Um… Can you paint a kitchen counter top?  Yup, you sure can!

I was amazed to find so many great products that you can use to revive your old counter top.   Did you know you could do this?

Here is a step-by-step for painting a counter top.  There are a few different methods and products you can use to accomplish the same thing.  I have even seen it done with a paper towel and multiple colors to make it look like granite.  I am a chicken of sorts and would be afraid of it turning out like a 6th grade art project, but hey!  You can repaint it if it turns out too ugly.

Pick your paint

Pick a color that will last, unless you intend to switch it out or do it again.  Go classic for a longer lasting look. This design is a simple faux stone look that costs less than $15 in total to paint and redo. Choose a color and style that matches the rest of your kitchen.

Clean

Clean the counter top with soap and water and be sure it is dry by the time you get started. This is incredibly important so that there are no bumps or gunk caught under the paint. If you do this correctly, you’ll get a smooth and beautiful finish on your counter top like this one.

Sand

Sand the counter with a 150-grit sandpaper and wipe off any dust that may accumulate. Cleaning may get any surface level gunk off, but sanding is going to really keep the surface smooth and get rid of any imperfections in the material. Like this counter top, sanding will keep it looking fresh and new.

Primer

Use a primer.  You need to use a flash-bond primer so that it will allow the paint to stick to the laminate.  If you don’t, the paint may not stick and you will be in a much bigger mess than when you started.  Prime the surface 2 times, allowing the surface to dry in between. If done correctly, you’ll be able to do paint designs like the one on this counter top without any difficulty at all.

Paint

Paint with latex (satin or semi-gloss) enamel paint.  Paint another coat once the first coat is dry. This will make it so, like this counter top, the paint comes through strong and you don’t have to worry about the design underneath appearing.

Seal

Seal the paint with clear acrylic paint.  Only use satin or semi-gloss, because the flat or eggshell doesn’t protect as well from scratches and other blemishes.  Be sure to allow the acrylic to really seal before you get crazy with your counter top.  If you use abrading cleaners or scouring pads, you will damage the acrylic.  It takes 3 weeks for the acrylic to cure all the way, so give it some time. You can try to give your counter top a textured look, like in this design, but that’s not necessary.

Rustoleum

I did find another product that doesn’t require a primer, that is especially made for counter tops.  Rust-oleum sells a product that you can tint (just like paint) to one of 16 colors.  It is washable, moisture and chemical resistant, and even includes an antimicrobial agent that keeps mold and other odor or stain away.  Crazy stuff, people.  You don’t need primer, but you do have to let it dry for at least 3 days. Here’s an example of a counter top that that was finished with Rustoleum. It looks great and really adds some style to your kitchen.