DIY: RENTAL FRIENDLY KITCHEN MAKEOVER WITH PEEL & STICK WALLPAPER

Hi friends! I’m back on the blog after a long week and weekend. Little life update: I’m now working two jobs and running the blog, so I apologize for my inconsistency posting on here. I wanted to take today to show you all my kitchen update! Just because you rent doesn’t mean you can’t refresh your outdated kitchen. Ripping out the floor or painting the cabinets may be prohibited by your lease, but there are other ways you can spice up your space. Peel and Stick wallpaper is a rental friendly, budget friendly, and can transform any space without risking your security deposit. And for this little project- I’m proud to say I did it all on my own!

When we first moved in to our rental home we had a freshly painted kitchen. Unfortunately the entire home was painted the same exact color, so I needed a quick fix that wouldn’t break the bank and set these rooms apart. I have used peel and stick wall paper before, in my last apartment. I hung up three rolls of white brick wallpaper for my dining room area and received so many compliments on how real it looked. When we finally moved it took me only two minutes to take off the wall with no damage or chipped paint. Considering the price and ease of putting it up / taking it down, I knew I would be using more peel and stick in my next home.

Fast forward to my current project: updating my rental home kitchen with THIS peel and stick tile from Target. After removing everything from my counter tops I had to tackle my outlets. Removing outlet covers is necessary unless you want unevenness and bubbles forming around your outlet area. Personally, I learned this the hard way and had to go back and redo it.

Here are a few tips before you begin this project:

Measure your surface area so you can order the right amount for your project.
Take your time: This is not something you want to rush. Reserve a 2-3 hours one evening or on a weekend off to do this.
Second opinion: Having a second set of eyes will be helpful when your hanging up the tile wallpaper to make sure lines are aligned and even. (if you don’t have someone to help take a step back after each sheet you stick and make revisions if needed)
Have scissors and something like a credit card ready to help you cut around edges or smooth out bubbles instantly.

Measure the area of your backsplash and cut your wallpaper to fit. Work your way around the kitchen, again, making sure the “grout” of the tiles are fully aligned. You may need to go back and fill in a few places with left over wallpaper.

Style Hack: If you do have any bubbles or creases in your wall paper you can easily hide them with some kitchen decor. I used a cutting board to cover up one of my sockets that had a few bubbles around the edges and to hide my stove plug.

It took me about 2 hours to do on my own, and my kitchen is relatively small. The time it took to get the finished product was well worth it considering I spent under $100 to get this look! It has been a huge hit with friends and family – lots of thumbs up on IG too. You can use this wall paper for all kinds of projects. Use it to update your kitchen, bathroom, fireplace, and even your stairs! The options are endless. And if you’re not a fan of the subway tile, I’ve added a few of my favorites designs in the carousal below.

Thank’s for reading and I hope this was helpful and inspiring! Drop me a comment if you have any questions about this DIY project.

Love,

Amanda