean the walls and counters

It is important to thoroughly clean your walls and the counters. A wash cloth and bucket of warm water with a couple of drops of Dawn Dish Soap. The Dawn Dish Soap will help if there is any grease or food on the walls.

You will want a clean surface in order for you wallpaper to adhere. Why the counters too? It keeps your wallpaper clean from picking up dust or dirt particles. Nothing worst than having the perfect cut and dirt is sticking to the adhesive backing.

2. tools

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• Sharp Utility Knife and/or razor blade
• Sharp scissors
• 2 ft. Metal Ruler
• Carpenter’s Level
• Pencil
• Smoothing Tool
• Step Ladder

3. DO YOU NEED TO OVERLAP PEEL AND STICK WALLPAPER?

Yes! To get that seamless look, you will need to overlap ever so slightly. Try to match up the pattern as closely as possible to create a seamless look.

4. Cut Your Wallpaper In Sections and Begin Hanging from the Top

Honestly, peel and stick wallpaper is harder to work with then regular wallpaper with adhesive paste that you book. Why? After you book (folding the back of the paper together to activate the paste) your wallpaper sections, you can maneuver it by sliding it into place.

With peel and stick wallpaper, it can be tricky with one person. I highly recommend you have a friend to help you. Even with a small backsplash that extra set of hands is an asset. Believe me, I found out the hard way.

Start from the top!

Again…always start from the top!

It is easier to move down than up with peel and stick wallpaper. Do some warmup stretches too! Don’t laugh that back corner was horrible. I felt like a contortionist laying in all kinds of positions on that counter.

Measure and cut your wallpaper into sections. Position your wallpaper and use your Carpenter’s level to make sure you have it lined up.

Peel back about 2 inches of the backing on a section, line up the top of the paper at the top of your space, then slowly peel and stick the paper down to the wall. With your hand begin to smooth the paper into place. With the smoothing tool glide it across the paper to remove any air bubbles.

5. trimming off the extra paper

For trimming around outlets and pot fillers, you can use a razor blade or utility knife. Cut around the section to be removed. Don’t be afraid to apply pressure. You want to be able to remove the extra paper without tearing your wallpaper section.

Around the bottom and top: use a straightedge metal rule across either the bottom or top and run the razor blade or utility knife alone it. Carefully peel up the extra paper.

Stand back and enjoy! You may need to take some Aleve first.

I love how the wallpaper on the backsplash as some personality and pizzazz to the once boring painted walls.

Here is another before look at that corner area.

Adding a fun pattern brings visual interest into the space. The great thing about the peel and stick wallpaper, it can be removed easily. It allows you to go bold with a pattern or color. When you are tired of it, you can remove the wallpaper.

I love how it turned out. You cannot tell it is wallpaper until you get up to it and touch it. The pattern is really pretty in the space.

Here is a video turn of the finished space.

Be sure to visit Simply 2 Moms for How to Update a Kitchen with Cherry Cabinets. They are sharing a no demo reno! You will love it.

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Have a wonderful day, sweet friend!