We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Plus, how to ensure application is successful and the best way to remove them.

If you're looking for a quick and easy fix to give your home a brand new lease of life without fuss or mess, you'll find tile stickers are a cost-effective solution.

Especially suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and hallways, tile stickers – sometimes called vinyl tiles or tile decals – are simple to apply and an inspiring idea if you're thinking about trying out a new look for tiled walls and floors before making a permanent change.

Tile stickers are also ideal if you live in a rental property as they can be removed without too much trouble. And they're great for smartening up a shabby area of the home in an instant.

'Sometimes, people have used them to cover up screw holes for when a shower part has been removed, leaving a hole or a blemish,' says Mike Head, director at Atlas Ceramics. 'A transfer can cheaply cover this up, without having to fork out for new tiles.'

There's a host of styles and designs available, from block colours to intricate and colourful designs.

Gabrielle Morabia, designer and founder of tile sticker specialist company Quadrostyle. 'Raw wood and earthy textiles are finding their place in tile sticker design as current trends favour rustic, natural materials. In terms of colour, warm neutrals and light greens, like moss and sage, are essential.'

Tile stickers can modernise a kitchen, even if you concentrate on revamping one specific area, such as a splashback, taking care to ensure that the tile stickers you use are suitably heat-proof if placed behind a cooker. In a smaller kitchen, metro tile stickers can make a strong impact.

Tile stickers will freshen up a bathroom, but you should avoid using where they will be regularly soaked, such as in direct flow of a power shower spray or on the floor of a shower. The downstairs loo is a great place to experiment with tile stickers – you could choose a funky graphic print or even a biophilic design to brighten up the smallest room.

And in busy family homes, using easy-to-clean tile stickers will keep the hallway welcoming. A classic encaustic, black and white 'Astra' star or traditional graphic pattern looks stunning on the floor of a period home, and can be replaced easily.

Tile stickers can also be used successfully to highlight a certain part of the home, says Gabrielle: 'If you don't have a defined entryway, you can make one using stick-on floor panels. Defining an entryway is especially interesting if you live in a studio, where even a small landing area at your doorstep contributes a sense of purpose.'

You don't have to replace an entire wall. Just a small strip of tile stickers could create a beautiful border. They're quick to fix and can be removed whenever you like. If damage occurs, a tile sticker can be easily swapped out and replaced. If you're planning a major upgrade with tile stickers, you might like to take advantage of Quadrostyle's personalised mock-up service, allowing you to see three versions of tile stickers in your own home.

In heavy wear areas, especially where water is present, tile stickers will eventually deteriorate and peel off.

Successful application demands thorough preparation. If the existing tile you're attaching a tile sticker to is not thoroughly clean and dry the sticker won't adhere properly. So remove all traces of dirt, soap and grease. It's a good idea to rub the prepared area with a solution of sugar soap and warm water to ensure every trace of grime has been removed.

You must smooth out each tile sticker with great care to prevent air bubbles forming. This is especially important in a shower area as air bubbles will cause the surface of the tile sticker to lift, breaking the seal and allowing water to get in. Mike suggests using a spatula to smooth out every potential crease.

Look for low-tack tile stickers that allow for careful repositioning before they 'set'. Tile stickers offer a quick fix compared to re-tiling from scratch, but don't rush the job. Define the area you wish to cover by using masking tape, ensuring that edges are super-straight. Take care to cut around plug sockets and other obstacles carefully using a scalpel or Stanley knife.

A common question is: Can you put tile stickers over tiles? And the answer is yes. But, you're certainly not limited to covering only tiles. Gabrielle says Quadrostyle tile stickers will stick to the following surfaces: smooth ceramic wall and floor tiles, plastered walls painted in satin or gloss, laminated surfaces including Formica, melamine and IKEA furniture, linoleum, vinyl, and laminate flooring, parquet and varnished wood, sealed concrete, sealed polished stone including granite, marble and terrazzo, glass, metal, plastic, acrylic and Perspex.

Avoid these surfaces says Gabrielle; rough or textured wall and floor tiles, irregular edged tiles or pocked surfaces, for example, handmade tiles, tumbled marble, plastered walls painted in a matte, velour, or chalk finish, cracked paint, old wallpaper, unsealed subflooring, unsealed plywood, or raw wood, waxed or oiled wood panelling, unsealed concrete or stone tiles, ceramic tiles with a wax coating, cork or any other porous surface, damp or cracked surfaces, brick and slate.

If you're going to be sliding furniture over floor stickers, make sure you have felt pads on all the table and chair legs, says Gabrielle: 'Otherwise, the stickers may tear and peel up. Stepladders and kitchen stools with metal feet will also gouge the stickers, so take care.'

'My top tip would be to use a hot air gun to loosen the glue behind the sticker, and with a spatula peel off the sticking in one go,' says Mike. 'For the excess glue left on the tile, use a good quality glue remover.'

'Generally good quality ones will last for years, but to get the most out of them, always follow the instructions and make sure to prep the surface properly,' is Mike’s advice. Keep a few extra tile stickers on hand so you can replace damaged stickers with new ones as necessary. Gabrielle says that if you coat floor tile stickers with an epoxy sealer suitable for non-porous surfaces such as Epoxy Floor Sealer Matt, they should last forever.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.