One Tiny Trick Helped Make This $150 Kitchen Makeover Look Way More Expensive

Even though I’m not a renter anymore, I’m still always on the lookout for clever renter-friendly DIYs and upgrades — to share with readers, of course, but also because I don’t necessarily want every change I make in my home to be permanent. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about peel-and-stick backsplashes, and I keep coming back to this mini kitchen makeover’s gorgeous checkerboard pattern made with Smart Tiles zellige peel-and-stick tile in orange and beige.

The kitchen before was your standard-issue rental — nice enough, but without any personality. You often see these all-white spaces transformed with paint on the walls (which I’m a huge fan of, as well!) but I liked that the renter behind this makeover went for color in the backsplash instead. Because she used peel-and-stick, the changes are reversible when she moves out.

The secret to this cute kitchen makeover is actually using two separate sets of peel-and-stick tile in both cream and orange. The wavy texture of these mimics the look of fancy zellige tile but for much less money and much less work.

Because these tiles come in single-color sheets, Morgan, the renter behind this redo, chose to cut out individual tiles before creating her own custom checkered pattern. It’s such a smart way to make these tiles look even more convincingly like the real thing! And she spent just $150 total on her redo.

If the idea of a checkerboard backsplash appeals to you but you’d rather not put in the time cutting apart individual tiles, there are some cute options worth considering.

This one, also from Smart Tile, has a more subdued color scheme that complements bold painted cabinets just as well as white ones.

For another maximalist option, try this yellow-and-white pattern that also features delicate floral designs.

This gray-and-white version has a luxurious vintage vibe.

Of course, if you’d rather go all-in with real-deal tile, there are plenty of options out there to create the checkerboard pattern of your dreams. I like this textured ceramic version in cream and terracotta, which is a pretty close match to the zellige look above.