This “Controversial” Renter-Friendly Kitchen Hack Has the Internet Completely Split
If you’re a renter, you probably already know a few of the simplest tricks that can help you make your space feel more like home. Washi tape, peel-and-stick wallpaper and vinyls, Command hooks, and many more easy, reversible upgrades can help your rental reflect your personality. But there’s a new backsplash hack going viral on TikTok right now, and the internet can’t decide whether or not to collectively love it or hate it.
Back in June, TikTok user Shelby Turner (@itsmeshelbyturner) shared how she changed up her rental’s kitchen backsplash by installing peel-and-stick tiles. But her trick to ensure the tile would come off without issue was to cover the existing subway tile with painter’s tape before applying the peel-and-stick.
Many people called the painter’s tape idea “ingenious.” But others hated on it — hard. “And what happens when the heat and steam cause the painters tape to peel off? Then your tiles and tape come off all at one go,” one person wrote.
Another said, “Painters tape, if left on longer than a few weeks, will adhere and can do real damage. Learned that lesson the hard way.”
Shelby said she used a painter’s tape that promised it could be left on walls for up to six months. And to see just how well the tape did its job, she decided to take everything down about four months later.
“As you can see, underneath the tile, I put a layer of painter’s tape to keep the subway tiles protected. This was a little controversial,” she said in a recent TikTok video. “Some people said it was going to damage the tiles or that it was going to fuse to the tile, but I have done this in the past and it’s been just fine for me. I think if you were to put the painter’s tape on drywall instead of tile it would have a different reaction.”
Shelby didn’t carry her painter’s tape all the way down behind her stove, and just like she predicted, the adhesive backing of the peel-and-stick tile caused her trouble. “I am thankful that I put this layer of painter’s tape down because this would be my experience with the entire wall.”
Finally, when it was time to remove the tape, it came up without any issue. Other commenters suggested using a combination of poster board or paper and the painter’s tape behind the peel-and-stick to reduce the cleanup time.
As Shelby said in her second video, this hack likely would not work with drywall, so keep that in mind if you like the concept. And use a painter’s tape that states it can be left on walls for an extended period of time. Otherwise, you might have a mess on your hands.
If you do decide to give this hack a go, you might want to keep a bottle of Goo Gone on hand … just in case!
Further Reading
We Tested (and Rated!) All the Sofas at Ashley — Here Are the Best to Suit Your Style and Space
I Just Discovered the Smartest Way to Store Paper Towels in Your Kitchen (It’s a Game-Changer!)
See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room
