Summary: I used Chasing Paper’s peel-and-stick tile decals to give our kitchen a bright, charming refresh in our new rental, and I couldn’t be happier with how easy it was to install and how great it looks. Despite a few hiccups (like tricky grout lines and older wall surfaces), it’s been a budget-friendly, renter-safe upgrade that I’d absolutely do again!

What I love about Chasing Paper: 

  • Chasing Paper offers so many beautiful, nontoxic peel-and-stick wall and floor designs to choose from, all made in the USA.
  • The tile decals were easy to install solo using the brand’s clear instructions, though a second set of hands makes the process even easier.
  • For around $200, I was able to transform our kitchen and make it feel like ours.
  • The decals have held up great so far — they’re easy to clean and look just like real backsplash.

Things to keep in mind: 

  • The marble floor decals didn’t work well with my rental’s uneven grout lines, so that project didn’t pan out as planned.
  • Chasing Paper tile decals cost more than what you’ll find on Wayfair or Amazon, but you’re paying for quality peel-and-stick tiles made without VOCs or other harmful chemicals.

My husband and I recently moved into a new rental after four-plus years in the same space, and it felt like the perfect fresh start, especially as we’re gearing up to welcome our first baby and create a cozy family nest. But let’s be real: While our new place is clean and well-kept, it’s still the definition of builder grade. We’re talking blank white walls, gray tile floors in the bathroom and kitchen, and a serious lack of personality.

“While our new place is clean and well-kept, it’s still the definition of builder grade… a serious lack of personality.”

After we moved in and I started planning ways to make our new place feel like ours, I couldn’t help but notice my FYP flooded with renters transforming their spaces with peel-and-stick wallpaper and floor decals. The trend is budget-friendly and surprisingly easy to execute, and it captured my attention as a reasonable option. That said, I was a little wary — most peel-and-stick options that influencers love (or the ones that pop up first on Amazon) are notorious for containing VOCs and other not-so-great materials, which doesn’t feel right when we’re about to have a baby crawling around.

Since our team has long admired Chasing Paper and we’ve even partnered with them in the past to review their peel-and-stick wallpaper, I reached out to see what kinds of nontoxic tile decals they might have for a kitchen backsplash and bathroom floor. The timing couldn’t have been better. Not only did we get to try out their Porto Tile Decals and Marble Flooring, but we also had the chance to chat with the founder and learn exactly why nontoxic is the way to go, especially when we’re creating a space that’s safe, fresh, and truly our own.


What are VOCs, and why do so many peel-and-stick tiles have them?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily become vapors at room temperature, and they’re in everything from paints and adhesives to peel-and-stick tiles. 

“Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that easily become vapors at room temperature, and they’re in everything from paints and adhesives to peel-and-stick tiles.”

“Many peel-and-stick options are designed to be cheap, quick fixes, inevitably leading to consumers purchasing products that emit toxins and VOCs into the air in their homes,” explains Elizabeth Rees, founder of Chasing Paper. Founded in 2012 by a third-generation grand-format printing family, Chasing Paper prints made-to-order wallpaper free of vinyl, VOCs, PVC, and phthalates, using water-based GREENGUARD Gold Certified ink. The brand also collaborates with designers like Jenni Yolo from I Spy DIY to release fun prints regularly. 

“At Chasing Paper, we believe that great design belongs to homeowners and renters alike, which is why we started with peel-and-stick products from the beginning,” says Rees. “Our philosophy is that just because a home product is designed to be removable or temporary, it should still be crafted with care and quality in mind.” Makes sense to me! 

In contrast to many low-cost peel-and-stick options loaded with VOCs, Chasing Paper’s decals are a safer choice for indoor air quality. Their high-quality materials and thoughtful design offer renters and homeowners an easy, beautiful way to upgrade their spaces without compromising health or sustainability while saving money.

“In contrast to many low-cost peel-and-stick options loaded with VOCs, Chasing Paper’s decals are a safer choice for indoor air quality.”

“For those looking to instantly upgrade kitchen backsplashes or cover old flooring, our peel-and-stick decals are ideal since they are made from high-quality, self-adhesive vinyl and finished with a laminate overlay for durability over time,” says Rees. “The tiles are also printed with GREENGUARD Gold Certified ink, which makes them fade and stain resistant.”

So while yes, peel-and-stick may be most appealing to renters, it’s also a great way to spruce up a home you own if you’re not ready to invest in big renovations yet!


Trying out Chasing Paper tile decals and floor decals

I started by browsing the different tile decal options on Chasing Paper’s site, which is a trove of styles, from bold black-and-white checkered patterns to more neutral marble and even Marrakesh-inspired designs. The brand offers dozens of colorways and motifs, so it was easy to get lost in the possibilities. 

“The brand offers dozens of colorways and motifs, so it was easy to get lost in the possibilities.”

Ultimately, I settled on the Porto Tile Decals for my kitchen backsplash. They have a classic blue-and-white design that feels timeless and fresh, with a slight Mediterranean vibe that instantly brightens the space. For the bathroom floor, I chose the marble tile decals, a crisp white with subtle grey veining that gives an elegant, airy feel, like a mini spa retreat in our rental.

While I didn’t personally order sample swatches (I was so sure of my picks and was working directly with the brand), I’d recommend ordering them if you’re on the fence. The samples let you see the color and quality up close, which can be a game-changer for matching with your cabinets or flooring. The brand’s website has an easy-to-use footage calculator and clear instructions for measuring and ordering, making the whole process seamless and stress-free. And since Chasing Paper’s tiles are made in the USA, they shipped quickly, so I had my box of tiles in hand and was ready to start!


Hanging the Porto Tile Decals

Hanging the kitchen tile decals was a fun but meticulous project! I followed Chasing Paper’s instructions from their website: Clean the surface thoroughly, make sure it’s completely dry, then slowly peel and stick, smoothing out bubbles as you go. My mom came to town to help us set up baby things, and I was so grateful to have her jump in on this, too. She’s much better at measuring and cutting than I am — I tend to be more of an 80% effort gal when it comes to home projects — so having her there to double-check everything made all the difference.

We tackled a 6.5 ft by 3 ft area on the wall, and the whole process took about two hours. The key was to work in small sections, using a level and a ruler to keep everything aligned. We also found it helpful to use a smoothing tool to really press down each tile and get rid of air bubbles. While the application was pretty straightforward, it was a labor of love, and I’m glad I had an extra pair of hands to make sure it turned out just right.

One thing I quickly learned: It’s so important to order a bit more tile than you think you’ll need. We cut a couple of tiles incorrectly, and others needed to be peeled off and repositioned for a better fit. Thankfully, we’d ordered extra (which Chasing Paper recommends). Also, when we removed one of the tiles, it did take some of the paint and drywall with it — a likely issue with the older materials and layers of paint in the rental itself, rather than the decals. 

“The main benefit of peel-and-stick tiles is that they can be easily removed when it’s time to move out of an apartment or you’re just in the mood for another refresh,” Rees says. Chasing Paper’s decals are designed with a low-tack adhesive that won’t leave residue or damage most surfaces, keeping things looking fresh for the next chapter. When we eventually move out and remove them all, I will take Rees’ advice to use a hairdryer first to warm up the tiles and soften the adhesive — it’s a great tip for ensuring everything comes off gently and smoothly.


Laying the Marble Tile Decals

Next up was laying the tiles for the bathroom floor. With my mom back home, I was flying solo for this one, but after tag-teaming the backsplash, I felt confident I could handle it. Chasing Paper’s how-to guide was necessary, especially the tips about prepping the floor and using a sharp utility knife to carefully trim around awkward spots like the toilet base and door jambs. I also relied on TikTok videos for helpful tricks and tool recommendations. 

Working on the floor felt way less stressful than the kitchen backsplash — the ability to crouch down and have gravity working with me was a total game changer. That said, while I adored the marble pattern and how fresh it made the bathroom feel, the reality didn’t quite match the vision. My renter’s floors have thick, uneven grout lines; since these tiles are solid black, those grout lines showed right through. I ended up abandoning the project because it wasn’t coming together as I’d hoped. It was disappointing, but a huge learning moment. If I were to do it again, I’d go for a pattern like the penny tiles or hexagons — those designs would camouflage imperfections and grout lines beautifully, plus they have so much charm and personality. So despite the hiccup, I’m still excited to try this again someday!


Final thoughts + tips for caring for peel and stick tile decals

Overall, I absolutely adore how the kitchen backsplash turned out. For about $200, I was able to add so much personality to our new rental and give the kitchen a fresh, charming touch that makes it feel like home. The Porto Tile Decals have been surprisingly durable and functional. They’re thick enough to work almost like a real backsplash, making it easy to wipe away splashes from the stove. We’ve even hung shelves over the decals, and nearly two months later, they still look as good as the day we put them up. Despite a few hiccups along the way (looking at you, uneven grout floors!), I’d do this project again in a heartbeat. There’s just something so satisfying about adding those personal touches to a rental, and knowing they’re nontoxic and designed to last makes it even better.


Kayti Christian is a Senior Content Strategist at The Good Trade. With an MFA in Nonfiction Creative Writing, her work has appeared in TODAY, Shondaland, and The New York Times. Since 2017, Kayti has been uncovering and reviewing the best sustainable home brands and wellness products. Her personal journey through four years of fertility treatments has inspired her to write extensively about women’s healthcare and reproductive access. Beyond her work at The Good Trade, Kayti is the creator of Feelings Not Aside, a Substack newsletter with 6,000 subscribers, and the cohost of the FriedEggs Podcast, which delves into IVF and infertility.