How To Paint Laminate Countertops
Did you know that you can paint laminate countertops? AMAZING RIGHT? And believe me, painting old laminate countertops can dramatically update a kitchen, bathroom, or laundry room!
While we would all prefer to have granite or quartz countertops, these options are not in the budget for many people.
So let’s talk about affordable options on Paint For Laminate Countertops
More DIY Makeover Ideas
And if you are interested in additional home DIY makeovers I’ll direct you to a few other blog posts. When I updated my countertops I used the Giani Countertop Paint Kit. It was a perfect budget-friendly kitchen makeover.
And with these modern farmhouse style makeovers, I also put up a DIY shiplap plank wall. And while I was on a roll with some home DIY I also did a chalk paint whitewash brick fireplace makeover.
Find more ideas for DIY Farmhouse Style Kitchen Countertops & Cabinet Makeovers in this post.
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Options for Painting/Refinishing Laminate Countertops include:
- Giani Countertop Paint Kit
- Daichi Spreadstone Mineral Select Countertop Refinishing Kit
- Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating Paint Kit
- Any Chalk Mineral Type Paint Plus a Topcoat
- Water-Based Acrylic Paint Plus a Sealer/Topcoat
A Few Other Options That Aren’t Really Paint (which I won’t cover in this post)
Epoxy Refinishing (not just paint):
Option To Paint Laminate Kitchen Countertops
1. Giani Countertop Paint Kit
Okay, I’m going to start with the Giani Countertop Paint Kit because it’s the one I chose and it worked great for my needs! My Mother also used it on her old farmhouse countertops and it looks amazing! Read more in my post on how to update old laminate countertops with the Giani Countertop Paint Kit.
The Giani Countertop Paint Kit comes with everything you need to do a regular size kitchen. And it comes in several color options. The color I used is White Diamond. You have some control over how much of the colors you choose to apply but the paints you receive in the kit will be based on what color kit you choose.
The kit even includes the applicators, the primer and the topcoat – all in one box! So they make it simple! And the prep is quite simple and basic – an easy DIY for a beginner.
The Giani Countertop Paint Kit in White Diamond went well also with the light gray cabinet paint I used in my Budget Friendly Kitchen Makeover. And these countertops have held up well despite so much use.
It’s been two years since I painted the countertops and I’m still happy with the outcome. Honestly the countertop laminate was not in the best shape, not to mention the harvest gold color! So even just covering up some of that with the paint kit made such an improvement.
Using Giani Countertop Paint Kit To Paint Old Laminate Countertops
To be 100% honest, I would prefer granite or quartz but frankly it’s not in the budget at this time. So giving this kitchen a refresh with the Countertop Paint Kit was a great option for the time being. You can also add some cute Farmhouse Kitchen Countertop Decor to also brighten up your kitchen.
And if you need some help with how to paint kitchen cabinets with minimal prep you can check out my post on how to Paint Kitchen Cabinets without sanding.
2. Daich Coatings Countertop Kits – Spreadstone or LuxRock
The Daich SpreadStone Mineral Select Countertop Kit and their LuxRock Solid Surface Granite Countertop Kits are similar to the Giani Kit in that they contain all you need in one box. This paint product includes a base coat, stone coat, and top coat. And what’s cool is it says that the products contains real stone and minerals, and like the Giani kit they come in so many color options.
Also it looks to be easy to use, possibly easier than the Giani Kit, but I haven’t tried the Daich kits so I’m not sure I can comment on the ease of application.
I did read two post where folks used this kit successfully to transform their countertops. Check out Cris at Kiss My Tulle and see how her kitchen countertop paint makeover turned out! Beautiful! And you can find another fun kitchen countertop paint makeover done by Amanda at Amanda Seghetti. Both of these kitchen countertop updates look amazing!
The big difference in these kits seems to be the amount of texture in the final finish and the sheen. The LuxRock has a higher sheen and more mineral accents to mimic real granite, whereas the Spreadstone looks more like a slightly textured stone finish. If I was going to re-do my kitchen or bathroom countertops I highly consider one of these kits.
3. Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations Kit
Another product that I haven’t tried but it gets good reviews is the Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations Kit. It comes in several color options and like the two paint kits mentioned before it contains everything you need in the kit, including the base and top coats.
In this kit you paint the basecoat and then you apply decorative color chips that create the faux granite look! sounds cool and a little different from the two prior kits.
I’ll share two blog posts featuring kitchen transformations using this Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations Kit. The first is Angela at Blue I Style Blog and her kitchen countertop paint makeover turned out really pretty! And secondly on the Love Create Celebrate Blog another couple shares their kitchen countertop paint makeover using the Rust-Oleum kit. You can check out these posts if you are thinking about giving this kit a try!
4. Chalk Mineral Painted Laminate Countertops
Okay, so many people ask if you can use a chalk mineral paint on your laminate countertops. And, the answer is YES you sure can! You can paint laminate countertops just like you paint furniture or kitchen cabinets.
To make sure your paint sticks good, I would give the countertops a good scuff sand, and this is true no matter what type of paint you use. If you are painting a light color over dark countertops use a primer, unless you are using an All-In-One Paint, like Dixie Belle Silk, that has the primer included
Read more about Dixie Belle Silk in my review post on Dixie Belle Silk Paint
There are so many color choices with chalk mineral paints. The options are endless. There are so many posts showing gorgeous countertop makeovers using chalk mineral paint.
Typically the most popular brands are Dixie Belle, Fusion, Wise Owl, Country Chic, Amy Howard, and many more! I typically use Dixie Belle or Country Chic, but that’s because I have the most experience with these brands.
Chalk Mineral Paints provide great coverage. Most often two coats are needed and you can roll on the paint or brush it on. But for flat countertops rolling the paint on would be easier. Chalk mineral paints dry so fast and that is fantastic for getting projects completed quickly! Who wants their kitchens torn up for days on end?
Lastly because kitchen countertops get so much use, finish the makeover with a couple of coats of a good topcoat. This can also be rolled on for ease and you can choose the sheen, satin or high gloss. A good water-proof topcoat would work best, like Dixie Belle Gator Hide or Country Chic Tough Coat.
Examples of Kitchen Countertop Paint Projects With Chalk Mineral Paints
There are many examples of beautiful kitchen countertop makeovers using chalk mineral paints. Check out this cool video by Dixie Belle Paint Company of a easy but creative kitchen countertop paint makeover using Dixie Belle Paint.
Another fun kitchen countertop paint makeover by Suzanne at The Painted Drawer. She used Dixie Belle for her countertops and they are gorgeous! What a transformation! I also want to share this kitchen countertop paint makeover using Dixie Belle Paint by Meleah at the Mustard Tree Market. She uses Dixie Belle Paint to create a “faux concrete” on her old laminate countertops.
Acrylic Painted Laminate Kitchen Countertops
Another paint option is water-based acrylic paint plus a good topcoat. Like chalk mineral style paints, the acrylic paints come in so many colors. They are very durable also and easy to use. I recommend a scuff sand of your countertops and a good cleaning before application. Prime if needed and then apply two coats of a water-based acrylic paint, letting each coat dry completely. And lastly a good topcoat to seal in the paint and protect the work surface. Kitchen countertops get so much use, so a good topcoat is imperative.
With paint you can get very creative. Kaylee at Mamaandmore.com used acrylic paint to create a faux granite look on her kitchen countertops. It looks amazing! You can read about that makeover using the link. And wowza, check out these gorgeous kitchen countertops created by doing an acrylic paint pour by Mixed Media Girl.
While both of these kitchen countertop paint makeovers are very artistic, you can certainly stick to a simple single color paint job. And that will cover ugly outdated countertops nicely and give the kitchen a good refresh! So, don’t worry if you are afraid to get creative. It is not necessary to get good results.
Other Options for Kitchen Countertop Makeovers on Old Laminate Countertops
Other options for countertop refinishing include peel-and-stick laminate vinyl products and epoxy countertops. So let’s talk about those for a minute before wrapping up the post.
Peel-And-Stick Vinyl/Laminate Countertop Coverings
Let’s talk about peel-and-stick vinyl. This may be a cheap way and less messy for sure than paint products. But it’s up to personal preference and your dexterity with these type of applications. Okay I know how much I struggle to apply even adhesive contact paper to a cabinet shelf or a Cricut vinyl print to a tumbler. I can’t even imagine doing peel-and-stick countertop coverings and getting it on bubble and wrinkle free! But you can decide for yourself.
I did use a peel-and-stick wallpaper for my kitchen backsplash in my Budget Friendly Kitchen Makeover. And it turned out well. So it is doable for certain. There are a huge selection of beautiful peel-and-stick countertop products on Etsy! Here are a few gorgeous examples of what you can find:
- Ez Faux Decor Gray White Marble Granite Kitchen Countertop Update Vinyl Peel & Stick Cover Overlay
- Countertop Update Peel and Stick Matte Soapstone Granite Marble Vinyl Film
- Peel And Stick Countertop Paper | Countertop Contact Paper – Terrazzo Table Top
Vineta at The Handyman’s Daughter used peel-and-stick contact paper on her laminate countertops for a beautiful durable finish. You can read her blog post in the link. Another beautiful finish by Anika at Anika’s DIY Life with contact paper on laminate countertops. Their great results may convince you to give this method a try! After seeing a few transformations like these, I’m ready to try it!
Epoxy Countertops Made To Look Like Marble or Slate
Well if you aren’t up for peel-and-stick vinyl type coverings or paint products, another option to consider is epoxy pour countertops. Epoxy will cover well, cure to a rock hard finish, and be sleek and beautiful so this is a very reasonable option.
I work with epoxy in some of my other art, epoxy designs on serving or cutting boards and epoxy tumblers, so I have experience with the product in that realm. Epoxy, even low VOC and low odor epoxy products, are smelly, sticky and a bit more cumbersome in my opinion than paint. But I think you just have to go with what is best for you.
If you choose epoxy poured countertops to cover old laminate countertops then definitely wear good protection for your eyes and hands, and a good respirator and ventilation would be recommended. Epoxy products are chemicals and typically more harsh than water-based paints, so protecting yourself is key.
If you are still up for epoxy, then check out the Giani Carrara White Marble Countertop Epoxy Kit or the Giani Belgotta Black Marble Countertop Epoxy Kit. Both of these kits come with everything you need apart from your personal protection gear (gloves, mask, etc).
I found this gorgeous makeover by Jennifer at Jennifer Laura Living where she completed a countertop makeover using the Giani Carrara White Marble Countertop Kit. Just stunning how her countertops turned out.
Summary – Yes You Can Paint Old Laminate Countertops
So now you know all the options for updating you old laminate countertops with paint and other products! So many choices but gorgeous examples with all of these options. And the benefit is a beautiful, bright space that will make you feel good when you walk in that room.
I found that I love being in my kitchen so much more than I used to . It may not be perfect and I still don’t have granite or quartz but it’s clean, bright and a much more happy space for me and my family. I encourage you to give it a try.
If you’d like to check out more kitchen DIY’s find more info here where I house links to all types of doable DIY Projects:
FarmHouse Kitchens Countertop and Cabinet Makeovers
And if you decide to go with the Giani Countertop Paint Kit (not the Epoxy one) read more in my post on updating laminate countertops with the Giani Countertop Paint Kit.
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