Great ways to update your kitchen countertops without replacing them include paint, epoxy, contact paper, concrete, and lacquer.
Home improvement doesn’t have to be a lengthy, expensive process. There’s plenty you can do to make your home nicer without spending a ton of time and money, and a great way to do it is to update your kitchen countertops.
In this article, we’ll cover the ways you can update your kitchen countertops and the pros and cons of each:
| Project difficulty: Beginner Estimated time to complete: Your total work time will be 3 to 8 hours. However, it will take 1 to 2 days for your countertops to dry. Project cost: $10 to $150 *Note: This information doesn’t apply to concrete, epoxy, or resin, which should be done by a pro. |
Paint
Painting kitchen countertops is one of the easiest ways to spruce them up. All you need is paint, a brush, and a free afternoon. When done right, painted countertops look gorgeous and can hold up for a long time.
Pros:
- ✓ Aesthetic Appeal: Properly painted kitchen countertops look amazing. You can even add creative flair to them with a custom design that you can’t achieve using other methods, like a beach landscape or a night sky full of stars.
- ✓ Easy and Inexpensive: Countertop paint is inexpensive and easy to apply.
Cons:
- ✗ Limited Surfaces: Paint doesn’t suit every surface. Avoid painting granite, marble, and quartz countertops.
- ✗ Potential for Mistakes: Ensure your paint is smooth and even while you’re working. No one likes a bad paint job.
Contact Paper
Another way to update your kitchen countertops is contact paper. Contact paper is a vinyl surface with a design on one side and an adhesive on the other. Simply cut it to fit your countertop, attach it, and voila: You have a brand-new countertop surface.
Pros:
- ✓ Easy Application: Contact paper is incredibly easy to apply.
- ✓ Removable: Certain kinds of contact paper are removable, so you can switch it out as often as you’d like.
- ✓ Budget Friendly: Contact paper is inexpensive, which makes it perfect for homeowners on a budget. It costs less than $10 a roll on average.
Cons:
- ✗ Durability: Contact paper isn’t as durable as other kinds of countertops. It can be ripped and damaged relatively easily, or peel off over time.
- ✗ Aesthetics: Contact paper looks good in photographs, but can be hit or miss in reality.
- ✗ Home Value: Contact paper can make a home feel cheap to potential buyers.
Epoxy or Resin
If you’re looking for a project to test your skills, try epoxy or resin. Epoxy countertops involve applying a layer of coating material to your countertop to create a solid surface. While epoxy kits are available in stores, this is a difficult job that is not recommended for inexperienced DIYers.
Pros:
- ✓ Durable: Epoxy countertops can last for years.
- ✓ Aesthetics: Epoxy countertops are beautiful.
- ✓ Home Value: An epoxy countertop can add to your home’s value if you plan to sell because it has wide appeal to homebuyers.
Cons:
- ✗ Expense: Epoxy countertops can be expensive to install. At-home kits are around $200 and professional installation runs around $1,000.
- ✗ Staining: If epoxy gets on surfaces you’re not trying to apply it to, it can stain and leave unsightly marks.
- ✗ Difficult Installation: Epoxy installation typically requires a trained professional.
Concrete
Concrete can be poured onto an existing countertop to create a stone surface. While concrete can be a more difficult countertop update than other options, it’s well worth it and can make your kitchen look fresh.
Pros:
- ✓ Durable: With proper maintenance, your concrete countertop can last a lifetime. Even without it, concrete lasts at least 20 years.
- ✓ Home Value: A concrete countertop can add value to your property without the expense of natural stone or a complete overhaul.
- ✓ Adaptable: Concrete can be poured onto any size or shape countertop.
Cons:
- ✗ Expense: A concrete countertop can be expensive to install.
- ✗ Difficult Installation: Concrete is not easy to install and typically requires a professional.
- ✗ Staining: Concrete stains easily and needs sealing to prevent unsightly stains.
Sand and Lacquer
If you have wooden countertops, one way to update them is by sanding them down and applying a coat of lacquer. While a wood countertop is naturally beautiful, lacquer resists damage and lasts much longer.
Pros:
- ✓ Easy Installation: Sanding and lacquering a wood countertop is quite easy. It’s also very affordable since all you need to buy is sandpaper, lacquer, and a few other items.
- ✓ Aesthetics: Freshly lacquered countertops look fantastic, and you can customize the color by dyeing your lacquer.
- ✓ Protection: Sanding and reapplying lacquer to your wood countertops every so often will protect them and help them last much longer.
Cons:
- ✗ Potential for Mistakes: Be careful not to over-sand and create an uneven surface. The same goes for lacquer. Avoid using too much so it doesn’t become discolored.
- ✗ Time-Consuming: Sanding and lacquering wood can be time-consuming and messy, and you won’t be able to use your kitchen until it’s done.
- ✗ Harsh Chemicals: Lacquer can be dangerous if used improperly and cause dizziness, headaches, or even death in extreme cases. Always apply lacquer in a well-ventilated area and handle it with care using gloves and a breathing mask.
How Will You Update Your Kitchen Countertops?
There are plenty of ways to give your kitchen countertops new life without a full replacement. Explore different options and find the one that’s right for you.
Main Image Credit: oksa_studio / Adobe Stock Free / License
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