Painting Kitchen Countertops

Looking to update the look of your kitchen without busting your entire kitchen reno budget? Keep in mind that paint is relatively cheap.

Before you think about replacing your dated laminate countertops entirely, consider painting kitchen counters to improve their style quotient for less.

An easy and fun project for do-it-yourselfers, painting kitchen countertops is a cost-effective way to make a statement in the kitchen. It's possible, for instance, to mimic the look of granite by painting your countertops with a faux granite finish, or even the look of stainless steel with a shiny, satin-finish paint in a gray-blue metallic palette.

Another trick: paint the countertop in a glossy, bright white to make the kitchen appear larger than it is.

So how to paint kitchen countertops? The trick to achieving a durable, long-lasting look lies in painting layers of thin coats (DIY experts recommend at least three, with as many as 24 hours in between each coat) in favor of one thick coat—after you've sanded down the laminate, and added a coat of primer, of course.

Other tricks to DIY counter painting: apply paint with a roller; consider using a quality exterior paint (but make sure it's food-safe!), and finish with a clear polyurethane.