How would you cover this tile decoration?

Cori Widen
by Cori Widen
We rent and while I'm working on a backsplash by the sink, the landlords have these decorations on the tiles in random places throughout the kitchen, not covered by a backsplash, that I really don't like. They're raised and textured. What can I cover them with? Any ideas? Thanks
  15 answers
  • Karen Karen on Feb 17, 2017

    If it were me I would get some inexpensive frames and some botanical artwork of some kind (or make some). At the $1 Store frames are very light and usually will lay very flat against the wall. I would use Fun-Tak to place the pictures over the tiles. Fun-Tak will not damage the wall and is easy to remove. I would try not to get it in the grout lines though, it might be tough to remove from that surface. Have fun!

  • Danielle Danielle on Feb 17, 2017

    Wow, those are U-G-L-Y, and worse, it looks like they were installed upside down! I might get a decorative tile of the same size that you actually like and use either hot glue or something like command strips to place it on top, then when you move out you can just pull them off with no damage.

    • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Feb 18, 2017

      Right?! They're nice people but....yeah :) I really like the idea of decorative tile with command strips, thank you!

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Feb 17, 2017

    I am thinking not sure if I am right but what about a pretty cut out design o contact paper.

  • Nikki Nikki on Feb 17, 2017

    Can you cover with paper and faux paint to match the others? Unless someone was looking closely, they probably would not notice. :)

    • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Feb 18, 2017

      I like the idea but I'm wondering if it'd work because of the texture...

  • Suzanne Suzanne on Feb 18, 2017

    Paint it out with cream/white chalk paint

  • Sam Sam on Feb 18, 2017

    ha... yes... they are upside down!

    i'd say pcs of textured wall paper. pick a pattern and glue it on. you can steam it off when you move. often stores that carry wall paper have remnants for some reason or rolls on sale. I once contacted a wallpaper manufacturer and asked if they had 'cut offs' that they would normally throw out. I got some very nice small pieces that I used as a mosaic to cover up some awful plaster job in a place we once rented. when we moved out. I just steamed it off.

    worked well.

    • See 1 previous
    • Sharon Sharon on Apr 25, 2017

      You could also ask for some old wallpaper sample books, then you'll have lots of cute paper for crafts.

  • Sam Sam on Feb 18, 2017

    yes. if you dampen the wall paper enough, it will mold around the edges nicely.

    you will have to add a little more glue on it because once you dampen more, some will come off. but it works well.

    I had once done it by using some of the fancy Japanese paper you can find in a crafting store. just used elmers glue diluted a bit for the glue. but you might have to double or triple it to cover, depending on what you would get. but that looks pretty as well. when my daughter had to rent a dumpy looking place right out of college, I used hand made paper to pretty up her uglies in the kitchen.

    but I did put a thin coat of polyverithane on it so she could wipe it if needed by the stove. it still pealed off when it was time to move.

    wish I had taken pictures!


  • Gail Gail on Feb 19, 2017

    Use double sided tape, foam or flat like carpet tape. I prefer using flat tape. Just cut strips size needed to cover whole square shape of ugly tile, then put whatever your heart desires up. Peel off paper covering tape sticky sides, it is strong holding but also non damaging & easy to remove. How about coasters, or sections of parquet wood flooring, or magnet tin pieces with cute or comical sayings/pics, or even plastic canvas u put your own design on? Choices are endless.

    • See 2 previous
    • Cori Widen Cori Widen on Feb 20, 2017

      Mounting putty is brilliant - so little work!

  • Deborah Dawkins Deborah Dawkins on Feb 20, 2017

    Hi ...how about those medallions that are sold in Home Depot. You can measure the size of your offending tiles.. get the medallion ( they are pliable) cut it to size. Spray paint them to bubble up the existing palet in your kitchen. Then attach with command strips. Since the location is the kitchen.. these medallions won't take on the gradual yellowing that I've seen in some kitchens.

    Hope your challenge is resolved!

  • MadameRĆ£ MadameRĆ£ on Feb 20, 2017

    I would get some small jars of metal paints of varying shades,especially gold,& re-design into Egyptian symbols... *It can be done with a bit of thought & pre-drafting... Make it your own special mystery šŸ”®

  • Sue Sue on Feb 20, 2017

    I would buy some smaller tiles,pretty bright colors and cover the ugly permanent ones.


  • Sab6261830 Sab6261830 on Feb 21, 2017

    hey, I have been thru this nightmare! best idea is to add on polyfil fro walls fill in as much smooth it out when dry sand it a bit leave it as is or you can paint to gold so it looks like gold bricks in white tiles or any other colour:)

  • Dorothy Collett Dorothy Collett on Feb 21, 2017

    Corrugated cardboard cut to fit inside the border of the tile and pressed into the raised area might level the tile enough to add another piece of cardboard and wallpaper over the entire block.

  • Liza Liza on Feb 21, 2017

    You can get photos laminated to foam board (try Costco or online). If you use a mounting square or two -- the kind used to hang posters on dorm walls, between the mounting square and the foam board you should have enough depth behind the photo that it hangs flat. If you angle the photos so that they look casually hung, rather than trying to line them up with the tiles, no one should notice that you are hiding anything. The bonus is that they are easy to remove without damaging the underlying surface. A win for you and your security deposit. A win for your landlord because they have no difficult/expensive cleanup to do.

  • Miri Stoner---- Miri Stoner---- on Apr 20, 2017

    Maybe cardboard and then chalk paint?