How To Cover Your Ugly Splashback Tiles

Last week I started a new series called Five Ways to Revamp A Room  and if I’d waited until this week to start it then it would have been six. When you move into a new place – either bought or rented – one of the first things that is crying out to be changed is the tiles. Sometimes because their cleanliness can be called into question but often just because the existing ones are of dubious taste. I’ve lost count of how many country kitchens have tiles with random pictures of grapes or lemons on them.

Now while you can buy gorgeous cheap tiles – I refer you to metro or subway for the cheapest and most classic styles – add black grout for practicality and a contemporary touch – it can be a pain to remove the old tiles without damaging cupboards and worktops nearby.

Then I found this and it’s the perfect way to cover your ugly splashback tiles. It’s a vinyl roll measuring 40cm high by 1m long and you can just stick it over your existing tiles. It’s waterproof and heat resistant and is an easy way to change the look of a kitchen without having to call the builders in. Clever innit? I found this one on Rockett St George who are also stocking a different pattern as well as a couple of matching floor mats – also a good idea if you want to bring in some pattern but fear that a rug might be impractical. These come in 70cm wide by 180cm long.

It comes in a roll and you must first unroll it and lay it out in the sun (I know, I know chance would be a fine thing but it’s an Israeli company so I guess they weren’t thinking about the rest of us when they came up with the idea) until it is soft. Then spread it in the desired place where, as it cools, it will flatten and cling to the floor. So you could put two next to each other under the kitchen table for example if you were nervous about a rug.

Rockett St George have a couple of designs but I wanted to investigate further to find out a little more. Firstly don’t google Bejia UK as that’s lingerie. But if you want to see the original company it’s here and they also make individual tile stickers as well as mats and runners that are even longer.

There is also a collection inspired by kilims that is made from a special soft vinyl and comes in large rectangular shapes, the largest of which is 2m by 3.5m – but before you all go rushing off to buy one (and they do ship to the UK and the US) they are €699 so I would urge you to see if you can get a sample before you spend that much. It may be that you would prefer a more traditional rug at that price.

I thought it seemed like a good idea and one that might be worth knowing about. I have inquired about samples but if anyone else knows any more details in the meantime then do pop into the comments below.