A few weeks ago, I shared the plan for the bathroom. Well, I’ve been working on it hard! A bigger window was put in, wallpaper is up, the walls are painted and new trim has been installed. I even have a new toilet! But there was one area that I haven’t addressed- and that’s the floors.
See, I have been terrified to put down new floors. Why? The claw foot tub is VERY heavy and doesn’t fit out the door. In order to lay down new tile under the tub, I’d have to jack up the tub, tear out the tile, put down a new sub-floor (how?), lay down new tile, grout, let it set and put the tub back down. To me, that seemed too overwhelming.
So I wasn’t going to do anything- the floors aren’t THAT bad. And then I decided to put in peel and stick tile! I figured that I could use scissors to cut the tile around the legs of the tub and I’d still get a new look. So I got 8 cases of the Illusion Peel and Stick floor tiles. Ready to see how I put it in?!
how to lay peel and stick bathroom tile
how do I know if this product will work for my floors?
According to the package, here’s where it will and will not work-
- for indoor, residential use
- if you’re using on concrete floors, use liquid adhesive before installing
- Do not apply on any cracked, uneven, or loose flooring
- Do not apply over radiant heated floors
- Water resistant, durable
supplies
- peel and stick floor tiles (I got 8 cases)
- Scissors- use good ones (not the ones in the photo, I’ll explain below)
- Measuring tape
- Straight edge ruler
- a garbage bag
prep
Before installing, lay the package flat and allow 48 hours acclimating to a room temperature of at least 65 degrees
Then it is time to clean! I gave the floor a good sweeping and moping (making sure it was nice and dry). You don’t want any dirt, grease, wax, or other oils on the floor that might mess with how the floors stick.
installation
To begin, lay your tiles out on the floor (with the backing on) and figure out the placement you’d like. You don’t want to get to an edge and have to cut a tiny sliver of a piece!
The instructions suggest starting from the middle of the room and working your way out. I started in the back corner so that I could deal with the legs of the tub first.
One note on the packaging said that the tiles in different boxes could be slightly a different color. So I opened 3 boxes at a time and rotated which box I used so that if there was color variance, it wouldn’t be too noticeable.
how to trim the tile
For trimming the tile around the tub legs (and going around the toilet), I measured a million times and drew with pencil the outline on a tile. Just know, you might waste a tile as you perfect your pattern. Anyone can do this project as long as they are patient.
Make sure to use good scissors! I started out with metal scissors and had to push hard to get them to cut. It was a terrible idea because my thumb was tingly for days (like it was asleep). I ended up buying nice scissors that cut through the tiles like butter.
laying the tile
When you lay the tile, remove the backing and press it firmly into place. Avoid touching the adhesive so that it stays nice and sticky! Laying the pieces that don’t need to be trimmed was so fun and quick! You’ve got to love a project that gives you instant gratification!
Make sure to have a garbage bag near by so that you can throw away the backing and keep your work area clean.
after
Here’s how the floor is looking now that most of it is laid down (I’m waiting on the delivery of the vanity to completely finish the floor). I am adoring the new look! The color is so much better and I love that I could do it without a big demolition! I shared the process on Instagram stories (I have it saved under my Bathroom Highlight). I thought I’d share the questions and answers I received on there.
faq
do you need to grout?
No! That’s the nice part. You can see the lines where the tiles meet, but there isn’t a gap. I’ll probably caulk where the tiles meet the baseboards though for a more seamless look.
how durable are they when they get wet?
Since I just installed them, I can’t say for sure. The package says they are durable and can get wet. We did one bath time with them in and they didn’t have any issues. My son did splash a bit, but the water just balled up on the top and I wiped it up.
how does it work with the grout lines on the original tiles?
They go over the old grout lines and you can’t feel them when you step on them. My flooring was a little uneven in a few spots and you can feel that.
if you don’t line up the tiles perfectly, it is obvious?
Yes, you can see more of the black sides of the peel and stick tile. So you need to be patience and slowly lay and trim everything so they line up nicely. I had more of a hard time when I was going around the back of the tub where I had to go around a tub leg and a pipe. If you’re laying them straight or only going around one thing, it wasn’t too tricky to get them to line up.
will these work over linoleum?
Yes! Definitely! As long as they aren’t cracked or peeling. I put mine over ceramic tile and that worked nicely too.
are they easy to cut?
With the right scissors they sure are! Make sure to use utility scissors so the project will go nice and quick!
how expensive is this project?
I got enough boxes to cover my bathroom floor and the large hall outside it. It cost $170. Your cost will depend on the size of your project. Each box has 10 pieces of 12″x12″ square tiles.
is there a pink tone to these floors?
Not at all. The neutral part if a mix of grey and yellow-ish lines. The diamonds are pure white. They might look a little pink in my photos since there is so much pink in the room.
other peel and stick floor tile options
There are SO many good options for peel and stick floor tiles! I choose a simple pattern in order to not compete with the wallpaper. I thought I’d share my other favorite options in case you are in the market for some too!
1 navy flower / 2 Scandinavian grey / 3 grey starburst / 4 navy encaustic / 5 berber cream and black / 6 cornflower gustavian / 7 blue tumbled / 8 poppy mint / 9 neutral diamond
In a few years, I’ll probably bite the bullet and redo my floors completely. For now though, I love that I could find a beautiful, durable, and easy to install solution! Is this a project you’d try? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments.
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Here’s a tip for cutting vinyl tiles. All you have to do is lightly score the top of the tile using a utility knife and then snap it along the cut on the edge of a table or counter. (Cut side up) and then use your knife to cut the paper on the back side. You only have to make maybe two passes with your knife. Just enough to cut through the surface. It’s like cutting drywall. Hope this helps.
That is so helpful- thanks Kim! Most of my cuts were around rounded areas- like the toilet or legs of my tub. But for edges, this is definitely a great way to do it!
Such a difference! I love my peel and stick floor tiles! Two years later and there’s only one spot I wish I had pushed a little closer to the next tile! I used peel-and-stick tile that looks like wood and it doesn’t even matter if you see the seams. It just looks natural!
Virginia | More to Mrs. E