Brighten up your countertops with this easy step-by-step guide to DIY marble countertops. It's a quick, simple project to cover old, outdated, or ugly countertops in your home!
Tired of your old, dated countertops? Looking for a budget-friendly way to give your kitchen a fresh new look? Look no further!
Painting your countertops is an easy, affordable way to update your kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom without breaking the bank. In this post, we'll show you how to paint your countertops to give them a beautiful marble look. So, let's get started!
Our Laundry Room Makeover
If you've seen the original photos of our laundry room, you'll remember the hunter-green laminate countertops straight out of the '90s. The countertops were in perfectly fine shape, but I didn't want the dark green any longer. Here's a peek at the before photo…
It isn't a large section and could have been replaced easily, but I wanted to make this update as inexpensive as possible.
Enter the idea of painting the countertops!
I'd seen this done dozens of times in other people's homes, but I was nervous to try it myself. The only reason I went ahead and painted the countertop and backsplash is that they're tucked away in my laundry room. Ha! If it went badly, no one would see it but me.
And honestly, until it was finished, I seriously doubted that it was the right decision.
But now that it's done, I love how they turned out. Despite my biggest fears, I'd do it all over again! (And I'm planning to do it in a more prominent spot in my home very soon.)
So if you're nervous about painting your countertops, don't be! Trust the process, and I think you'll be happy with the results. But before you decide, let's look at the pros and cons.
Are Painted Countertops Right for You?
So, are painted countertops worth the risk? Let's go over some of the pros and cons to help you decide.
Pros:
- It's a cost-effective option if you want a quick fix without breaking the bank.
- If you enjoy DIY, you can easily paint your countertop yourself.
- You can create a custom design that's uniquely yours.
- A coat of strong sealant will protect your painted countertop from scratches, spills, and everyday wear and tear.
Cons:
- Painted surfaces don't last as long as natural materials like marble, granite, or quartz.
- If you aren't careful and don't use the right paint, it can peel, chip, and fade over time.
- Regular maintenance may be needed to keep your painted countertop looking its best.
In the end, whether to paint your countertop is up to you. If you're after a unique, budget-friendly solution, painted countertops may be the way to go. Just keep in mind that proper maintenance is essential to making your painted countertop last.
If you do decide to paint your countertops, research the best materials, paints, and sealants for your project. I've tried a highly rated product, so I'm happy to show you what I think is the best countertop paint kit for long-lasting, beautiful results.
The Countertop Paint Kit I Chose
I've heard about painting countertops for years. One popular kit is the Rustoleum countertop coating paint. It can be tinted to 12 different colors, but I haven't heard great things about how long it lasts.
The kit I chose, Giani's Marble Easy Countertop Paint Kit, is known for its durability and its ability to stand up to everyday wear and tear. It's a pricier kit, but the results are beautiful and long-lasting.
I love that the Giani Marble paint kit comes with almost everything you need, minus a few household items like painter's tape and a scouring pad.
You can use this kit on Formica, laminate, Corian, ceramic tile, butcher block, cultured marble, and traditional granite. So almost any countertop surface in your home can be painted with the right prep work!
One kit covers 35 square feet, so measure your space and know how much material you'll need. My countertop is much smaller than 35 square feet, so I can't say how well it covers a larger area, but that's what the kit says.
As I said before, I used this kit in my laundry room, but you can paint kitchen countertops too. Just make sure they're sealed well with the epoxy sealer that comes with the kit. I chose a different sealer instead, because my room isn't a high-traffic area.
Supplies Needed:
- Giani Countertop Paint Kit
- Tweezers
- Paint Tray
- Paper Plate
- Painter's Tape
- Steel wool pad or fine-grit sandpaper
- Paint can opening tool
- Acrylic caulk
- Polycrylic Top Coat, optional (read why I used it below)
- Acrylic Caulk
Steps to Painting Countertops to Look Like Marble
The kit's instructions cover this in detail, but I'll go over the general steps here and include any insights I picked up along the way.
Really, you'll want to follow the instructions in the kit for this DIY countertop project.
This can truly be done in 2-3 days, so a weekend is a perfect time to tackle it. If you use the epoxy sealer, you have to be more careful with the drying process, so schedule it before you leave the house for a day or two. Doing it right before a trip is ideal!
1. Clean and Prepare the Countertops
Before you start painting, it's important to prep the countertops properly.
Start by cleaning your countertops thoroughly. Use a degreaser to remove any residue, grime, or grease.
Remove any caulk from the edges of the countertop, between appliances, or where pieces of countertop meet. Wipe away any caulk residue with rubbing alcohol.
2. Patch Any Seams or Nicks
Use wood filler to fill any seams or nicks in the countertop. Once it's dry, sand it smooth with fine sandpaper.
3. Sand the Countertops
Next, sand the entire surface of the countertops with fine-grit sandpaper, a Brillo pad, or an SOS pad. This roughs up the surface so the primer and paint can grip better. I used a sanding block to quickly rough up the surface.
I wouldn't use an electric sander, because it would take off far too much!
Finally, wipe the surface down with a damp cloth to remove any dust or debris.
4. Tape Off Everything That Isn't Being Painted
I'm talking about floors, appliances, sinks, faucets, and fixtures. Use the plastic sheets included in the kit to attach to the underside of the counters, and cover your flooring. If you have an undermount sink, use plastic sheeting to protect the inside of it. This will keep the sealer from dripping off the counters onto your floors or sink.
5. Prime the Countertops
Now that your countertops are clean and prepped, it's time to apply the primer.
Open the primer that comes with the kit and stir it well. Use the foam brush to paint around the edges of the countertop, up the attached backsplash, and into any corners or crevices. Then use the fabric-covered roller to paint the flat surfaces.
Apply the primer in thin, even coats with a roller or brush. Work in small sections at a time so the coat goes on evenly.
Make sure each coat dries completely before you apply the next one.
The instructions say you'll need a second coat, but I needed a fourth before the countertop was fully covered. It's possible I needed four coats because I started with a darker counter, but you don't want any streaks showing.
Let it cure for at least four hours, making sure it's completely dry.
6. Research and Plan the Marble Pattern
This is where it got a little nerve-racking for me. But with some planning and creativity, I believe anyone can do it!
Look up photos of real marble and print them out to keep on hand for the next few steps. I printed some graph paper, drew my countertop to scale, and then sketched out a plan based on my research.
The kit includes a practice board, so use it to practice before you work on the countertops.
Since I have faux marble peel-and-stick tiles on the floor of my laundry room, I used those as a reference too.
7. Apply the Gray Vein Paint
I'll be honest: I wish I had done this step a little differently than the instructions suggest.
Instead of jumping straight into the gray veining over the stark white primer, I wish I had first mottled the background with some gray paint.
I think what made me doubt the plan was that gray veins against the bright white background were too much contrast at first. But if you find yourself in the same boat, just keep going!
In the end, I misted the countertops with water, added some gray paint to the water, and spread it around with a paper towel. I'll do this step first the next time I use this product.
Then draw your gray veins. The key is that less is more, and they should look like the natural flow of marble. Use the water mister, a tiny artist brush, and the bristle tips of a paintbrush to create the marble veins, following the kit's instructions.
Have fun with it! Be creative, and you can always fix a mistake with paint or water if you make one.
Here's a great video tutorial from the company that shows you how it's done.
DIY MARBLE COUNTERTOP TUTORIAL on YouTube:
↤ Watch the Video
7b. Mottle the Countertop with Gray Paint
As I mentioned in the previous step, I wish I'd done this before the gray veins. Hopefully, if you're following along with this tutorial, you'll read this first and do it before veining.
Spray some water on the countertop. Then dab gray paint onto the tip of an artist's brush dipped in water.
Dab it around with a paper towel until the color is faint and leaves a subtle watercolor mark on the countertop.
8. Add Accent Veins and Highlights
Once your main veining is finished, go back in and add smaller accent veins with the small artist brush. The trick is to lightly drag it across the surface, twisting the brush back and forth to create natural-looking veins.
When your veining looks good, use the white highlighter paint and the included sponge to add depth and texture to the countertops.
Dab the sponge into the white highlighter paint and dab it over the gray veins, or anywhere else that needs some highlighting. It's quite watered down, so it's subtle, but it's needed!
9. Seal the Countertops
Once the paint is dry, it's time to seal the countertops. The DIY marble countertop paint kit comes with an epoxy sealer that will protect your countertops from heavy use over time. It leaves a glossy finish.
Working with the epoxy takes care: you need to pick out any stray hairs that land in it while it dries, and make sure there are no bubbles in the mix.
Since I wasn't putting this countertop in a high-traffic area, and I didn't want a glossy finish, I chose a polyacrylic topcoat instead.
I applied two coats with a brush, letting each one dry completely in between. It's a simple process. I just made sure the coats weren't too thick but still covered the countertops completely.
Let the countertops cure for 5-7 days before using them again.
10. Caulk the Edges
The final step is to caulk the edges and around any appliances where there was caulk before.
11. Enjoy Your New Countertops
Congratulations, you've painted your countertops to look like marble! Now sit back and enjoy your beautiful new surfaces.
I honestly doubted how this would turn out, but once everything was back in place and we were using them again, they looked beautiful! I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Frequently Asked Questions about DIY Marble Countertops:
Do you need to remove the sink and appliances?
There's no need to remove the sink or appliances, but you will need to protect them with painter's tape and plastic.
Can I just paint my countertops?
No, you need paint made specifically for countertops. You'll also need to prep and seal the surface for everyday use.
Can you paint laminate countertops? What kinds of countertops can be painted?
Yes, you can paint laminate countertops, as well as Formica, Corian, ceramic tile, butcher block, cultured marble, and traditional granite!
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