Peel-and-Stick Tiles Never Fooled Me. Then I Tried These Sheets of Lustrous Mother-of-Pearl.

Mother-of-pearl peel and stick tile behind a kitchen sink next to a photo of someone holding the tile.

Last summer, while browsing online to help my sister with a home reno (giving free advice is one peril of being a designer-turned-writer), I stumbled upon a gorgeous photo of mother-of-pearl tiles in an airy, bright bathroom. I was shocked to learn that they were actually peel-and-stick tiles and not the real thing.

When I worked in interior design, I sometimes used adhesive peel-and-stick tiles for quick staging jobs, but these looked nothing like the vinyl or gel-resin sheets I was used to. Those peel-and-stick sheets offered a fast, dramatic, reno-free transformation, but up close, no one would be fooled into thinking they were real.

But those pretty mother-of-pearl tiles were real — and they were also peel-and-stick. I was curious to see if they indeed looked classy, not cheap, IRL, and if they’d be as easy to install as their vinyl counterparts.

After considering dozens of peel-and-stick mother-of-pearl tiles online, I chose to test some sold by Kasaro that are highly rated and widely available on Amazon and Wayfair. Kasaro claims that its tiles, made with mother-of-pearl from Chinese farmed oysters, are easy to install and suitable for wet environments, like a shower or backsplash. But what enticed me most was the implicit promise that for a fraction of the cost of a real tile renovation, they might deliver a high-end and permanent-looking makeover, with far less hassle.

I tested the Kasaro tiles in natural and white, installing them in my bathroom and on a kitchen backsplash. They’re definitely an aesthetic success — yes, even up close. But while they’re much simpler than grouted tile to put up, installation isn’t exactly easy. This, plus their roughly $10-per-square-foot price tag, makes them best for someone who is invested in a lasting makeover.

This stick-on wall tile comes in sheets, with a backing that covers uneven surfaces. It’s not cheap, but it effectively upgrades a space, no grout needed.



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