Transform Your Kitchen: How to Paint Laminate Countertops Like a Pro

The most important parts of your family life often take place in your kitchen. It’s the heart of your home — where you teach your children to make cherished family recipes, host your friends and family to celebrate life milestones, and sit down for family dinners after a long day. Because of the important role it plays in your life, it’s understandable that you want it to look beautiful and feel inviting. Unfortunately, a full-scale kitchen renovation can make a major dent in your savings (which may not be feasible!).

Luckily, there are a few ways you can transform your outdated kitchen with a fresh, stylish new look without breaking the bank. Instead of replacing your kitchen countertops, consider giving your existing counters a facelift! If you’re working with existing laminate countertops you can get a brand new look simply by painting them — yes, you heard us right! A fresh coat of paint is all you need to kickstart your kitchen transformation. Kitchen Cabinet Kings is here to walk you through the kitchen countertop painting process so you can execute this DIY painted laminate countertops project like a professional.

How to Paint Laminate Countertops in 5 Steps

We know that do-it-yourself projects can feel intimidating, especially in high-trafficked areas of your home. But with the proper knowledge of the process you’ll have beautiful countertops in no time. Here are five steps for painting laminate countertops perfectly.

Secure the Necessary Supplies

Any successful DIY project requires the proper planning and procurement of the necessary materials to complete the job. The last thing you want is to get halfway through the project and realize you need to make yet another trip to the hardware store! Depending on the desired outcome, we recommend stocking up on 220-grit sandpaper, painter’s tape, a paint roller, paint roller covers, a paint tray, primer, water-based acrylic paint, and high-gloss acrylic topcoat paint. You may also want to grab a pair of gloves to avoid making a mess! Once you have all the supplies, give your countertops a thorough cleaning and you’re good to get started.

Sand Your Countertops

The last thing you want is for your newly painted laminate countertops to start peeling after a few months! To avoid this, we recommend taking the time to sand your countertops prior to painting them. If you have an electric sander you’ll be able to work through this step more quickly. However, 220-grit sandpaper will do a thorough enough job used by hand. Sand the entire surface, spending some extra time on any areas with rough spots or blemishes to even them out. Once you’ve sanded the entire surface, use a damp rag to wipe away excess dust and allow the counters to dry before moving onto the next step.

Prep the Area

Grab your painter’s tape and apply it along areas where you don’t want the paint to get on, such as your backsplash, oven, kitchen sink, and anything else that you aren’t able to move away from the countertops. If you’re nervous about excess paint getting where you don’t want it, you may also want to use a tarp on the floors or plastic sheeting on the walls.

Prime & Paint the Counters

Take your can of primer and apply it to the surface of your laminate countertops using a paint roller. Apply it in a stroking motion, overlapping slightly as you work your way across the surface. The roller brush will be the most effective on the majority of the counters but you’ll likely need to switch to a trim brush near the backsplash and sink to ensure an even application. Once the entire surface has been covered with the countertop primer, take a break as you allow the primer to dry for a minimum of six hours.

After the six hours is up, it’s time for the real fun — painting your counters! Using the same process as primer application, apply your paint to the surface with a paint roller. It’s crucial that you don’t allow the paint edge to dry before rolling the next area. The easiest way to do this is by overlapping each of your painted areas by an inch. Once the first coat has been applied, allow it to dry for a few hours before repeating the process and applying a second coat.

Apply a Top Coat

Last but certainly not least, you’ll need to apply a top coat to your countertops to ensure it retains its refreshed beauty for many years to come. The best option is a high-gloss top coat that will help enhance the durability of your counters. By this point, you should be a pro at applying paint to your counters with a roller brush — which is the same process for the top coat. Let the first coat of the top coat dry for at least four hours before reapplying the final top coat layer. We know you’re going to be excited about getting your kitchen back in a usable condition but you need to wait a minimum of 24 hours for the final layer of the top coat to cure. However, you should be gentle on your newly painted laminate countertops for at least two weeks while everything sets.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you paint laminate countertops?

You can definitely paint laminate countertops! It’s an affordable and budget-friendly option that allows you to revamp your kitchen without undergoing a full kitchen remodel.

What is the best paint for laminate countertops?

If you’re ever found yourself in the paint section of your local hardware store, you understand how overwhelming it can be trying to narrow down the best option for your project. Not only do you need to decide on the color, but you need to determine the brand and the type. We recommend acrylic or epoxy-based paint when painting laminate countertops since these options are more likely to be able to withstand the normal wear and tear your kitchen experiences.

How do I maintain painted laminate countertops?

After taking the time to paint your laminate countertops, the last thing you want to happen is for them to begin showing signs of wear and tear. Luckily, maintenance for painted laminate counters isn’t too difficult. We recommend cleaning them regularly by wiping them down with a damp cloth. Avoid chips or blemishes to the paint by avoiding cutting directly on your counters, placing extremely hot dishes on the counters, or using harsh cleaning products that may eat away at the paint.

Can I repaint my laminate countertops?

Whether you don’t like the color you originally selected or you decide you want to change things up in a few years, you can easily repaint your laminate countertops. To do so, you’ll follow the same process listed above but with a new color paint. Be sure to thoroughly sand off any of the existing paint for an even paint job.