How to Cheaply Install a Do-It-Yourself Kitchen Apron
2020 was the year of DIY: we’re all locked up in our homes, looking around and thinking, “Damn it, I’ll just do it myself.” One of the hardest (and most expensive) home projects can be kitchen remodeling. Trying to make the kitchen healthy and beautiful on a tight budget is a battle, especially if you’re not very comfortable and don’t have a contractor cousin to give you a discount for friends and family. But you can quickly and easily update your backsplash by transforming the look of your kitchen without installing all new cabinets.
Aprons are often considered purely decorative, but they are actually quite practical: they prevent grease buildup and are much easier to clean than bare walls. “If you leave the walls bare, food and liquids will unfortunately stain the walls, and in some cases even begin to corrode the surface of the wall itself, leaving the space prone to mold and mildew,” says the home stager. Alex Thatcher at Homes.com .
Don’t be afraid to “peel and stick”
While adhesive tile may seem like a sticky option, modern styles and designs have come a long way, including varieties like faux subway tiles and real stone. While modernizing my kitchen, I’ve found stainless steel tiles to be incredibly versatile and easy to use. Since each tile was 3 “x 6”, it was easy to measure and I was able to come up with innovative designs to cover the entire length of the kitchen wall. You can arrange tiles in herringbone, subway or parquet. Visit Construction2style.com for an easy guide to a range of templates and layouts.
Wallpaper
This option gives DIYers a variety of patterns and designs to choose from. You can choose a rustic style with paper that looks like wood, or choose a bold color to brighten the room. If you are like me and have never installed wallpaper before, be sure to buy yourself an installation kit. They are small and inexpensive, and you can buy them from your local hardware store or Amazon . Includes tools for smoothing out bubbles and wrinkles, tape measure and a knife for precise cuts.
Since there is a lot of splash on the apron, the K! Tchn recommends vinyl, Novamura and washable wallpaper, stating “This wallpaper is tough, washable and will not fade when exposed to sunlight.”
Plan
Make sure you are ready before jumping in and pasting wallpaper or tiles. Roommatesdecor.com has a simple checklist and video to prepare before installing a new apron. They suggest using “a pencil and a ruler to mark on the wall where each tile will be glued.” I’ve found that having a place with good lighting to plan and trim when the time is right is critical. They also recommend using a paper cutter and ruler to ensure a straight edge. This is where the wallpaper installation kit comes in handy. The adhesive is temporary, but permanent removal and reapplication can be painful.
Before applying, DIY Network suggests: “Use a towel, rag, or brush for cleaning with a chemical cleaning solution such as glass cleaner or multi-purpose cleaner to remove oils, grease, and any residue that will prevent the back of the mosaic from sticking to the surface. surface. “Make sure your surface is clean and free of dust or particles.
Get to work
This can be done alone in a day or two, but if you can, it’s great if someone else can help you. They can serve as a second eye for accuracy, as well as an assistant (and support). Plus, when you’re done, you’ll have someone to sip your rosé in your trendy new kitchen.