This Renter-Friendly Kitchen Blackspash Is As Stylish As It Is Affordable

While renting an apartment or house is the most affordable or practical choice for many Americans, it also means that options for renovating and decorating are fairly limited — especially when it comes to the kitchen. While you might be able to get away with painting an accent wall in the bedroom or installing a shelf in the bathroom, a kitchen's configuration and aesthetic are harder to customize when you can't renovate. Cabinets and appliances have been chosen for you, meaning you'll have to use a touch of creativity when making it your own.

Some fixes are easy, like hiding an unsightly dishwasher with a tension rod and pretty fabric, or hanging art and decorative mirrors to bring light and personality into the space. Other fixes, like updating the color of your cabinets, are just out of reach. However, there's one renter-friendly hack that makes such a big visual impact that it can make the whole space feel fresh, modern, and cozy all at the same time: upgrading your backsplash. In particular, peel and stick wood planking adds a hefty dose of rustic charm while circumventing many of the most common backsplash installation mistakes that come with putting in tile.

You have a plethora of choices when it comes to the vinyl planks for your faux wood backsplash. Though these are usually used as flooring, they also work well as a backsplash as they are durable and can withstand frequent cleaning. Just be sure all the seams are properly aligned and sealed during installation to prevent moisture and mess from creeping behind the tiles. Not only could this ruin the wall, it could also loosen the adhesive and cause your backsplash to sag.

If your cabinets are a lighter wood tone, installing a matching backsplash could be an interesting way to help give your kitchen a clean and uniform appearance. However, darker wood tones and paint colors on cabinets practically beg for a contrasting backsplash, as decorating with dark-on-dark could create a gloomy, depressing kitchen (which is the opposite of what you want in a space where you'll be cooking with loved ones and celebrating holidays). Contrast is also a great way to make your kitchen backsplash look more expensive, which our brains associate with sophistication.

Though faux wood vinyl planks come in a fairly limited range of browns and grays, they can still help you add a splash of color to your space if your kitchen is mostly white or the dreaded Millennial Gray. The right neutral backsplash can help colorful appliances stand out, or act as a pretty background for hooks installed under your cabinets to display your favorite mugs.