How To Paint Laminate Countertops (Not Using A Kit)

Can you paint countertops?

Yes, you can. It is actually a pretty simple and straightforward DIY painting project. With the right tools and supplies, you can change the look of your counters in just a few days.

Factors To Consider

Before You Begin

It would help if you decided what materials you will use, the design and color and how you will accomplish this without using your kitchen or bathroom.

Remember that you need to allow for proper dry time in between each coat of primer, paint and topcoat.

Also, you should decide if you are keeping your current faucet and possibly painting other bathroom fixtures. We made a mistake and spray-painted the faucet after painting the countertop.

Time and Difficulty Level

Our small bathroom counter was able to be completed in 2 days. We tried to limit using the space for 14 days after to let the acrylic topcoat fully cure.

This is honestly a relatively easy DIY project. The hardest part is waiting for each layer to dry and having confidence when painting the marble veins. Just do it! It is only paint and can be painted over if it doesn’t look right.

Cons Of Painted Countertops

• Wait Time: The biggest con to painting your countertops is that you had to let them fully cure. You don’t want to ruin your work by rushing to use your kitchen or bathroom counters.
• Takes some DIY skills: While this is a pretty simple DIY painting project, you still need the confidence to go for it. Try this in a small bathroom (like we did) before you tear out the old counters. You may surprise yourself with the outcome.
• Time: Do not rush the dry time and try to limit the contact people have with your countertops during this DIY project.
• Hard To Remove Paint Once Painted: Once you follow these steps, removing the paint will be pretty hard if you do not like them. Therefore you should be committed to painted counters or know you may remove them in the future.

Reasons To Paint Your Counters

• Budget-friendly: Need we say any more? This project really only cost us the price of ordering the top coat because we had everything else from past DIY painting projects.
• Control Over The Design: We wanted a more simple vein design on our painted counters, but you can also create a more textured granite look by using different layers of paints with sponges.
• Endless Color Options: Since there are tons of different paint colors out there, you can choose to go completely bold or more neutral.
• Demo-Free: just tape out the areas you don’t want to be painted and go for it. There is no need to rip out the old counters to get replaced.

Our Decision

Honestly, this pros list is the reason we went for it and painted the counters in the bathroom vanity. We had already painted the vanity cabinet and wish we would have taken on this counter project sooner.

We chose to paint our counters in this bathroom because it does not get a lot of use and it was super-budget-friendly. We always love trying to save what is there first before replacing it. In a few years if the paint hasn’t held up then we will replace the counters.

📌 Featured Comment

Excellent instructions. Results are beautiful.

Deborah

The “Before” Bathroom Vanity

This bathroom counter was a light blue laminate on an oak vanity cabinet when we moved in. We painted this bathroom cabinet when we did our cheap bathroom makeover upstairs.

Luckily this laminate counter was in pretty good shape but just needed a little updating to fit our current design style.

Recommended Supplies

• Bonding Primer: we used the leftover primer we had from when we painted the glass tile backsplash in our kitchen.
• Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel: from our repainted kitchen island to painting molding this paint is our go-to with its self-leveling capabilities.
• (3) Small Foam Rollers with Handle: since you can buy these in bulk, we chose to throw out the primer one when we were finished. You could wash, dry and reuse them but we like starting with a fresh roller for each step.
• 2.5″ Angled Synthetic Brush or Small Foam Brush
• Large Ziploc Gallon Bags: these can store your paint brush and roller in between coats of paint.
• Small Paint Trays: our favorite small tray we use for a lot of our painting projects.
• Painter’s Tape: since we were caulking after the project was done, we didn’t care what type of tape we used.
• Bathroom Caulk
• 220 Fine Sandpaper
• Deglosser and Rag
• Small Paint Brush
• Spray Bottle with water
• Gray Paint
• Dry Paint Brush
• Acrylic Top Coat or Epoxy Top Coat

If your countertop is in bad shape, has chips, or needs repairs you will want to complete that first before trying to paint.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Step 1: Lightly Scuff Up The Laminate Surface

Use 220 sandpaper to lightly scuff up the counter surface. Wipe to get rid of dust before taping out counters.

Step 2: Tape Out Surrounding Areas

Use painter’s tape to block any areas you don’t want to get painted such as around the sink and along the walls.

Step 3: Wipe Down With A Deglosser

Use a rag and a deglosser to wipe down all surfaces needing to be painted. Make sure your counters are completely dust-free and grime-free.

Step 4: Start To Prime

Use a brush to trim and a small foam roller to paint flat areas with primer.

Step 5: Let Primer Completely Dry

Let each layer dry completely before repeating the painting steps.

Step 6: Add The First Layer Of Paint

Use a small foam roller, brush, and mini paint trays to apply a thin layer of hybrid acrylic paint such as Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Paint in semi-gloss.

Step 7: Work To Paint 3 Layers With Proper Dry Time

Paint 3 coats of white paint. Let the paint fully dry for at least 4 hours in between each layer of paint.

Step 8: Paint Marble Veins

Use a darker-colored gray paint and a small brush to create a vein pattern.

Work in small sections. Once you have painted a few veins, spray lightly with water.

Take a dry brush and dab to make a muted more marble appearance.

If an area appears too dark, you can also use a small foam brush with the original white color to add extra texture on top of the vein patterns.

Step 9: Let Paint Fully Dry

Step 10: Acrylic or Epoxy Top Coat

Use a small foam brush or a clean small foam roller to apply the top coat.

We applied the clear coat with the large foam brush on all areas first.

We had difficulty getting the clear coat to texture to look right with the foam roller. I didn’t want to chance it being bubbly.

We found you can smooth out the foam paint strokes with the foam roller after applying.

Tips For Painting

• You want natural lines when painting veins. Don’t try to be perfect.
• Twisting your small brush and holding it loosely will help you get that feeling.
• Look at real marble or the finish you want to get your design inspiration.
• Paint in light layers when doing your base coats to limit bubbling.
• If nervous to paint, use a very light gray color to start. There is no need to buy a new color if you already have some gray or black. Just mix a little with your white base on a plate to use. You need very little dark paint.

Tutorial FAQs

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