10 Beautiful (and Cheap!) DIY RV Backsplash Ideas

| | | |

This post may contain affiliate links.

If you want to give the kitchen or bathroom in your RV a facelift, but don’t want to rent a tile saw one of these backsplashes may be perfect for you.

This list is specifically comprised of backsplash ideas that meet most or all of the following criteria:

  1. Easy to do: Requiring no special expertise or expensive one-time use tools.
  2. Affordable: Most of these ideas could be done for under $100 in a small space like your RV kitchen and/or bathroom. Many of them would probably cost under $50!
  3. Easy to clean: The whole point of a backsplash is to protect walls from being permanently stained with spaghetti sauce splatters.
  4. RV-friendly: Lightweight and durable to withstand movement during travel.

Additionally, many of these backsplashes are removable, making them an ideal choice for renters or for RV owners who don’t want to make permanent changes to their motorhome or travel trailer.

1. Painted backsplashes

Removable maybe isn’t the best word to describe painting a backsplash, but it is definitely easy to replace or cover if you ever need to!

Paint is one of the easiest ways to create a backsplash in your RV, especially if you’re handy with a paintbrush. Most RVs opt for a solid color, but I love the hand-painted pattern in the above kitchen!

Painting the Wall

High gloss or semi-gloss paint wipes clean easily, and it could be covered with plexiglass to make it even more wipeable as long as it’s not right next to a gas flame (plexiglass melts at 320° F).

2. Wallpaper Backsplash

Wallpaper is a lightweight way to create a tile-like backsplash in your RV kitchen or bathroom.

This backsplash was created wallpaper, although it definitely looks like tile!

Overwhelmed by wallpaper? Read our complete guide on how to properly install wallpaper in your RV.

This bathroom looks eerily close to real tile too, but I assure you it’s not!

By: @citizensofcircus

3. Faux Subway Tile Peel and Stick Backsplash

If you love the look of subway tile but want an easier alternative to having to cut and grout tile, you might consider a peel-and-stick faux subway tile like a friend of mine used in her RV renovation

Peel-and-stick subway tile backsplash in an RV kitchen
by Bryanna Royal of Crazy Family Adventure

Subway tile is especially popular with farmhouse-style renovations, like this one:

Photo credit: @laceyautumnbrooke

Read Next: Ogle At These Gorgeous Farmhouse-Style RV Renovations

Livelynine 3D Brick Wallpaper Peel and Stick Backsplash for Kitchen Stone Contact Paper Waterproof Removable Wallpaper for Renters Home Wall Paper Roll Brick Wall Panels Adhesive Vinyl Roll 17.7x78.8
  • 🏠DETAILS: 17.7 X78.8 INCH, total 9.7 sq.ft(45cmX2m), Self adhesive(No extra glue needed). Made of durable vinyl, Stacked stone wallpaper peel and stick removable. Oilproof, Waterproof, Renter friendly.

You can find faux subway tile wallpaper or peel-and-stick tile for your kitchen. We recommend adding extra adhesive if you choose peel-and-stick, as heat and moisture can cause the stickers to peel away from the wall. If you look closely at the stove above, you can see the corners of many tiles starting to peel away from the wall.

Read more tips: How to Hang RV Wallpaper (So it NEVER falls!)

4. Faux Stone Backsplash

Try faux stone paneling for a 3-D look that can be painted to match your decor, or use stone wallpaper from Amazon.

RV owner's stone wallpaper backsplash
by J. Collins via Amazon.com

This RV kitchen backsplash was created using stacked stone wallpaper. While this exact wallpaper is not always in stock, there are other options.

Tip: When applying faux stone wallpaper, pay attention to whether there’s a shadow under the rocks on one side, and make sure the shadow is on the bottom of each row of stone, as it would be with the light coming from above. This will look more realistic.

And it is surprisingly just how realistic this wallpaper can look!

RV kitchen with stone wallpaper backsplash
by Sarah Keth

The RV kitchen above features this wallpaper.

Sale
RoomMates RMK9026WP Natural Stacked Stone Peel and Stick Wallpaper
352 Reviews
RoomMates RMK9026WP Natural Stacked Stone Peel and Stick Wallpaper
  • Peel and stick to apply – no water, no paste, no mess!

5. Faux Brick

By far, this is the most popular backsplash we see in RV renovations right now! White brick is the most popular, but we love faux brick of all colors.

Photo credit: Cwendt15

Here is an RV kitchen featuring a brick wallpaper backsplash.

brick wallpaper backsplash
by Terri Anderson

White brick wallpaper brightens this RV kitchen.

by Samantha Rosenberg

This style is so popular right now, you can actually skip the renovation and get the style in a brand new RV shower:

remodeled bathroom in coachmen catalina - by Tiffani Borkon
Photo credit: tiffgelv

6. Using Ceiling Tiles as a Backsplash

Punched tin ceiling tiles are beautiful and easy to hang, but the price can add up. One RV owner cut the cost and created the beautiful backsplash pictured below by making a mosaic using this custom sample pack.

ceiling tile sample pack RV backsplash
by Margaret Nielson

Plastic faux tiles can save some money, but an even cheaper way to achieve the look is by using paintable tin tile wallpaper, like Debby did.

Later Debby gave the “tin” a more “aged” look.  She says, “I lightly sponged a darker gray and a thin, watery black, just here and there to make it look more aged and then went over the whole thing with a clear poly to add protection and some luster back after the other technique.”

7. Beadboard Backsplash

Beadboard, used in the RV kitchen shown below, is an inexpensive option that looks especially nice with country or farmhouse decor. Learn how to install it here.  You can also install it in a herringbone pattern for a different look.  

by Jessica Charest

It’s kind of difficult to see in that photo, but here’s another example of beadboard used in a fifth wheel kitchen/entryway.

Alternatively, you could try using paintable beadboard wallpaper.

Graham & Brown Paintable Beadboard Wallpaper White
  • This Pre-Pasted Bead Board Wallpaper Gives The Beautiful, Streamline Effect Of Bead Board Without All Of The Work

8. Wood Plank (“Shiplap”) Backsplash

These RVers made a wood plank wall quite cheaply from real wood:

A similar look was achieved in this bathroom by cutting underlayment into strips.  Caulking between the boards prevents water from getting through to the wall underneath.

Wood plank wall in an RV bathroom made from underlayment
Shiplap wall in an RV bathroom made from underlayment | Photo credit: Instagram.com/forgeandtrek

For more shiplap ideas: 7 Ways to Create a Wood Plank Wall in Your Camper

9. Aluminum Backsplash

RV owner Dan Wegh made a beautiful backsplash for his vintage camper out of inexpensive aluminum roll flashing (available at places like Lowe’s and Home Depot).

Faux stainless steel backsplash made from roll flashing in vintage camper
by Dan Wegh

Here you can see the technique Dan used to create the diamond pattern himself:

Making a faux stainless steel backsplash out of aluminum flashing for a vintage camper
by Dan Wegh

10. Corrugated Metal Backsplash

Another affordable option for a country, modern rustic, or industrial look, corrugated metal can even be made to look old and rusty.  Instructions for installation can be found here.

corrugated metal backsplash
by Ginger Mccarty

Looking for other ideas for updating your RV kitchen?  You might enjoy my blog post about painting RV cabinets, this one about RV countertop makeover ideas, or this blog post about RV refrigerator makeovers.

Share This With A Friend:

Similar Posts

7 Comments

    1. Oh my goodness that is awesome!! And it looks great!!!! Thank you so much for coming back and sharing your photos! 😀

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *