The Simple Trick to Make Peel-and-Stick Tile Look Twice as Luxe

If you’re looking for a relatively easy, nonpermanent way to give your kitchen a new look, peel and stick is the way to go. You can use the stuff on countertops to make old-fashioned laminate look like timeless wood, you can add peel-and-stick wallpaper to the walls, or you can put it on cabinets to help modernize orangey wood. But one of my favorite peel-and-stick projects for the kitchen is a peel-and-stick backsplash.

Kitchen backsplashes are a relatively small feature in a cook space, but they can do a lot to affect the overall vibe of the room. And if you want to make your peel-and-stick tile look a little more custom (and more luxe, too), this installation trick I spotted on TikTok is totally worth a try.

The idea comes courtesy of content creator Isabelle Heikens, who recently posted a video of her own kitchen peel-and-stick project that she did with the help of her mom. What was so brilliant about this DIY was that Heikens didn’t stick with a standard vertical installation — instead, on her mom’s suggestion, she installed the peel-and-stick tiles on the diagonal to create a diamond-shaped backsplash.

While the installation took a little more time and finesse than installing the peel-and-stick vertically, the result is a backsplash that looks a little more custom (and a lot more realistic, too).

These tiles look like a pretty close match for what Heikens used in her kitchen project, but you can make any square tile design work. (Avoid elongated subway tile designs, which will look off-kilter on a diagonal.) You’ll also need a craft or utility knife and a straight edge to make clean cuts. Heikens doesn’t mention using any tools to help ensure her tile sheets are placed correctly, but using a level can help you keep everything in line.

Need more peel-and-stick tips? Check out this advice from a DIY novice on how to install a peel-and-stick kitchen backsplash the right way (learn from her mistakes!).