5 Clever Ways to Update Old Laminate Countertops (Without Spending a Ton)

Stuck with dingy, seen-better-days laminate countertops? We feel you. If a kitchen remodel has to live in your dreams for now, either due to budgetary reasons or because you rent, there are still ways you can affordably update your countertops. 

For help, we turned to home lifestyle expert Julian Thomas. Perhaps you know him as Marfa Stewart on TikTok, or have seen his DIY projects pop up on your Instagram feed.

He spilled five ways to update old laminate without spending a paycheck or two. Read on for his brilliant ideas.

Wrap Them in Contact Paper

As a former owner of laminate countertops, Thomas can speak from experience when it comes to applying self-adhering contact paper. He calls it one of the best DIY decisions he has ever made.

“While yes, applying a giant sticker to a large surface area can seem daunting, the hard work and patience is worth it,” he says. 

Contact paper is a breeze to remove and can be found in just about any color and pattern, so you can coordinate with cabinets or switch it out when the inspiration strikes (or when your lease it up).

Before scouring the big box retailers for options, though, Thomas recommends browsing Etsy for designs, as they tend to offer more on-trend options. His current favorite is this terrazzo pattern.

“While you’re at it, now would also be a great time to switch out cabinet or drawer knobs and pulls for a true kitchen upgrade,” Thomas says. 

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Paint Them

“The ultimate way to disguise unsightly laminate countertops”—that’s how Thomas describes the affordable option of painting.

He recommends searching Pinterest or TikTok for tutorials, then visiting your local home improvement store for a paint kit dedicated to DIY-ing a painted countertop. You can even create a faux-marble finish with paint. 

Painting laminate countertops comes with a big warning though: not only is paint permanent (unlike peel-and-stick contact paper), but the process is especially technical. You’ll also need to apply a food-safe sealant to shield both you and the countertops from unwanted materials.  

“It’s essential to follow instructions to ensure the food safety of your countertops, and to keep them protected from the inevitable mess accustomed to kitchens,” Thomas says.  

Top Them With Butcher Blocks

While contact paper and paint both require tools and some prior DIY know-how, there are options for updating your laminate countertops even if you’re less confident with a project.

Try topping them with butcher blocks, for example. Simply source butcher blocks that are wide enough to cover a vast portion of your countertops.

“Butcher blocks are available in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are not only stylish but functional,” Thomas says. “In addition to butcher blocks, I would also consider adding a range cover which can provide continuity of the butcher block.”

Clean Them

Depending on your circumstances—perhaps you’re renting—the options listed above may not be available to you. In that case, you may as well embrace the countertops you already have.  

“When opting to stick with laminate countertops, I recommend keeping them clean and well-organized,” Thomas says. “Sometimes the best option for a DIY upgrade is the one that requires the least amount of effort.”

First, ensure that all storage solutions coordinate with each other to provide continuity. This, Thomas says, is a design trick that can easily upgrade even the most mundane spaces. 

Countertop space is valuable real estate in the kitchen, and keeping them filled with cooking essentials makes the most practical sense, especially when storage space is limited.

“I’m a big advocate for maximizing the storage potential of other kitchen surfaces besides countertops,” Thomas says.

Add a Feather Finish for Faux Concrete Countertops

Thomas saves this recommendation—adding a feather finish for a concrete-like look—for last for a reason. It’s the most commitment, and not for the DIY shy, he admits. 

“Actual concrete countertops are very stylish, but also difficult to DIY, though it is possible,” Thomas says.

Instead, utilizing a feather finish creates the sleek look of concrete, no renovation necessary.