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Temporary Backsplash Ideas

Hey Guys! How's it going? Good? Good. Glad to hear that. I like our dialogue, it's so warm and friendly.

So I have had several people ask me lately, "Do you know of any good temporary backsplash options? Because I rent, man, and the landlord is all 'don't do anything to the walls or I'll cut you' but I just really want to make the space feel like 'me'." My first response is, "Maybe find a landlord that won't threaten you with bodily harm if you want to jazz the place up a bit." My second response was, "Heck yes, friend! There's all sorts of options!" Let's talk about those today, get excited!

So obviously you don't have to be in a rental to not be ready to make the commitment to a tile backsplash. 1) That can be costly if you don't have the budget at the time and 2) Tile is not the most fun material to remove, so you want to be sure you really love it. But if you find yourself with an ache for a lusty backsplash, fear not dear friends, I am here to share ideas from the internets.

Contact paper is quite likely to be the the most simple, least expensive and most flexible option. You can find patterns in the dollar store, big box stores and online. There are a decent amount of styles available. Another nice thing about going the contact paper route, is that it will generally be easy to wipe down.

You can find a myriad of patterns and textures, so it really just comes down to what you like and what will work in your space. The application should be relatively simple, just pull back a few inches of the backing and press it firmly onto your starting location, working a credit card or something similar against it to press out any air bubbles. Having someone able to help slowly pull back the backing as you squeegee the air out simplifies the process even further. And if need be, there is a simple tutorial here.

If you like the concept of the peel and stick idea but want a little more variety in pattern and added durability, you can look into removeable wallpaper.

It is a similar concept only a larger scale and potentially better performance. Those added benefits do come with a higher price tag though, so you will need to decide if you want to pay a little more for it. However, it is still cheaper and more flexible than tile, so still a great option.

In the same vein of "peel and stick," you can still achieve the tile look with peel and stick tile backsplash options as well.

(Via. : 1. Subway : 2. Linear Mosaic : 3. Faux Stone)

There are several tile looks available in this product. You can get a pretty classic 3x6 subway tile, a mosaic look and even some faux stone options. While the possibilities aren't quite as limitless with a peel and stick tile as they are with a true tile, there are several available. And again, installation is pretty simple with these guys as well.

If you aren't able to do even a removable full backsplash in your home, there are other simple options as well that can dress up that space and require little cost and effort.

I absolutely adore the concept of the PlateSplash shown above. You can find any compliation of plates that reprenset you, I recommend getting plastic/melamine plates, and simply use some picture hanging strips and mount them in the order of your choosing. The faux tin tile concept would work in a similar fashion. Simply apply strips to the back and mount them on the wall. If you select the right pattern, it allows for overlap to hide seams. Often these are actually made from plastic, making them fairly simple to wipe down. The Picture Frame Splash is another great look, and an easy means to dress up your backsplash. The example shown here is using wallpaper patterns in clean white frames. This brings in color and pattern in a very temporary, low impact way. I think the concept of the PlacematSplash is one of my favorites, and sadly I found few examples. Just find placemats, again preferably plastic, in a pattern that you like and stick them up, either with the adhesive strips, or as the blogger did in the link, with thumbtacks. This is a very simple, low maintenance, cleanable backsplash that gives instant gratification.

If you have a little more freedom to personalize your space, but still cannot, or do not want to go as far as tile, you can paint a backsplash.

If you are opting to paint, you can go easy and just pick a fun, bold color that works with your space and slap it up on the wall. Fresh, different, and relatively instant gratification. If you long for a little more function and doodling in your backsplash, you can opt for a chalkboard paint. This can be fun and functional if you have space to write a menu plan out, or if you just like drawing on the walls. This method would however be a little more difficult to clean and care for if you cook with high heat and splatter a lot. Another option in the painting realm is to use a stencil to create a pattern, be it faux tile or just a fun pattern in general. This method has grown in popularitly lately as it gives you the detail and impact of having a tile backsplash without quite the same level of commitment, though it is more labor intensive.

Well there you have it, friends. A few ideas on what you can do for a temporary, nontile backsplash. There are plenty of other options out there and if you think of something different, please share! I love to hear your ideas!!

Later days buuuudddy,

- D

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