Painting formica countertops to look like granite

Q: Can Formica counters be painted?

Formica® Countertops - Can I just paint them? Yes... Formica® countertops can be painted and over time people have used latex paints, epoxies, and even cans of enamel spray paint.

This simple step-by-step tutorial will show you how to paint your kitchen countertops to look like marble, including the exact materials and paint you need.

Table of Contents Show

Materials for painting the counters
The best paint for painting laminate countertops
How to paint your counters to look like marble
Materials for sealing the counters
How much do painted countertops cost?
Instructions
Recommended Products
Can Formica counters be painted?
Is there a paint that looks like granite?
What kind of paint can you use to paint Formica countertops?

I am so excited to share my painted countertops with you guys! Painting our old laminate countertops was a huge risk and I wasn’t exactly sure how it would turn out.

But I hated our old countertops and there was absolutely no way we could afford to replace them, so I decided to just go for it. And this time, the risk definitely paid off!

We have been using our “new” counters for a few weeks now and they look amazing – you would absolutely never guess that they were painted.

This is what we started with.

I’m sure most of you have seen these white and gold laminate counters at some point or another – just probably not in the last decade or two! They were terrible.

I’m actually a big fan of laminate countertops because they are so incredibly durable; but ours were just so horribly ugly and dated. Aside from the terribly gold squiggly lines, the black edges that wrapped around everything managed to make the whole kitchen look cheap.

I lived with these countertops for eight years because I knew we couldn’t afford to replace them. We are blessed to have a ton of counter space in our kitchen which is great for cooking, but makes replacing all the counters incredibly expensive.

I looked into replacing them with laminate, butcher block, even concrete. But even though butcher block and concrete can be done more affordably, the amount we would need was really going to drive the price up. Plus I really didn’t want concrete or wood countertops. I think both can be beautiful, they’re just not for me.

Which led me to paint.

At this point I pretty firmly believe that paint can save almost anything. I’ve painted floors, walls, cabinets, a backsplash, light fixtures, sliding doors – pretty much everything.

And while a few times, it hasn’t worked out in the long run, 95% of the time it has been amazing. And this – this was definitely one of the amazing times!

This is a very inexpensive and beautiful way to update your countertops, but it does take time and attention to detail. And there are a few tricks you really need to know before you start. But if you are willing to try, you can definitely do it.

Because this is a very detailed tutorial, I am breaking it down into two parts below: painting the countertops and then sealing them.

And if you don’t care about the tutorial and really just want to see more beautiful after picks, just skip to the end!

*Update: A few years have passed since I painted our countertops and I’ve gotten tons of questions about them. So I decided to answer all the questions and share updated photos in a new post sharing all of the details about how our painted countertops have held up.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more. Click here to see my full disclosure policy.

Materials for painting the counters

Oil-based Primer – I used Zinsser oil-based primer.

Small foam paint roller

Sandpaper

A palm sander is optional but will make things go faster

White paint and two or three shades of gray paint

A feather, a few round paintbrushes, a painter’s sponge (for creating the marble look)

The best paint for painting laminate countertops

Before we get into the step-by-step tutorial, let’s talk about the paint for a minute.

When it comes to paint for this project, pretty much any paint will do. I used white paint that was left over from painting my bathroom and some gray paint samples I had on hand. Craft paints will also work for the gray part.

I realize that probably sounds crazy. Why do they sell those pricey countertop paint kits if any paint will work? The secret is that the real work is done by the primer and the sealer, not the paint.

Each material has it’s own job. The primer’s job is to prepare the countertop for paint and make sure the paint adheres to the laminate well. The sealer’s job is to protect the paint from wear and tear.

The paint’s job is simply to provide the pigment or color for our countertop makeover. That is something that any decent paint can do.

The reason countertop paint kits are pricey is they include everything you need to do all of those jobs. Also, they simplify the process of figuring out what paint you need to buy. Using a countertop kit is completely fine, but I prefer using a separate primer, paint, and sealer because it lets me have more control over how my countertop will look in the end.

So when you are choosing paint for your counters, any type of paint will work . It really doesn’t even matter if the paint sheen is matte or semi-gloss, because the shiny topcoat will cancel all of that out anyway.

How to paint your counters to look like marble

You could choose to paint your counters to look like just about anything – granite, a solid white or black slab, or marble which is what I chose.

Our kitchen receives very little natural light, so a big goal of my super cheap kitchen renovation was to bounce as much light around the room as possible and marble is perfect for that. Plus, I just think carrera marble is incredibly beautiful.

There are lots of variations of marble – it can be more white or more gray, with a heavy pattern or light. I chose to make my counters very light and keep the grain very subtle. I did a search online and found a picture of a marble slab I liked and used that as my guide.

Before you get started painting, be sure to use painters tape to protect anything around your counters that you don’t want painted. In my case this included the backsplash, the sink, and the cooktop.

The first step in the actual painting process is sanding. Lightly sand the entire countertop with 100-150 grit sandpaper. This will help roughen up the slick laminate surface and help the primer and paint stick.

Use a small foam roller to roll a coat of oil-based primer over the counters – don’t forget to do the edges as well. We are using oil-based primer because it is best for surfaces that may try to resist paint like super-smooth counters. A good oil-based primer will stick to just about anything.

Allow the primer to dry completely and then lightly sand the surface with 220 grit sandpaper.

Use a roller to roll a coat of white paint over the entire countertop and allow it to dry. (And don’t worry, you can use either oil-based paints or water-based paints over oil-based primer so you really can use any white paint.)

Once the white paint is dry, it’s time to start adding the variation found in a natural piece of stone.

I dabbed my medium gray paint on randomly in patches with a round brush and then blotted it with the sponge.

Then it is time to add the grain. Using a feather gives the most realistic grain pattern. (A fake feather from a craft supply store works great.)

Just dip the tip of the feather in the darker gray paint and lightly draw it across the counter. Allow for lots of turns and movement in the line.

I chose to soften my lines a bit by brushing a clean paintbrush over my paint lines.

Then use a round brush to dab more of the medium gray paint on and spread it around with the sponge.

Repeat the brushing and sponging with the lighter gray paint.

Continue to sponge the paint on creating lighter and darker areas until things look the way you want them to.

The best part about painting counters is that you can easily fix any mistakes you make by simply painting over them. My first attempt at drawing on grain lines was terrible – the lines looked more like lightning than marble.

So I painted over them and started over. If you find your counters are looking darker or lighter than you wanted, just add more layers of paint until it looks right to you.

And then you’re ready for sealing.

Materials for sealing the counters

A Level

Envirotex Lite– this is a high gloss polymer sealer that dries to a crystal clear, very hard finish

Two disposable containers to mix the sealer in – I used buckets from the dollar store

Two paint stirrers

A measuring cup or disposable plastic cup

A cheap paintbrush

Plastic dropcloth and painter’s tape

A butane torch

Disposable gloves

This is where the real magic happens. Before sealing them, my counters looked really cool – but they also looked very much like painted countertops. This sealer is what gives them the glossy, realistic look.

I chose to use Envirotex Lite rather than a regular polyacrylic sealer for several reasons. Both are crystal clear and non-yellowing. But the resin is much, much thicker than polyacrylic which makes it more durable and also more realistic looking because of the depth it adds to the paint job.

It is also self-leveling and dries to a perfectly smooth finish – something I have never quite been able to accomplish with polyacrylic. This sealer is also heat resistant which is important in a kitchen.

It does, however, require a bit more preparation and attention to detail. Also, I did this on my own but it would be much easier to do as a two-person job.

I am going to give you the basics of the process as well as some tips I picked up along the way that made all the difference in my finished product.

(But please, read all of the instructions that come with the Envirotex Lite before beginning.)

Before beginning, use a level to check that your countertops are level in all directions. Because the resin is self-leveling, it may pool or run off lower areas if your counters have settled too much.

Be sure to protect your cabinets and floor completely with plastic drop cloths and tape before beginning. In order for the sealer to self-level, it has to be able to drip freely off the edges. Anything that isn’t protected will end up covered in sealer.

In a few areas, my dropcloth slipped and cleaning the sealer drips off the cabinets was a huge pain. I was able to get it off using a scraper and rubbing alcohol, but I wish I had been able to avoid that extra hassle.

Also, wear latex gloves and old clothes. If any of the sealer gets on your clothes, it will harden and you won’t be able to wear them again.

Do not skimp on sealer. I ended up doing two coats on my counters because the first coat had several sections that were not as smooth. Near the end I was running out of product and was trying to make do with what I already had on hand to save time and money. Big mistake.

I ended up having to do a whole second coat to fix these areas which clearly cost twice as much time and money! Be sure to have plenty of product on hand before you start. (For reference, my countertops are 51 square feet give or take and I used 3 gallons of resin, but probably would have only needed 2 if I hadn’t run out.)

Envirotex Lite comes in a kit with two different bottles. These need to be mixed together to make the final sealer. This is a chemical process and it is very important that you follow the instructions included with the product exactly.

One of the important steps is measuring equal amounts of each liquid. I started out using a measuring cup, but quickly realized it was way too small. So I used a disposable drinking cup instead and just drew a line to use as my measurement line.

Also, the mixing process alone takes several minutes. It is much easier to mix enough for the whole counter at once rather than rushing to mix a bunch of small batches.

Once everything is thoroughly mixed, pour it onto your counters. Use an inexpensive paintbrush to spread it around to cover the entire surface including the edges. Double check that it reaches all the way back to the wall.

The directions say to use a butane torch after fifteen minutes to eliminate any bubbles. This is such an important step. There will be tiny bubbles everywhere and when you point the torch at them for a second, they disappear like magic!

A hair dryer will not work for this – it must be a butane torch. (It is the carbon dioxide that takes care of the bubbles. )

The other option is to use a straw to blow on all of the bubbles. Do not attempt the straw method! I tried to do it this way at first because I’m cheap and I didn’t have a torch.

It was a huge mistake. It took way too long and was really difficult. That may be fine for a very small project, but if you are doing your kitchen countertops, just buy the torch. I used a torch for the second coat and it was 1000 times easier and so worth the cost.

You can’t let anything touch the counters for at least 8 hours including dust or water. At this point they will be dry to the touch but they won’t reach full hardness for a full three days.

If anything does mess up the finish of your counters – dust, water drips, or whatever, you can fix it fairly easily by adding another coat like I did.

If you end up with lots of drips along the bottom like I did, you can easily scrape them off with a paint scraper. They come off more easily during the first day before they have completely hardened.

Ready for some after pics?!

I really love how shiny and beautiful these are! And I’m so glad those ugly gold squiggles are gone for good!

As far as taking care of these beauties, don’t set anything hot on them – it will yellow the resin. (This includes leaving a Crock-pot cooking on the counter. Long story, but luckily there was a happy ending.) Also, as with most counters, don’t cut directly onto the counter.

You will probably want to read the update on how our painted countertops have held up after three years of use next. In the post I spill all the details of how they look now, what I love about them, and what I would do differently.

How much do painted countertops cost?

Ready for the final cost breakdown?

It would have been half as much if I hadn’t had to go back with a second coat. (Lesson learned!) But, all in all, it was still a small fraction of the price of replacing our counters.

Your cost will depend entirely on how much countertop you are dealing with. Our kitchen has 51 square feet of counter.

Paint, sandpaper, and tools – all things we already had on hand

3 gallons of Envirotex Lite – $254

Latex gloves and dropcloth – $14

Butane torch and butane – $23

Total: $291 ($5.70 per square foot. On average laminate countertops cost $40-$65 per square foot and marble is $125-$250.)

It was so worth the cost!

Materials

Oil-based Primer
Small foam paint roller
Sandpaper
White paint
Gray paint
A feather
Paintbrushes
Painter’s sponge
Envirotex Lite
Two disposable containers
Two paint stirrers
A measuring cup
Plastic dropcloth
Painter’s tape
Disposable gloves

Tools

Palm Sander
Butane Torch
Level

Instructions

Use painters tape to protect anything around your counters you don't wanted painted.
Lightly sand the entire countertop with 100-150 grit sandpaper.
Use a small foam roller to roll a coat of oil-based primer over the counters.
Allow the primer to dry completely and then lightly sand the surface with 220 grit sandpaper.
Roll a coat of white paint onto the countertops and allow it to dry.
Dab medium gray paint in random patches with a round brush and then blot with the sponge.
Dip the tip of the feather in the darker gray paint and lightly draw it across the counter.
Use a round brush to dab more medium gray paint on and spread it with the sponge.
Repeat the brushing and sponging with the lighter gray paint.
Continue to sponge the paint on creating lighter and darker areas.
Protect your cabinets and floors with plastic drop cloths before applying the resin topcoat. Also be sure to wear old clothes and disposable gloves for this part.
Use a level to make sure your countertops are level.
Mix the Envirotex Lite according to the package instructions.
Pour it onto your countertops and use an inexpensive paintbrush to help spread it to cover the entire surface.
Wait fifteen minutes and then use a small butane torch to remove the tiny bubbles from the finish.
Do not allow anything to touch your countertops for at least eight hours. They will be fully hardened after three days.
If there are any drips of resin on the underside of your countertops, you can scrape them off with a paint scraper.

Can Formica counters be painted?

Formica® Countertops - Can I just paint them? "Yes"... Formica® countertops can be painted and over time people have used latex paints, epoxies, and even cans of enamel spray paint.

Is there a paint that looks like granite?

Faux granite paint can be applied on top of your existing kitchen or bathroom countertop. It can also be applied directly to plaster walls, exposed brick, fireplace surrounds and table tops. With a few steps and a few days, your old laminate or Formica countertop will resemble a hard, glossy granite.

What kind of paint can you use to paint Formica countertops?

Use a paint with an epoxy base to paint your formica countertops. It dries up to give a harder cost and is more durable and will last longer than any other regular paints. Another advantage of using epoxy paints is that they are available in many colors and styles.