Get a polished look on a budget with these countertop paint colors
No matter which way you cut it, new stone countertops cost a pretty penny. But here’s a hack: painting the old surfaces with a fresh, durable paint can bridge the gap between a full countertop replacement and a light refresh of the most-used room in your home.
Need help deciding your design direction? Here are some popular countertop paint ideas to consider for your kitchen.
Say you bought a home with a dated kitchen, but don’t have the funds for a full-on renovation at this very moment. As long as you know how to paint countertops properly, you can give the room a new look with just a couple coats of paint. White is an obvious and popular choice due to the ubiquity of white cabinets. This color is more likely to be wiped clean on a regular basis and doesn’t show blemishes and imperfections as clearly as a darker color will do.
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Gray paint colors are anything but drab—there is a seemingly endless spectrum to choose from. If you’re using gray for the main countertop color in your kitchen, it’s a smart move to try and replicate different types of countertops like concrete or pale slate in your selection. This will give a clean, polished look and the illusion of high-end concrete kitchen countertops (at a fraction of the cost).
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One great thing about painting countertops is that the colors can always be changed. Meaning, this is the perfect excuse to experiment with bold and out-of-the-box countertop paint colors like Miami pink, ocean blue, or even safety yellow.
To keep your countertops durable against the abuse of a working kitchen, you’ll need to refresh the paint every couple of years anyway, so taking that opportunity to swap out electric colors into the mix is a fun way to keep things fresh.
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Some of the best countertop paint colors are classic, including shades of deep black stone. The black polish of a soapstone or granite countertop has always been a go-to for interior designers because it’s such a versatile color—and goes with everything else they might pick out for the room. Take a page out of a pro’s book and paint your countertops with these timeless shades in a satin or high-gloss sheen.
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Marble countertop costs aren’t for those renovating a kitchen on a budget, but the good news is that even if your counters aren’t actually made of marble, you can still achieve that look with a faux finish. There are kits available for purchase that contain all the tools and paint colors that you’ll need for a marble-like finish, but it’s fairly easy to start with a white-ish base coat and then artistically trace-in or sponge-on textures that mimic geologic veins.
Or, you can buy three-part mineral paint kits that give your countertops a stone look without the price point. If you don’t feel confident tackling the steps involved, a local interior painter will be able to do the job for you. And if you need help with your countertop installation, hire a countertop contractor near you.
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If painting your countertop a solid color seems nice but not exciting enough, consider adding flecks. The process is fairly simple, and you can add the flecks onto the counter after you roll on two coats of paint. Afterward, you sand down the surface, clean it, and apply the sealer. Consider choosing contrasting flecks and countertop paint colors for the best results.
Painting your countertops is a good idea if you want to spruce up your kitchen or bathroom without having to install brand-new counters. It's also cost-effective, and it's a project that most DIYers can take on. Since there are so many paint colors to choose from, you'll be able to easily customize your countertops to fit your home's aesthetic.
To help painted countertops last, you’ll need to add a fresh coat every couple of years. You can also help increase the life span of your painted countertops by adding a durable sealer on top. This might be a resin or water-based acrylic topcoat. Either way, allow the sealer to cure for the full recommended time period, which may range between seven and 10 days.
