Create a Vinyl Photo Backsplash

In a few quick steps, turn a favorite photograph into a durable, hip kitchen backsplash.

Monochromatic Gray Contemporary Kitchen With Orange Accents

Sleek Contemporary Kitchen With Photo Backsplash

Brian Patrick Flynn designed this modern kitchen with gray high-gloss cabinetry and a cutting edge backsplash made from a black-and-white photo. Orange accents brighten the monochromatic palette.

By: Brian Patrick Flynn

Related To:

Materials Needed:

favorite photograph
high-resolution scanner
local digital printer
gallon of wall-covering primer
wallpaper paste
spackle and putty knife
sanding block
wallpaper smoothing tool
roll of contractor paper
long, flat prep surface
roller handle and cover

paint pan and liner
bucket
dishwashing soap
sponge
hot water
tape measure
painters' tape
spirit level
drop cloth
pencil

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Photo Backsplash in Kitchen

03:07

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn shares a creative kitchen backsplash idea.

Choose Proper Image

Edit photo collection down to subjects with clean, graphic lines with complementary shape, scale and proportion to backsplash. Once image is selected, determine if it is high-resolution or low-resolution. If image is low-resolution, request a high-resolution scan at local photo processing lab. To have image printed on vinyl, contact a local digital printer. Have photo printed onto laminated, UV-resistant vinyl based on the dimensions of backsplash wall.

Make a Template

Unroll contractor paper, cut to length of backsplash wall. Tape paper to wall, trace parameters of cabinets and countertops to paper, then cut to size with utility knife. Remove paper from wall and roll up template.

Prep Step for Creating a Vinyl Photo Backsplash

Make a Template for a Vinyl Photo Backsplash

After creating a vinyl photo, Step 1 in creating the backsplash for the kitchen is to unroll contractor paper and cut it to the length of backsplash wall. Tape the paper to the wall. Then, trace the parameters of the cabinets and the countertops to the paper and cut to size with a utility knife. Finally, remove the paper from the wall and roll up the template.

Prep Backsplash Area

Protect countertops and kitchen floor with drop cloth. Use putty knife to fill holes or dents in wall with spackle. Allow time to dry, then sand smooth with sanding block. Wipe dust from wall with a damp sponge that's been dipped in hot, soapy water. Pour wall-covering primer into paint pan liner, attach roller to handle and cover backsplash area with a coat of wall-covering primer.

Sanding a wall to a smooth finish with a sanding block.

Vinyl Photo Backsplash: Prepping the Area With Spackle

Step 2 in creating a vinyl photo backsplash is the prep. Protect countertops and the kitchen floor with a drop cloth. Use putty knife to fill holes or dents in the wall with spackle. Allow for drying time and then sand the wall smooth with a sanding block. Wipe any dust from the wall with a damp sponge that's been dipped in hot, soapy water. Finally, pour a wall-covering primer into a paint pan liner, attach the roller to its handle and cover the backsplash area with a coat of wall-covering primer.

Cut Vinyl to Size

Lay vinyl out on long, flat surface with printed image upside down. Place template on top of vinyl, trace lines with pencil. Use utility knife to cut vinyl along penciled line.

Cutting a vinyl photo with a utility knife for a kitchen backsplash.

Vinyl Photo Backsplash: Cutting Photo to Size for Backsplash Wall

Step 3 in creating a vinyl photo backsplash is to lay vinyl out on long, flat surface with printed image upside down. Place the template on top of the vinyl and trace outline with a pencil. Use utility knife to cut the vinyl along the penciled line.

Adhere Photo Backsplash

Perform a dry fit by placing vinyl against wall, assuring the correct size and shape. Remove vinyl and pour wallpaper paste into paint pan liner. Attach roller to handle and apply paste to wall. After five to 10 minutes, press vinyl against wall, smooth out air bubbles with a smoothing tool and cut away excess vinyl with utility knife.

Wiping a kitchen wall to remove wallpaper paste from a vinyl photo.

Vinyl Photo Backsplash: Wiping Wallpaper Paste From Vinyl Photo

Step 4 in creating a vinyl photo backsplash is to perform a dry fit by placing the vinyl photo against wall, assuring its correct size and shape. Remove the vinyl and pour wallpaper paste into paint pan liner. Attach a roller to a handle and apply paste to the wall. After five to 10 minutes, press vinyl against wall, smooth out air bubbles with a smoothing tool and cut away excess vinyl with utility knife. Finally, fill a bucket with hot, soapy water. Dip the sponge in the bucket, then fully wipe all the wallpaper paste residue from the front of the vinyl. Repeat three or four times until the surface is clean.

Proper Cleanup

Fill bucket with hot, soapy water. Dip sponge in bucket then fully wipe all wallpaper paste residue from front of vinyl. Repeat three or four times until surface is clean.