Back splash and counter top help!

So I have a problem with my counter top. It is that nasty old white laminate counter top with metallic gold flecks in it, the back splash is also laminate and the same ugly print. Its absolutely hideous! Unfortunately it is out of my budget to just get a new counter and tile the back splash. I really need an affordable alternative. I considered painting my counter top but i have no idea what kind of paint to get and some of the actual counter top paint kits are over 150 dollars. Any Suggestions?
  24 answers
  • William William on Aug 29, 2016
    Counter top painting kits at the big box stores! Rustoleum, Giani, etc.
  • Elizabeth Fencl Elizabeth Fencl on Aug 29, 2016
    I posted on HomeTalk how I painted my countertops, my cabinets and did a back splash. Go to this link and you can see how I painted my countertops for around 25.00! http://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/countertops/painting-my-kitchen-counter-tops-to-look-like-granite--19741655...- I covered my back splash with beadboard wall paper that I bought on line from Home Depot. Let me know if you have questions, the counter top job was super easy and FUN, not to mention CHEAP!!
    • Bernice H Bernice H on Dec 12, 2016

      I did the same in a former home. I just used a good primer,2 coats,then latex paint,then poly over the top.2-3 coats! This kitchen...I thought someone had taken a picture of my "new "old home" ...had to do a double take. I have the very same situation,I just posted about it,but no pictures.

  • Sandi Gallion Hodge Sandi Gallion Hodge on Aug 29, 2016
    Contact paper is fantastic nowadays, also, removable wallpaper
  • Tabby Tabby on Aug 30, 2016
    I covered my laminate sink top with featherweight concrete, it looks like solid concrete, went on easy and fast, looks great. Did it in a day, sealed it the next day. Found the instructions on Pinterest haha. Just four coats of thin Featherweight concrete.
    • Jo Jo on Aug 30, 2016
      Do you have an image of your countertop? How is it wearing?
  • Janet Smith Janet Smith on Aug 30, 2016
    I have never seen a painted countertop hold up for more than a month or two. While the laminate is not terribly attractive, it isn't in bad shape. I'd wait until I could afford to replace it. There are some beautiful and durable laminate countertops at the "big box stores" that are very affordable. Some even look remarkably like granite.
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Aug 30, 2016
    Whatever you do , prep prep, prep. And prep again. When done, Seal, let cure, seal again.
  • Chris Chris on Aug 30, 2016
    Your counter is pretty basic in shape - 1 long piece. with square ends and only one cutout for the sink which is easy to do. Look at prefabricated counter tops at big box stores. You should get something nice for a reasonable price. Alternatively, why not paint your cabinets a darker colour, and find a stick on backsplash tile (I found mine at Home Depot) that looks nicer with the gold flecked, white counter.
  • Jennifer Jennifer on Aug 30, 2016
    I would start with painting the cabinets. I'm thinking a light green or maybe a light gray . Regarding the counter, I may try painting them black
  • Peggy Peggy on Aug 30, 2016
    I would definitely use chalk paint or use Websters (a powder that makes any quart of flat paint into chalk paint). Clean your counter, choose a color maybe Sherwin Williams Dovetail...love that color gray...add the Websters and put two coats of paint on. Put a couple coats of matte Polyacrylic on it. Your backsplash is not very big so maybe you could continue the gray paint on the wall, but then get a stencil....hmmm maybe harlequin and paint white and gray...maybe a little black. Here is an example....
  • Tabby Tabby on Aug 30, 2016
    I did it in a hurry when I was tired so it's a little sloppy but looks so much better than white broken tile. Kept green sink since it matched tub/toilet. Seems durable after sealing but does not get used yet much. Cost
  • Deanna Nassar Deanna Nassar on Sep 02, 2016
    Stick with regular paint. Remove the hardware on doors and drawers. Semi gloss latex. Hardware can be updated with just a little paint made for metal. Leave the window white semi gloss white has always been a favorite of mine for windows. For the counter and black splash a light sanding and be sure to get all the dust off. Painter's tape the sink or if you know how remove it. Put painters tape anywhere you don't want the paint you are using. Prime with flat paint. Gloss for finish coat. I would say oil paint but it is sometimes difficult to deal with, easy to get brush strokes, so go with latex two coats. Let dry overnight between coats.
  • Lisa House Lisa House on Sep 03, 2016
    I made my own counters with plywood, stain, and sealer...inexpensive, durable, and gorgeous.
    • Mary Lou Mary Lou on Dec 11, 2016

      How did you do this? Can you show pictures? Sounds like something I might need. My counters are "U" shaped and hard to do anything with.

  • Marcia Marcia on Sep 04, 2016
    lowes has countertop paint in area with appliance paints, and stick on gel ti les
  • B. Enne B. Enne on Sep 04, 2016
    I have done counters/backsplashes at least 3 times. If you are going for a solid colour or base, Krylon Fusion spray was the fastest, and easiest, since I did not prime or top coat it, and it lasted many years. I bought it when it first came out on the market. Any other finish I used, would get white marks when wet, but they did dry out each time, but I had to be careful. I was not careful with the Fusion at all. Of course I didn't use it as a cutting board or set hot pots on it, just like I wouldn't on any laminate counter. They got banged up, and spilt on etc. I have not tried paints specifically made for counters/ backsplashes, Krylon does not recommend the paint for cultured marble though. I have to say however, it wasn't recommended for countertops at all when I used it either...but apparently cultured marble is a surface to which many things do not adhere.
  • PattyV PattyV on Dec 11, 2016

    I agee with the other suggestions and wait until you could afford to replace. In the meantime, I think an easy solution would be to paint the area between the backsplash and the bottom of the cabinets to add a pop of color. If you don't want to tackle that project, perhaps finding some contact paper in a pattern that would compliment your counter top could be a temporary fix.

  • Pat11183342 Pat11183342 on Dec 13, 2016

    Don't use the rusolium counter top paint kits. They take a long time to cure and will soften if you put anything hot on them.

    Actually replacing counter tops is cheaper than you think, if you do it your self and you don't go high end. Check your local big box store for ready made sections, that you just have to glue the ends on. A couple of years ago it cost me roughly $25 per 4 ' section. Counter tops are held in place with 4 screws. Sink cut outs are a little more challenging, but find videos on YouTube, that helps a lot with any diy projects. That being said. You tube creating a cement counter top, tiling a counter top. Or some one actually makes a contact tpye paper you litterally stick down, but that was expensive. I thought replacing the top was cheaper.

    If these options don't appeal. Match those tiny flecks in a paint color and paint accents on the cabinets such as that wood applique. Or get a stencil and add decorative paint to distract from the countertop's.

    I personally like your retro kitchen and wound do the high lighting.

  • Kaye Hawthorne Kaye Hawthorne on Dec 13, 2016

    For the backsplash on a low budget that looks great when finished is a piece of metal underpinning with the colored section facing the back. The metal has a few pings and dents that make it even better once installed.

    we have several rentals and just renovated one. We used the underpinning as the backsplash, caulked it and trimmed out the edges. We painted all the cabinets gloss white with new black gloss knobs and handles because the counter tops were green. It looks great and cost less than $50 to complete.

    new laminate counter tops can be found at lowes and depending on size can run between $75-$150 to replace...new look for under $250. approximately.



  • Lori Lori on Dec 13, 2016

    Just paint it. Clean, prime, and paint. I used a paint called Melemine but that was years ago. Don't be afraid just take your time. I used different colours with a sea sponge so it looked like granite and it turned out great. Look on Pinterest or Hometalk for some ideas. Good luck.

  • S.h. S.h. on Dec 13, 2016

    We used to own a counter top shop. Laminate is so impervious to everything that nothing sticks for long. To try to save an old counter top the best solution we knew of was to put the same coating on it that the bathtub and shower wall refinishing companies use. I believe that it cures better and certainly sticks better than paint. Epoxy paint will also stick better than ordinary paint but the colors are limited. (old surface must be prepared according to directions of the product you are using) Just keep in mind that any coating is not permanent and will scratch so you need to be extra careful and do not use abrasive cleaners at all, even on laminate and do not set anything hot on it. Also, doing a new counter top replacement is not always that easy, You have a sstraight run, wall to wall, so getting it to fit between walls is tricky. For best results, copy what the previous installer did with the end splashes (which appear to be applied on the ends, not set ON the top itself). Walls are never perfectly parallel or square, so fitting the ends is hard for a novice. It is always better to have a professional installer do it, so saving up until you can afford it is good advice.

  • Lisa House Lisa House on Dec 13, 2016

    We picked up some 1/2" or 3/8" plywood that had a veneer on it of a red ...ugh...can't remember...just pick up what you like in 4x8 sheets. My daughter stained the wood then applied a minwax poly, two coats over top, one on bottom. We also coated all edges. We just cut to fit , we made sure we cut the sink out of one piece...we didn't meet two pieces at the sink. Hubby also added support pieces of wood for the sink. I had white cabinets, gray walls, gray/white backsplash, and my appliances were in good shape so they were not replaced...they were black, so I used black hardware on the cabinets. Sorry, no pictures, we ended up moving out about 4 months after updating the kitchen. Don't be scared, it's just wood. I think we paid $11-$13 for each sheet of plywood, only used 2. The wood counter really added a lot of warmth to a white kind of industrial kitchen. If any more questions...lhouse1960@gmail.com

  • Pat11183342 Pat11183342 on Dec 14, 2016

    Check your local communities for a habitat for humanity restore (sales donated new and used materials, from counter's to window's, tools and light fixtures and appliance's. I recently got new landscape edging for 1/3 the normal retail. And a never used with shipping strapping still on, new construction aluminum clad wood window, low E for $35, big box retail store price would have been $200-$300. They will likely have paint, tiles and counter tops.

  • Staci Granger Kenny Staci Granger Kenny on Mar 14, 2019

    i just bought a kit online to cover the same hideous countertop, LOL! I, too, have a kitchen that needs updating, champagne dreams and a beer budget. Haven’t started yet, but I’m inspired! Giani Countertop Paint Kits make your laminate look like granite in a weekend. Multiple colors to choose from. Think I paid $78. Covers approximately 35 sf per kit. See their video at www.gianigranite.com Hard to believe the finished countertop is the same piece the video started with! It can be used on multiple surface types, including tile. Will use any leftovers to make a little side table top look like it’s granite🙂


  • Jody B Nash Jody B Nash on Mar 15, 2019


    The white with gold flecks is beautifully nostalgic! I would decorate around it. First I'd look for a chrome dinette with red vinyl chairs at a thrift store or craigslist. Then I would peel and stick a black and white floor. Add some cute curtains and you have the perfectly adorable retro kitchen!