A DIY Cork Backsplash
Decorating your home with inexpensive, easy-to-remove decor leaves little room for creativity. You have an even greater disadvantage when you are working on a small or oddly shaped area, like a kitchen backsplash. Backsplashes get wet and dirty quickly so you should cover them with something that is easy to clean or replace. Cork is well-suited for a backsplash because it is easy to cut and apply to a surface. Its mottled tan and camel hues will perpetually look clean, and you can pin recipes to its surface when you are cooking. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tape measure
- Roll of cork material, 1/2-inch thick
- Craft knife or box cutter
- Long, straight-edged cutting guide (yardstick)
- Adhesive strips
Instructions
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1
Measure the dimensions of the backsplash with a tape measure. Note the measurements.
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2
Divide the measurements into equal units to determine the measurements for each cork piece. For example, if you have a backsplash that measures 24 inches by 36 inches, you can cover it in two pieces that measure 12 inches by 18 inches, or you can cover it in tiles that are 6 inches by 9 inches.
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3
Unroll the cork in the kitchen so that it can adjust to the humidity of the room and flatten. Leave it exposed and uncut for one or two days. Its size will vary slightly depending on the environment in which it you use it. It needs to adjust before you put it on the wall so that it does not change after application.
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4
Place the cork on a work surface once it is flat. Mark the measurements for each piece on the backside of the cork with a pen.
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5
Cut the cork with a craft knife or box cutter. Run the blade against a hard, straight edge, like a yardstick to ensure uniformity.
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6
Apply adhesive strips to opposing edges on the backside of each cork piece. Peel the paper backing off of the adhesive strips. Apply adhesive strips to the middle of the pieces, if desired.
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7
Press the pieces to the wall to cover the backsplash.
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Tips & Warnings
Find adhesive strips or tape that the manufacturers made for interior walls specifically, like the adhesive tape for wall hooks or decorations. Stores shelve these products alongside office supplies or packing materials. Humidity in the kitchen, like steam rising from the stove top, may loosen adhesive over time. Large pieces of cork may benefit from extra adhesive strips on the backside, depending on how frequently you want to replace the tiles. You can paint cork with a thin acrylic paint, if you want to rotate decorated cork tiles into the arrangement.
References
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
