Tiling over tiles – The complete guide for bathroom, kitchen & floor

You are standing in your bathroom staring at those beige tiles from the 90s. Or at the brown tiled backsplash in the kitchen that just doesn't match your new style anymore. Rip out the tiles? Too expensive, too noisy, too much effort – and not an option in a rented apartment anyway. But: You can cover tiles with adhesive. Quickly, affordably, and without having to call a single tradesperson. This guide explains all the methods, shows you their pros and cons, and guides you step-by-step through the process – whether in the bathroom, in the kitchen, or on the floor.

What methods are there to cover tiles?

Covering old tiles is not a new concept, but the range of methods is greater today than ever before. An overview of the five most common options:

Self-adhesive wallpaper (mural)

This is the method with the best price-to-aesthetic ratio for wall tiles. You choose a motif that matches your interior style and use it to re-cover entire tiled walls, creating a real eye-catcher. The self-adhesive wallpaper from Pimp My Wall is 170 g/m² heavy, PVC-free, and printed with GREENGUARD Gold certified inks – meaning: no harmful emissions, healthy for living, and made in Germany. Particularly practical: The wallpaper can be removed without leaving any residue. For tenants, this is worth its weight in gold.

Suitable for: Wall tiles in bathrooms, kitchens, hallways, living areas

Not suitable for: Floor tiles, highly textured surfaces without preparation

Tile foil (self-adhesive film)

The tile foil from Pimp My Wall consists of the same premium material as our self-adhesive wallpaper (170 g/m², PVC-free) – just with designs in tile looks, ranging from mosaics and ornamental tiles to vintage. It is particularly suitable for the backsplash in the kitchen and for wall tiles in the bathroom.

Suitable for: Kitchen backsplash, wall tiles in the bathroom

Limitation: Not for floor tiles and not for the direct shower area; keep a distance from the cooktop

Vinyl planks / Vinyl flooring

Vinyl is the recommended solution specifically for floor tiles. Vinyl planks are simply laid or glued over the existing tile floor, making it visually invisible. They are slip-resistant, moisture-resistant, and significantly warmer than tiles.

Suitable for: Floor tiles in the bathroom, kitchen, hallway

Limitation: Slightly increases floor level (approx. 3–5 mm)

Tile paint

Tile paint coats old tiles with a new color. This is the cheapest method, but also the most laborious: sanding, priming, multiple coats, letting it dry. And: The result often looks less premium than with film or wallpaper.

Suitable for: If you want a uniform color surface

Limitation: Labor-intensive, difficult to reverse

Tile decals (individual stickers)

Tile decals are applied to each individual tile – this creates a mosaic-like effect and can look especially appealing in combination with white tiles. For large surfaces, however, the effort is significant.

Suitable for: Accent tiles, borders, decorating individual tiles

Limitation: Time-consuming for larger areas

In a nutshell:

Method	Wall tiles	Floor tiles	Wet room	Effort	Tenant-friendly
Self-adhesive wallpaper	Very good	No	Limited	Low	Yes
Tile foil	Good	No	Good	Low	Yes
Vinyl planks	No	Very good	Yes	Medium	Yes
Tile paint	Good	Good	Yes	High	No
Tile decals	Good	No	Limited	Medium	Yes

Feel free to check out our tile collection for wall tiles – there you will find designs developed specifically for this use case.

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Covering tiles in the bathroom

The bathroom is a classic tile renovation project. Especially here, tiles from past decades are often still present – and especially here, people shy away from costly renovations. The good news: Covering bathroom tiles is very manageable if you keep a few things in mind.

Which areas in the bathroom are suitable?

Ideally suited:

• Wall tiles next to the sink
• Tiled walls in the bathroom area (outside the shower)
• Tiled walls behind the bathtub (if there is no direct contact with water)
• Tiled walls by the door or in the back area of the bathroom

Suitably limited:

• Covering tiles in the shower: Here, constant splashing water is the problem. Self-adhesive wallpaper does not hold reliably in the shower cubicle itself over the long term. Better: Vinyl decor foils specially designed for wet rooms.

Not recommended:

• Covering floor tiles in the bathroom with wallpaper – here, vinyl is the right choice.

Before and after: What is possible?

Imagine your bathroom has cream-colored wall tiles with a brown border pattern – a true time capsule from the early 2000s. With a self-adhesive wallpaper in a marble look, a calm concrete look, or a subtle geometric pattern, you can transform the wall in just a few hours. The result is a bathroom that feels like it has just been renovated – without noise, dust, or structural changes.

Tips specifically for the bathroom

• Degrease the surface thoroughly: In the bathroom, fat residues (soap, cosmetic products) are common – adhesion suffers significantly because of them.
• Corners and silicone joints: Protruding wallpaper edges can be cut cleanly with a utility knife. Press particularly carefully at silicone joints.
• Consider ventilation: A well-ventilated bathroom significantly extends durability.
• Seal edge areas: If you want to play it safe, seal the edges with transparent bathroom silicone.

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Covering tiles in the kitchen

In the kitchen, it is primarily the backsplash – i.e., the wall surface between the worktop and the upper cabinets – that often looks like it needs renovation. The good news: This is a manageable area that is ideal for covering.

Take a look at the projects of our community on Instagram!

What you need to keep in mind in the kitchen

Kitchens mean: heat, grease mist, steam, and occasionally splashing water. Self-adhesive wallpaper holds well here, as long as it is not stuck directly above the cooktop or in the immediate splash zone. It is better to leave the area directly next to the stove (less than 20 cm distance from the hot zone) free.

Styling ideas for the kitchen backsplash

The backsplash is small – but has a huge impact. A few ideas that are particularly popular in 2026:

• Metro tile look: The classic white metro tile in brick look appears timelessly modern and can be wonderfully imitated with self-adhesive wallpaper.
• Concrete look: Industrial, cool, puristic – perfect for Scandinavian or loft-style kitchens.
• Marble look: Elegant texture that looks incredibly chic in combination with white kitchen fronts and brass fittings.
• 3D wallpapers: Those who want a particularly vivid effect will find motifs in our 3D wallpapers that create depth and structure – without any real relief surface.

Cleaning and care

Kitchen tiles are often cleaned. Self-adhesive wallpaper can be wiped off with a damp cloth – please avoid scrubbing detergents or steam cleaners. Gentle is better.

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Covering floor tiles – is it possible?

Here is the honest answer: Self-adhesive wallpaper is made for walls, not for floors. Floor tiles are subjected to mechanical forces – shoe soles, furniture casters, chairs – that will strain any adhesive film in the long run. Anyone wanting to visually change their tiled floor is much better off with vinyl planks or vinyl flooring.

Vinyl flooring can be laid directly over floor tiles (loose or self-adhesive), is slip-resistant, moisture-resistant, and available in countless wood, stone, and concrete looks. The effort is minimal, the effect convincing. The floor level only increases minimally (3–5 mm).

For covering floor tiles in rented apartments: Loosely laid vinyl leaves no traces on the substrate – also tenant-friendly.

For wall tiles, you can find all tile foils in our current collection.

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Step by step: Covering tiles with self-adhesive wallpaper

The good news first: You don't need any manual experience. If you've ever applied a film to a mobile phone screen, you're well-prepared. And even if not – it will work with this guide.

What you need

• Self-adhesive wallpaper (cut to size)
• Utility knife and ruler
• Squeegee or smoothing tool (or an old credit card)
• Painter's tape
• Degreaser (kitchen cleaner or isopropanol)
• Measuring tape
• Pencil or chalk

Step 1: Check and prepare the surface

The tiles must be clean, dry, and grease-free. Even invisible soap residues or kitchen oil prevent good adhesion. Wipe the entire surface thoroughly with degreaser and let it dry.

Important for highly textured tiles: Deep grooves, mosaic joints, or rough surfaces can reduce adhesion. Here, an adhesive primer, which is applied beforehand, helps. More on this in our guide to substrate preparation.

Step 2: Measure and cut

Measure the tile or wall area and cut the wallpaper strip with approx. 2–3 cm allowance. Better a little too big than too short – excess material can be cut off cleanly later.

Step 3: Start – from top to bottom

Peel off only the top 10–15 cm of the protective film. Position the strip at the top of the wall, align it (if necessary with a spirit level), and press the upper part on.

Step 4: Peel off the protective film step by step

Gradually peel off the protective film downwards while simultaneously pressing the wallpaper from the center outwards with the squeegee. This prevents air bubbles.

If an air bubble does appear: No problem. Simply peel back the wallpaper from that spot (it is repositionable), remove the bubble, and press it on again.

Step 5: Edges, corners, and cut-outs

Cut the corners and work around sockets and switches. Simply use a utility knife and a ruler to trim off any excess material neatly.

Step 6: Pressing and checking

Run the smoother over the entire surface once to press down all areas firmly. Make sure to secure the edges particularly well.

Pro tip: Let the wallpaper "settle" for 24 hours after application before cleaning the surface with water or exposing it to high heat.

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Frequently asked questions about covering tiles

Can you simply stick wallpaper over tiles?

Yes – with the right method, covering wall tiles is easily manageable for DIY beginners. The decisive factor is surface preparation: it must be clean, dry, and free of grease. Self-adhesive wallpaper is simply applied without the need for wallpaper paste, tradespeople, or noise. For floor tiles, we recommend vinyl planks instead of wallpaper.

Can you cover up ugly tiles?

Absolutely – that is actually one of the most common reasons. Beige tiles, brown borders, or yellowed tiled backsplashes: all of this disappears behind a new surface. It is only important that the tiles themselves are still intact (no deep cracks, no loose tiles).

What can you do to cover tiles in the bathroom?

There are several options: self-adhesive wallpaper for wall tiles outside the shower, tile film for areas prone to moisture, tile stickers for individual tiles as accents, or tile paint for a completely new color. The fastest and most stylish solution for bathroom walls is self-adhesive wallpaper.

What are the disadvantages of covering tiles?

The disadvantages are manageable: adhesion can be impaired by heavily textured tiles (deep grout lines, relief patterns). Self-adhesive wallpaper is less suitable for showers or areas with constant splashing. Floor tiles cannot be covered with wallpaper – vinyl is used for that. Additionally, adhesion may decrease on very old, porous tiles. Otherwise, covering them is a reversible process that leaves no residue – so there is no permanent disadvantage.

How long does the film last on tiles?

High-quality self-adhesive wallpaper will last for several years on well-prepared tiles. The keys are: a clean surface before application, no permanent water contact, and gentle cleaning (no scrubbing). With proper application and care, five years or more is realistic.

Can you cover tiles in a rented apartment?

Yes – this is one of the biggest advantages of this method. Self-adhesive wallpaper can be removed without leaving any residue. The tiles underneath remain untouched. You are on the safe side when moving out, as long as the tiles are not damaged during removal (which does not happen with standard quality). This feature makes covering tiles the perfect solution for rented apartments.

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Covering tiles instead of renovating

Covering tiles is one of the smartest ways to transform a room in a short time – without renovation costs, noise, or tradespeople. Whether it’s an outdated kitchen backsplash, beige bathroom walls, or a boring hallway: with the right method and a little preparation, you can achieve a result that is truly impressive.

For wall tiles in bathrooms and kitchens, self-adhesive wallpaper is the most aesthetically convincing solution. For floor tiles, opt for vinyl. And for those living in a rented apartment, you can breathe a sigh of relief – as both can be removed without residue when the next move is due.

Browse our tile collection and find the design that suits your room – from classic marble looks and concrete textures to decorative patterns that no one will believe is wallpaper.