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Update Your Countertops Without Replacing Them!

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When you have a small home, that is also a rental home/apartment, getting creative with budget friendly updates and improvements is a must!  That’s where today’s post comes in.  I’m sharing how you can update your countertops without replacing them… all for under $50!

update your countertops without replacing them two photos of countertops marble and granite look with title

UPDATE YOUR COUNTERTOPS WITHOUT REPLACING THEM

Hey friends!  I hope y’all are doing well, and looking forward to this three-day weekend!  These long weekends mean I get to catch-up on blogging and spending time with you ! I’m SUPER excited to show you what I’ve done at My Wee Abode… so let’s get to it!

Small Rental Home Challenge

MWA is not just a small home… it happens to be a rental home/apartment, too!  So when I want to update something (which is often), I have to first consider my budget, and then I have to figure out how to do it in a temporary way!  Figuring out a budget-friendly makeover or update can be a challenge, but then you add having to make it non-permanent, and it’s just a little crazy!

Which reminds me, if you want more tips for small home and/or apartment living, check out my post on storage solutions for a small bathroom.

Kitchen Challenge

Do you love white kitchens, or at least light and airy kitchens?  I DEFINITELY do!

And if you saw my Spring Home Tour, you would have seen that I do NOT have white cabinets… or white countertops.  Womp, womp. 🙁

Recently, I was sharing with another blogging friend how much I disliked the look of my little coffee cubby (coming soon).  She said, “Julie, those countertops are known for not photographing well.”  Duhhh!  Thank goodness for good blogging buddies, Sarah (She Holds Dearly).

Well, that was it! I had known for a while what I wanted to do with my counters, but her insight was the last little push I needed!

Here’s a before pic!

update your countertops without replacing them laminate kitchen countertop with stainless steel kitchen sink and white cake plate

Not the worst, but we can definitely do better!  At this point, not much can be done with the cabinets , but the countertops can definitely be rescued!

update your countertops without replacing them laminate kitchen countertop with stainless steel kitchen sink and white cake plate

Again, not awful, but not at all my coastal, farmhouse, cottage style!

This post may contain affiliate links, at no additional cost to you.

For more information, see my complete disclosure HERE.

Kitchen Solution? Update Your Countertops without replacing them

Now hear me out, because you may be a little skeptical here… I sure was!

My icky laminate kitchen countertops got a facelift using adhesive film!  Some people like to call it heavy-duty contact paper, but when you decide to go on the hunt for this product (although, I’m gonna make it easy for you and tell you what I used), you are going to want to search for ‘adhesive film’.

And your countertops will look like this!

update your countertops without replacing them brown kitchen cabinets with laminate countertops and decorative items

No joke… it looks just like marble!

update your countertops without replacing them marble like countertop with brown wood cabinet and decor items

And it took just under two rolls to do this, at $23.99 a roll!  I used Very Berry Sticker in Matte Marble!

update your countertops without replacing them marble like countertop with brown wood cabinet and decor items

Here is the before again…

update your countertops without replacing them laminate kitchen countertop with stainless steel kitchen sink and white cake plate

And after!

BTW, I also switched out the hardware with pulls that were part of an ‘economy pack’… 12 pulls for under $30.  I LOVE how both items brightened up my kitchen!  Seriously!!!

update your countertops without replacing them brown kitchen cabinets with laminate countertops and decorative itemsI usually love having my Mrs. Myers pink dishwashing liquid on the counter… not so much in this photo.  “PLM”… photography learning moment, friends!

I’m so happy with the look and feel of this product!

update your countertops without replacing them wooden crate with tea towels dish liquid and plant on marble countertop

And a couple of ‘beauty’ shots!

update your countertops without replacing them two cutting boards with milk glass bowl and linens on a marble counter

UPDATE:  To see the step-by-step tutorial to update your countertops without replacing them, click HERE.

My daughter was one of those skeptics that I mentioned at the beginning.  She came over the other day and thought the counters were beautiful.  And when she touched it, she said, “That feels like a real counter!”  Woot!

What do you think?  Is this something that might work to update YOUR countertops without replacing them… for under $50?  For that price, it might be worth a try, don’t you think?  I think a tutorial is in order… what say you?  Remember to share in the comments! I really enjoy “visiting” with you down there! 😉

hugs and three hearts with signature Julie

PIN FOR LATER!update your countertops without replacing them two photos of countertops marble and granite look with title

LINKED AT THE FOLLOWING:

TDC Before and After

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70 Comments

  1. Oh my gosh, Julie. I’ve never heard of this type of contact paper. It looks gorgeous! You’re faux marble countertops really brighten the area and look so professional. Pinning this one!

    1. Thanks so much for the sweet and encouraging words, Patti! As you know, it’s encouraging when you share something that is new to someone else, so you made my day! Hugs, friend!

        1. Thank you SO much for letting me know, Christy! It’s fixed now. (I have NO idea how I missed that, and how many readers have been frustrated. Sigh.) Hugs and hearts!

    1. Thanks, Bobbi! I’m so glad you came by, and I love that you commented! <3 It wasn't the easiest project, but it wasn't too difficult either! Totally worth it! Tutorial to come! 😉 Have a great weekend!

  2. They look AMAZING Julie! What a difference it makes. The photos look so much better with the light countertop. I totally get it! One of the things I’m so stinking excited about in my kitchen redo too! Light, bright countertops! Yippee! xoxo

    1. Nancy! Thanks so much for coming by! I’m loving these… they really make my ‘heart’ a bit lighter to come home to, as well! 😉 Can’t wait to see your big reveal! It’s coming!!!! Hugs, sweet friend!

    1. I definitely will, Ann! So far, they are working out just like regular laminate! Tutorial to come… it was just a bit much for this post!;-) So glad you dropped in! Hugs and hearts!

    1. Crazy, isn’t it? And they clean up great! Like my daughter said… they feel like a ‘normal’ countertop, too! Thanks for coming by, Maria… Hope you are feeling better, friend!

    1. Hi, Lauren! So glad you came by! Actually it wasn’t difficult. The trick is using a hair dryer! You warm-up the film with the hairdryer for about 10 seconds or more… the film then become pliable and it almost wraps itself around the corner and edges! The tutorial will be out soon… it was just a bit much to do the reveal and tutorial all at once! Hugs, sweet friend!

    1. Thank you so much, Michelle! I love it, too… and if I can do it, anyone can! 😉 I’ll be sharing how to, soon! Hugs!

    1. Thank you, Lisa! Crazy, isn’t it… how a little white and new hardware can brighten up a kitchen?! Thanks for dropping in! 😉

    1. Thanks, Jenn! It so much nicer to be greeted by these counters when I get home! 😉 Was so fun talking tonight! Hugs, sweet friend!

    1. Tell me about it. I think my daughter was expecting them to be like ‘the leading brand of contact paper’. But, it’s not the stuff you line your shelves with! I LOVE it! Thanks for the sweet words, Nikki! Hugs!

  3. I have seen this and wondered how it looked. Wowza is all I have to say. This looks amazing and you did such a great job. I may have to try it in my bathroom. Thanks so much for showing us this awesome tip.

    1. Oh, thank you, Kristi! It amazed me, too! 😉 I am SO happy with the results, and will be sharing the tutorial on Saturday. Thanks for coming by! Hugs and hearts!

  4. Sooo much nicer Julie. I rented for years and know that comes with extra challenges so hats off to you for this makeover. Your new bright white countertops look wonderful. Pinning

    1. Oh… THANK YOU, Leanna! I am loving the look SO MUCH more now! I’m thankful for my nice woods cabinets that are in beautiful condition… but, I SO want to paint them. But, I would need my LL’s approval on that one! Thanks for pinning and the kinds words!

    1. Thanks, Janet! It really is a perfect solution… now if I can talk the LL in to letting me paint the cabinets! 😉 So appreciate you dropping in!

    1. Hi, Susan! So glad we found each other! 😉 I will have the tutorial up this weekend. The feel is exactly like laminate… it’s crazy. And from the research I have done, after two years, people say it as good as it was when they installed it! 😉 Thanks for coming by!

  5. Julie the counter looks so much better. I had no idea such a product existed. I had once bought a leather-like stick on for my sons coffee table.

    1. I love it when I can share something that someone hasn’t discovered yet! As I’m sure you can relate! Thanks for coming by, and for the sweet comment! Hugs, friend!

    1. Thanks, Angela… it really is amazing how they look and FEEL! You can actually feel the durability of the product! Tutorial is coming soon! 😉

    1. Thanks, Candy… it’s pretty crazy, isn’t it?! I’m enjoying them SO much… it gives me joy to come home to each day! Thanks for the sweet words! Hugs and hearts!

    1. Hi, Jennifer! This really is a great option for all kinds of situations… waiting to save to replace, rentals, etc. Yes, it is totally doing great! I spilled some coffee, and didn’t see it until a day later… no problem… totally wiped up! I’m treating it just like any other laminate, and it’s great!

  6. I am so impressed by those perfect round corners. I absolutely love this project. I don’t have a countertop to refinish, but those rolls of faux marble would make beautiful photography backdrops! Great project Julie!

    1. Thanks, Laura! I think the vinyl is great for a lot of projects… I’ll be sharing some soon, using my scraps (there wasn’t much leftover 😉 ) Hugs, blogging buddy!

    1. Thanks, Kristi! Yep, they are perfect for my little rental home, that is always on a thrift budget! Thanks for the kinds words! Hugs!

    1. Thanks so much, Barbara… they are definitely a little wonky to get applied, but well worth the little bit of work! Thanks for pinning and for the encouraging words! Hugs!

    1. Thanks, Amber! So far, they are working out like any other laminate countertop would! GREAT! And I can’t believe how much brighter my kitchen looks and feels! Thanks for coming by, girlfriend! And thanks for the feature today! Hugs!

    1. It’s actually pretty amazing, and I’ve seen some posts of people using it in childrens’ bathrooms, and it hold up great! Thanks for coming by, Crissy! Hugs!

    1. I’m actually working on it right now! 😉 Thanks for coming by! I hope you like the tutorial! (out on Saturday!)

  7. Your ‘new’ counter tops look great! We have a super small, outdated kitchen in our home that we plan on selling soon – so we did a quick update with a painted counter top kit. It looks great, but I’m wishing I knew about the adhesive film first and I would have tried that! I’d love to hear how they hold up over time.

    Thanks for sharing your project with the Share Your Style Link Party!!

    1. Aw, thanks, Meredith! So far, they are amazing! And from what I’ve heard from others, even after two years, they looks and feel the same… great durability and wear! Thankful for Share Your Style!

  8. Hi there! This looks really nice. I’ve wanted to do something like this in my kitchen and bathrooms – both ~10 yo laminate countertops. I’ve been considering using a kit like this (Giani Countertop Paint Kit, White Diamond) – have you tested out / used / heard anything about these? Just trying to get a sense of whether they’re worth trying…

    Thanks for sharing your hard work!

    1. Hi, Laureen… thanks for the comment and sweet words. 🙂 Though I’ve never used anything like this, I’ve seen quite a few bloggers use something similar to this kit you listed, and they have really liked it! Unfortunately, I am not able to use anything this permanent in my rental home… But, I would probably try it if I could! LOL! If you Google or check Pinterest for “painted countertops”, you should get quite a few bloggers that have used this method and have tutorials. 😉 Hope this helps, Laureen!

  9. I have black granite countertops. I paid so much for them so replacing them is not an option. But I am sick of them and want a lighter look. Thoughts on doing this over existing granite?!

    1. Thanks for asking, Moni. Let me first just say, I am no expert, so my thoughts and opinions are completely those of a layperson, just like you. 😉 With that said, though I haven’t tried this on granite countertops, I personally don’t see why this would not work. The adhesive is “strong” enough to adhere to any flat surface. If I had the same issue, I would definitely give it a try! 😉

  10. Hello, your counter tops look beautiful. Do you know if it would be difficult to remove or damage to the original counter? Thank you.

    1. Hi, Hannah… I haven’t removed mine, but if I do, I will use a hairdryer and heat the vinyl while gently lifting it off. I used this technique while wrapping the corners and it didn’t hurt the laminate at all. I know several other bloggers have used this same method for removal and have had no issues. Hope this helps. 🙂 Thanks for asking!

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