Give Your Boring Kitchen Backsplash A Makeover With This Easy Plate Hack (No Drilling Required)

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Got the blah kitchen backsplash blues? We have the cure. It's an extremely budget-friendly kitchen design upgrade that won't even require breaking out the toolbox. All you need are plates you want to display and strong tape, according to Instagrammer Eunice Weckesser of crownthecoolstudios.

With kitchens becoming more curated in style, a bland backsplash is a wasted opportunity. Jazzing it up is one of the most effective ways to invigorate your kitchen's aesthetic by adding personality, but you might worry you need to rip out the tile and splurge on a replacement. Thankfully that's not the case, as this plate-and-tape hack can give you even more high-impact results than a simple tile switch. 

The secret is to use heavy-duty adhesive stickers with hooks which stick extremely well even with a weighty plate. Simply clean and dry the spot you want, stick on the adhesive, and hang the plate. You'll need a plate with a hanger already on it to do this. If you need to add one, use hot glue or superglue to stick felt strips on the back of the plate, glue to those either double- or triple-strand twine measured to hang at the plate's top center, and then add another layer of felt. Ultimately, using just these stickers, some glue, and some string, you can create a stunning backsplash with plates like the ones used in the Instagram video. Mix and match display-worthy plates that fit your kitchen's motif; like checkered for a retro room, floral for country chic, or marbled or abstract for something modern. 

Don't worry about these stickers not remaining strong enough long-term. One commenter on that Instagram post says, "just fyi those stickers do not come off." The original poster herself added, "These sticker have been on my wall for three years lol! You know they are strong especially because it's surrounded by my stove with the constant heat not one sticker has peeled!" 

In fact, you may want to familiarize yourself with removal methods. This is still a renter-friendly project since you don't have to drill or paint, but then you will want to be able to remove the hooks when you leave. You might even want to be able to move them around. Use a hair dryer to melt the adhesive and slide a string of dental floss under the sticker to wiggle it off. Weckesser warns in her Instagram post that the stickers can pull paint off when you remove them, so they're best used on tile or stone. If you do use them on paint, be prepared to paint over that spot if you ever remove the hook. 

Serveware is the section of the thrift store that can add serious charm to your kitchen. Visit flea markets, antique malls, and garage sales to find plates, saucers, and more — one DIYer transformed their backsplash with teacups. You don't have to cut teacups in half or break out the mortar, though. Using Weckesser's hook-sticker hack, you can accent plates with picture frames and hanging bud vases.