How to Apply Tile Stickers to a Kitchen Backsplash
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Degrease the tiles with rubbing alcohol, let them dry, and work in a warm room. Line each sticker up with the edges of the tile underneath, peel a little backing at a time and smooth from the centre out. Finish by warming the edges with a hair dryer and pressing them down. Most lifting and bubbling comes from kitchen grease, a cold surface, or peeling the whole backing off at once.
These steps are for our peel-and-stick tile stickers on an existing tiled backsplash. They work the same on a bathroom wall or a smooth painted wall.
Before you start: what this material is like
Our tile stickers are printed on thin, flexible vinyl, about the thickness of paper, with a very sticky adhesive. That's why they hug the tile and trim easily with scissors. It also means they're floppy and grab quickly, so the first one or two take a little practice. They're flat printed decals, not thick raised tiles.
Plan where they go before you start. Tile stickers are fine on a backsplash away from direct water and heat, but not on the tiles right behind a stove burner or right behind the sink where they get soaked. Our guide on tile stickers in kitchens and bathrooms explains why.
What you need
- Your tile stickers (see how to measure for size and count)
- Rubbing alcohol (isopropyl) and a lint-free cloth
- The free squeegee that comes with every order (sample-only orders don't include one), wrapped in a soft cloth. An old plastic card works too.
- Scissors and a sharp utility knife
- A hair dryer
- A screwdriver, for outlet and switch covers
Step 1: Clean off the grease
Kitchen tile carries a thin film of cooking grease, even when it looks clean. Adhesive won't grip through it. Wash the tiles with warm soapy water if they're grimy, rinse, then wipe every tile with rubbing alcohol. Let the wall dry completely.
Check the tile surface while you clean. Glazed ceramic tile is ideal. Heavily textured tile, or tiles with deep, sunken grout, are harder; stickers may lift where they can't sit flat.
Step 2: Warm up the room and the wall
The adhesive bonds best on a warm surface. A cold wall, especially an outside wall in winter, won't bond well. Warm each area with a hair dryer on low just before you apply. If the stickers arrived curled, lay them flat for a while so they relax.
Step 3: Plan your starting row
Don't assume the counter is level. Pick a row of whole tiles at eye level, often the top or middle row, and start there. On designs that form a larger pattern across several tiles, lay a few stickers out on the counter first so you know which way each one turns.
Step 4: Apply each sticker
- Peel back about a third of the backing.
- Line up two edges of the sticker with the edges of the tile underneath. Leave an even sliver of the old tile showing all the way round if the sticker is slightly smaller.
- Press down the exposed part, then smooth from the centre outward with the cloth-wrapped squeegee.
- Pull out the rest of the backing from underneath while you keep smoothing.
Don't peel the backing off completely before you place it. If the sticky side folds onto itself, it's very hard to separate.
Step 5: Trim cut tiles
Where tiles have been cut to fit along the counter, the cabinets or a corner, you have two options:
- Measure the tile and cut the sticker to size with scissors before you apply it.
- Apply the sticker so it overhangs, then trim along the tile edge with a sharp knife, using light pressure so you cut the vinyl and not the caulk.
Step 6: Cut around outlets and switches
- Turn off the power to that outlet at the breaker panel.
- Remove the cover plate.
- Apply the sticker over the tile as normal, covering the opening.
- Cut out the opening with a sharp knife, staying just inside the edge that the cover plate will hide.
- Put the cover plate back. It holds those edges down nicely. Then turn the power back on.
Step 7: Seal the edges
When a section is done, go over every edge with the squeegee. Then warm the edges with a hair dryer and press again. This is the single best way to stop edges lifting later.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Air bubble | Push it toward the nearest edge. If it won't move, prick it with a pin and press flat. |
| Sticker went on crooked | Lift it gently right away, before the adhesive sets, and lay it down again. Avoid doing this over and over. |
| Sticker folded onto itself | Pull it apart slowly. If it won't separate cleanly, use a spare. |
| Corners lifting the next day | Clean under the corner with alcohol, let it dry, warm it and press it down. |
| Won't stick at all | Likely grease, a cold wall, heavy texture or a slick paint. Clean again with alcohol and warm the surface. |
| Lifting near the stove or sink | That spot is too hot or too wet for tile stickers. Leave those tiles bare. |
| Grout line shows through | The sticker is bigger than the tile face. Trim it back to the tile edge. |
Common questions
How long does it take?
Once you've found your rhythm, each sticker takes a minute or two. Cut tiles and outlets take longer. Allow an afternoon for a typical backsplash.
How do I clean them afterwards?
Wipe with a soft cloth, warm water and a drop of dish soap. Skip scouring pads and harsh cleaners, and avoid scrubbing hard at the edges.
Do I need extra glue?
Usually not. On clean, warm glazed tile the adhesive holds on its own.