10 Uses for Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl Tiles Not Just for Underfoot

Vinyl tiles aren’t just for flooring. You can easily use these durable peel-and-stick squares to create completely unexpected pieces, such as birdhouse roofs, plant coasters, or lampshades. Read our guide below for tips on how to best use vinyl tiles, so that you can reduce waste and save money on decor.   

1. Protect Against Leaks With Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl tiles can protect your cabinets and other surfaces from frustrating, expensive water damage. Read on for tips:

• Cover damaged areas: Use vinyl tiles to cover spots that water has damaged.
• Create a moisture barrier: Use vinyl tiles to line the walls behind washing machines or in laundry rooms to protect against water splashes or leaks.
• Line cabinet bottoms: Place vinyl tiles at the bottom of cabinets under sinks to create waterproof barriers.

Remember to fix any leaks before you apply vinyl tiles. Regularly inspect your plumbing, and address leaks before they develop into bigger issues.

2. Make a Jig Using Vinyl Tiles

Use vinyl tiles to create jigs, which can help you to achieve precise spacing when drilling holes or using power tools. Below are more specific tips:

• Cabinet hardware installation: Cut a vinyl tile to your desired length, and use it as a guide when you’re drilling holes for new cabinet knobs or pulls. 
• Painting projects: Use vinyl tiles to create straight edges or patterns when painting walls or furniture. You can easily remove them without damaging the surface underneath.
• Woodworking projects: Create custom jigs for routing, sawing, or drilling by cutting vinyl tiles to specific shapes and sizes. Vinyl tiles are non-slip, which is especially helpful for these projects.

Reinforce jigs with thin pieces of plywood or MDF boards.

3. Pad Your Clamps With Tiles

Protect your woodworking projects from clamp marks by using vinyl tiles as padding. More specific directions are below.

• Create custom shapes: Use a utility knife to cut vinyl tile pieces to match the specific shapes of specialty clamps.
• Cut small squares: Cut vinyl tile scraps into small squares that fit the clamp feet. 
• Reusable padding: You can use vinyl tiles multiple times, which can save you money.

Regularly clean the vinyl tile pads on your clamps so that you don’t leave imprints on your projects.

4. Clad a Birdhouse Roof With Vinyl Tiles

Use vinyl tiles to make weather-resistant birdhouse roofs. Read below for more specific directions:

1. Cut small rectangles: Use a utility knife to cut vinyl tiles into small rectangular shingles that fit on your birdhouse. 
2. Layer the shingles: Start at the bottom edge of the roof and work your way up. Overlap each row of shingles so the water runs off.
3. Secure with waterproof adhesive: Apply a small amount of waterproof glue to the back of each shingle before attaching it to the roof.
4. Get creative: Use vinyl tiles with different patterns or colors for a unique roofing design. 

5. Decorate a Lampshade With Vinyl

Use vinyl tiles to create custom lampshade designs. Read on for directions: 

1. Choose a simple shade: Start with an inexpensive paper or fabric lampshade as your base.
2. Cut decorative shapes: Use scissors or a craft knife to cut small vinyl tile pieces into various shapes.
3. Apply to the inside: Stick the vinyl tile pieces to the inside of the lampshade, which will create a shadowy pattern when you turn the lamp on.
4. Experiment with colors: Try different colors and patterns for unique lighting effects. Coordinate the colors with your room’s existing decor.

Make sure your vinyl pieces are small, and that you leave enough space through which light can travel. 

6. Create Plant Coasters From Vinyl Tiles

Use vinyl tiles to create plant coasters. These will protect your surfaces from water rings and add a pop of color to your potted plants:

1. Use a compass to make two matching circles from vinyl tiles.
2. Stick the two circles together so that the patterns face out, which will create a double-sided coaster.  
3. Add small, non-slip adhesive rubber feet to the bottom of the coaster.

7. Create Shims From Vinyl Tiles

You can use vinyl tiles to create shims that level and stabilize various household items. More specific uses are below.

• Align doors: Use vinyl tile as shims when you’re installing or adjusting doors. This will help you to achieve proper alignment within the frame.
• Stabilize furniture: Cut thin strips of vinyl tile and place them under a wobbly table or chair legs.
• Level appliances: Place small vinyl tile squares under the corners of appliances such as washing machines or refrigerators to prevent rocking.

Always cut tiles so that they fit precisely. Use construction adhesive to permanently attach vinyl shim.

8. Add a Vinyl Backsplash

Do-it-yourself backsplash is perfect for areas such as laundry rooms, behind utility sinks, or in mudrooms. The surface is easy to clean, and there are many colors and patterns available, so you can easily match the backsplash to your existing decor. 

Here’s how to add a backsplash:

1. Carefully measure the space onto which you want to install the backsplash, and plan your tile layout.
2. Make sure the wall is clean, dry, and free of dust or grease.
3. Peel the backing off of the tiles and stick the tiles onto the wall. Start from the bottom and work your way up. Use a level to create consistent, straight lines.

9. Use Vinyl Tile as a DIY Dustpan

A vinyl tile can serve as an impromptu dustpan for quick cleanups. Here’s how to make your cleaning tool:

1. Hold one edge of the tile flat against the floor, and gently curve the opposite edge upward to form a shovel-like shape.
2. Use a broom to sweep dirt, dust, or other small messes onto the curved tile.
3. Tilt the tile to pour the contents into a trash bin.
4. Clean the tile thoroughly after use, especially if you plan to repurpose it for other projects later. 

10. Customize Wood Shutters From Vinyl Tiles

Use vinyl tiles to create custom cutouts that add personal touches to plan wood shutters:

1. Draw your desired shape onto a vinyl tile using a marker or pencil. Popular designs include stars, hearts, or geometric patterns.
2. Carefully cut along the drawn lines to create a template from the vinyl tile. 
3. Place the template on the shutter’s top panel, trace around it, and use a jigsaw to cut the shape out.
4. Always sand the edges of the cutouts for a polished look, and to prevent splinters.