Using Wallpaper as Our Kitchen Backsplash

Measurements come first here, because a good-looking piece in the wrong spot still fails. Tile or natural stone might be the dream for a kitchen backsplash, but if it's not in your budget, there's a polished, budget-friendly alternative you might not have considered… wallpaper! With just a single leftover roll, we gave our kitchen a fresh pop of color, turned our backsplash into a show-stopping focal point, and did it all without the cost, mess, or permanence of tile.

In this post, I'll share exactly how I pulled it off, made the wallpaper water-resistant, and created a durable, designer look that held up beautifully for years. Whether you're looking for a quick refresh, a temporary upgrade before a bigger redo, or a way to bring more personality into your kitchen, this project is proof you can have style, function, and affordability all in one roll of wallpaper! (post includes commissionable links; for more information, see my full disclosure statement {here})

The “Before” and Why We Went for Wallpaper

When we bought our house, the kitchen (like most of the rest of our house) was filled with dated, stained wallpaper:

Removing it gave our kitchen an instant update (see my post on how to remove wallpaper for a detailed how-to), but all that fresh white space ended up feeling a little too ultra-white and sterile. I already had some of {this patterned blue wallpaper} left over from another project, so I thought… why not try it on our backsplash?!

Wallpaper Installation

If you're new to wallpapering, the backsplash isn't a bad place to start because you're working with shorter pieces of wallpaper. Unless of course you have arched windows like I did – they put my wallpapering skills to the test! If you're tackling a tricky install yourself, look at my wallpaper installation pointers for lots of helpful pointers and tricks.

Once the paper was up, I was really happy with how it turned out. It added a fun dose of color and really made my white cabinets and windows pop:

And I only used a single roll of wallpaper! Your backsplash is actually a great spot to splurge on a wallpaper you love but might be too pricey for an entire room where multiple rolls are needed.

A Few More Kitchen Updates

While I was at it, I made several other budget-friendly changes to freshen up our kitchen:

• Swapped out the cabinet hardware, faucet, and pendant light
• Used marble contact paper on the countertops
• Painted the soffits Benjamin Moore Simply White (flat finish) instead of wallpapering them, which helped the space feel airy and open

You can see all the details in my post on kitchen redo approaches on a budget.

Sources:Island pendant  |  Round woven tray  |  Faux leafy branches  |  Utensil holder

Ways to Protect Your Wallpaper Backsplash

You can use almost any wallpaper as a backsplash if you protect it. I double coated mine with {this flat varnish} that's well suited to wallpapers in kitchens and bathrooms that could be exposed to water and moisture.

A strong choice is that it's truly dead-flat, so it doesn't make matte wallpaper look shiny. As with any coating, test it on a scrap of your wallpaper first to make sure you're happy with the finish before applying it to your entire backsplash.

Update! We had our wallpapered backsplash for four years before we did our complete kitchen redo and it held up beautifully, without a single stain!

Other Options for Durability:

• Vinyl performance wallpaper – Durable and moisture-resistant, now available in polished designs from brands like Schumacher and Phillip Jeffries (check them out {here}. Just be aware that vinyl wallpaper can't be exposed to high heat, so skip it if your backsplash goes behind your range or cooktop.
• Acrylic sheets over wallpaper – Adds serious protection but typically only seen in higher end homes because the materials + installation costs can get pricey!

Why Wallpaper a Backsplash?

There are several reasons why you might choose to wallpaper your kitchen backsplash:

1. Budget-friendly – Much less expensive than tile and easier to replace.
2. Endless style options – From bold prints to subtle textures, there's something for every taste. It's a great way to add personality to your kitchen!
3. Low commitment – Easy to swap out if your style changes.
4. Well suited to temporary upgrades – If you're planning a bigger redo down the road, this is a great in-between solution.

And you don't have to limit your wallpaper to the backsplash – you could use it on all of the walls of your kitchen like they did here with Serena & Lily wallpaper:

Other sources:Rattan swivel stools

Budget Alternatives to a Wallpaper Backsplash

Other approaches for updating your kitchen backsplash on a budget are to use peel and stick subway tile stickers like {these} or tile stickers like you can find {here}. The preferred tile stickers that The household has come across are {these polished tile stickers} that mimic Moroccan tile:

You can look at my post on vinyl wall decals where I share details on applying them to our laundry room walls.

Peel and Stick Wallpaper for a Kitchen Backsplash?

Yes! Peel and stick wallpaper is definitely an option for a kitchen backsplash. Look at my post on how to hang peel and stick wallpaper for links to some of the preferred wallpapers and installation details.

Any other questions? Let me know! Thanks for stopping by today!