It's no secret that renovating can take a major toll on your finances, time, and energy. Obviously everyone's situation is different, but I think it's safe to say that the average person can't just dump thousands of dollars into their dream project(s) at the drop of a hat. However, thanks to the Internet and all of the creative people who use it to share their ideas and products with the world, transforming a space while working with a limited budget is easier than ever.
I wanted to use this post to share with you one of the best short-term reno hacks I've utilized to update our living space. I know I've mentioned in previous posts that we're wanting to renovate certain areas of our home, but we're just not quite ready to take on such an expensive, time-consuming, life-disrupting project right now. So, in the meantime, I've found quick, easy, and inexpensive solutions that have served as perfect "bandaids" for areas deserving of some TLC.
Materials
Pen/pencil
Ruler
Scissors
I completed this part of my mini kitchen reno back in December of 2018, and I'm happy to report that it has held up very well, so, in my opinion, the vinyl decals I used are totally worth the expense. There are plenty of companies out there that offer vinyl decals, but I chose to go with Snazzy Decal for this particular project.
These tile stickers are made specifically for wall tiles and are meant to hold up to life's everyday messes. They also come in a variety of sizes, designs, and quantities, which makes it very easy to find exactly what you want.
I decided to go with their Stars pattern because I thought it was a fun yet timeless design. And the black and white colour palette perfectly compliments both the paint I used on our kitchen cupboards, as well as the walls.
As you can see in the one photo, the tiles in our kitchen might have worked well in another decade. Some people enjoy floral wall tiles, I do not, lol. So, with my new vinyl decals in hand, I got to work covering up our outdated backsplash.
Because of the dimensions of the tiles, I had to trim each decal the tiniest bit. To make sure I did that correctly, I simply held the stickers against the tiles, marked one horizontal and one vertical edge, drew two straight lines with the help of my ruler, and cut away the excess.
Next, to get a nice adhesion between the tile and the decal, I made sure the backsplash was clean and dry. I then pulled back the top portion of the protective backing and applied the sticker to the wall.
As I pulled away the rest of the backing, I made sure the decal remained straight and free of air bubbles.
I decided to cover all of the full-sized tiles first, and once those were complete, I moved on to working with the partial tiles. Even though it wasn't always possible, I did try my best to use one decal for multiple partial tiles.
Side note: here's a good shot of the kitchen cupboards demonstrating a "before" and "after" look. Painting cupboards isn't for the faint of heart. It's something I'd personally never do again, at least not in a space this size. However, that being said, I am happy I did it.
And there you have it! I think the transformation the decals made is unbelievable. I couldn't have asked for a better result.
I also added a layer of frosted contact paper to the glass inside the upper cupboards (a dollar store find, by the way). It doesn't completely hide the contents of our cupboards, but for a $5.00-ish solution, I'm giving it a pass.
What do you think? Is this something you can see yourself doing in your home? We have a powder room that has similar tiles in it, and I'm seriously considering covering them with decals, too! But that's a project for another day.
If this project inspires you to get crafty, let me know by sharing your creations with me! Leave a comment or use #katiesaracreates on social media. And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss out on a fun FREEBIE I whipped up.
Happy crafting!
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