✅ How to update a kitchen countertop

The table is a mandatory piece of furniture and is used to furnish the kitchen and living room, personal office and children's room.

At a certain level of wear and tear and after changing the overall interior space, it is necessary to decorate the table and transform it using improvised and inexpensive materials.

Inspiring and beautiful photos of tabletop decor will help you choose an original furniture design option to suit your taste.

To implement the selected options, you will not need a significant investment of time and money required to purchase expensive consumable construction and decorating materials.

Methods and techniques used for tabletop decoration

The dining or kitchen table is subject to the greatest wear and tear, especially under conditions of regular and intensive use.

Simple and beautiful kitchen countertop decoration is done quickly and easily; several techniques are used for this, to reproduce which you do not need to have experience or special skills:

painting the table using different paints, sketches and templates;
drawing up a mosaic composition or a thematic panel on the table;
decoupage of the tabletop surface using fabric and paper;
decorate the table with self-adhesive film of different colors and textures.

Pre-purchased ceramic tiles can be used as decorative materials for the countertop.

Surface decoration is done using various materials left over after repair or construction of decorative building materials, paints and varnish, broken ceramics and even epoxy resin.

How to paint a countertop

Laminated chipboard is one of the most popular materials for making kitchen furniture, including countertops. Among the advantages in comparison with other materials, it is necessary to highlight strength, maintainability, and long service life.

But any furniture sooner or later loses its original appearance. Then all that remains is to either change it or repaint it. If you buy a new headset, you will have to dismantle the existing one and solve problems with removal and disposal. Additional investments and time will be required to visit furniture showrooms or workshops.

The second option does not require any special costs or experience. The main thing is compliance with the technology and preliminary preparation of the necessary materials and equipment. With a little effort, the result will be a unique tabletop. In addition, you can update the color regularly, taking into account your mood, the weather outside or seasonality.

Next, we will consider step by step how and with what to paint the tabletop. All steps are required. It is not recommended to skip them in order to get a perfectly smooth and even surface.

Painting: full and partial

An original tabletop with decorative components will be obtained by painting the surface and applying individual decorative elements.

Using masking tape, you can lay out stripes and zigzags, apply several layers of paint and form unusual patterns on the tabletop that replace artistic painting.

Decoupage: paper and fabric

For table coverings, it is recommended to replace the napkins familiar with the decoupage technique with a fabric with a beautiful pattern or thick wrapping paper.

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After fixing the decorative layer and arranging the various installations, the tabletop is covered with a wear-resistant and durable varnish that can be applied in several layers.

Mosaic: choice of materials

Simple tabletop decor with mosaics allows you to create unique and designer compositions, and the master can use different materials for this.

Suitable table decorations include fragments of ceramic tiles and dishes, natural pebbles and shells, compositions made from original beads and beads, plastic or cork stoppers.

Photo wallpaper with a beautiful pattern

Regular or photo wallpapers with large designs are suitable for decorating tabletops using a simple decoupage technique.

Experts recommend that you first consider the location of the central element of the composition on the tabletop and, if necessary, supplement it with small, separately cut decor or self-adhesive.

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Unusual and stylish decoupage

Fans of a creative approach and creative design created with their own hands can use the following original idea - finishing the surface with special stencils in the decoupage style.

This type of work does not require any special skills. The main thing is to approach the process with enthusiasm and work very carefully. To restore the tabletop, you will need only a minimum of working tools and materials: PVA glue, ready-made stencils (drawings cut from newspapers, napkins, books), wood varnish.

Technically, working with the countertop will look like this:

Wash the table surface thoroughly and degrease it (alcohol/acetone can be used for this purpose).
Dilute the glue (proportion 1:1).
Apply glue to the prepared drawings and carefully fix them on the tabletop, creating the chosen motif (the main thing is not to overdo it, otherwise the decor will turn out to be too pretentious and clumsy).
Carefully level the drawings (they should fit clearly and tightly to the surface).
Leave the decoupage to dry.
Cover the finished work with a layer of varnish. Let it dry.
Apply a second layer of varnish and after the layer has dried, apply another one. Such a large number of layers of varnish is necessary in order to prevent rapid abrasion of the treated countertop surface during its operation.

Attention! Using the decoupage technique, you cannot update the countertop in the kitchen work area, since that part of the table will be constantly exposed to intense mechanical and chemical influence. This restoration method is only suitable for a dining table or table top-window sill.

Ceramic tiles for table

When choosing where to buy countertop decor, you can pay attention to the ceramic tiles left after renovation work.

Several elements, laid in different versions and combinations, will perfectly decorate a wooden panel, and small tiles can be used to create decorative panels and compositions.

Cover an old countertop with tiles or mosaics

Usually, even with a budget kitchen renovation, the countertop is replaced with a new one. After all, the cost of laminated chipboard countertops is quite low. But if you don’t want to remove and remove the old surface, and then bring in and install a new one, there is a way out. A countertop that has lost its appearance can be covered with tiles or mosaics. Yes, it's not exactly cheap, but it's pretty fast. And you can buy the simplest tiles to solve this problem, on sale (leftovers).

If the leftovers are different, it’s okay. Combined cladding is quite acceptable.

Reproducing stencil techniques with your own hands

When studying countertop decor ideas, it’s easy to notice their diversity; painting remains the simplest and easiest option, easily reproduced with your own hands.

To create an elegant and sophisticated design on the wooden surface of an old table, you can use a unique stencil painting technique.

creative painting

Another creative way to renovate an old, worn-out countertop is by stenciling. To update the tabletop, you just need to apply a prepared stencil to its washed and degreased surface (a suitable motif for painting can be easily found on the Internet and cut out of thick cardboard).

For the work you will need paint (for the main tone and pattern), a foam sponge/brush, and a stencil with a pattern. Place a stencil on a properly prepared and painted base color tabletop surface and, firmly fixing it, apply the paint with a sponge/brush.

Advice. You should not use a sponge to pick up a lot of paint at once, as in this case it may flow under the stencil and the work will be completely ruined.

Well, and, of course, the most radical way to restore a tabletop is to replace its surface with a new material (chipboard, fiberboard, wood, composite, etc.). In this case, you will have to spend a lot of time and money, and more effort will be required than in previous cases.

You learned how you can quickly and inexpensively update your kitchen countertops with your own hands. The main thing is to approach work with attention and a good mood. Happy renovation!

Consumables

Careful and complete preparation of all necessary materials will ensure quick completion of the main work; the master will need:

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two types of paint in cans with special and convenient sprayers;
a suitable piece of old tulle with a pattern you like and masking tape;
acrylic varnish or epoxy resin, for filling the resulting three-dimensional pattern.

During the application of paint and varnish, it is necessary to ensure a flow of fresh air and carry out all work wearing a mask to protect the respiratory tract.

How to cover a façade with film

One of the simplest, fastest and least expensive options for transforming and updating an old kitchen set is to cover it with self-adhesive vinyl film. Vinyl film for facades has a number of advantages, thanks to which it will fit perfectly into the interior of the kitchen. These are water resistance, resistance to high temperatures, durability, ease of care and a wide selection of colors and textures. To update kitchen facades, you can use one version of the film, you can combine two or more colors, and you can also cut out various shapes from the film and use them as stickers.

In order to cover the facades with film , you will need:

Vinyl self-adhesive film
Stationery knife and sharp scissors
Centimeter and ruler
Pencil
Solvent
Plastic scraper or smoothing cloth
Accuracy and patience

gluing facades with film

Preparation

Before purchasing film, you need to take accurate measurements of the facades, taking into account the sidewalls, and calculate the area of the required vinyl self-adhesive. The kitchen cabinets themselves do not need to be covered with film, only the facades. It is better to purchase self-adhesive film of a higher class and with a reserve.

For more convenient and high-quality work, it is advisable to remove kitchen facades and lay them on a flat surface. But before doing this, number the doors and cabinets to be removed so that nothing gets mixed up during subsequent installation. You also need to remove the handles and other fittings; the handles can be replaced with new ones if desired.

Next, thoroughly clean and rinse the surface of the facades with warm water and soap or soda. The surface must be smooth, clean and dry, otherwise during operation the film may begin to bubble and move away from the surface. After wet cleaning, the facade must be wiped dry and degreased with a solvent.

preparation of facades before pasting

Open the films

On the back side of the self-adhesive film there is a special centimeter grid, which will greatly facilitate the cutting and cutting of parts. We mark the dimensions of each part on the back of the material, leaving a margin of one to two centimeters. Add two centimeters at the folds. If the pattern of the film is repeated, make sure that the patterns on the front side match.

The film is cut along a ruler using a stationery knife. Curvilinear parts are cut out with sharp scissors according to preliminary markings.

cutting self-adhesive film

Pasting of facades

After peeling off a few centimeters of the paper backing, we apply the film to the facade with the adhesive side. To remove air bubbles and irregularities from under the glued film, smooth the surface with a soft cloth or plastic scraper. The film must not be glued all at once, but gradually, removing the protective paper by ten centimeters and carefully smoothing each section. Then you need to smooth the film from the center to the edges. Small bubbles can be pierced with a thin needle and smoothed out.

On a plain film, irregularities and bumps are more noticeable than on a film with a variegated pattern or ornament.

The self-adhesive film finally sets only after a few hours, so if during gluing the film does not lie flat on the façade, you can safely peel it off and re-glue it.

renovation of facades

Pasted over

With self-adhesive
film, facades look attractive and are easy to clean. This way you can update the facades and the kitchen unit as a whole.

Application technique

The selected piece of tulle should exceed the area of the tabletop by 5-10 cm; in order to securely fix it to the back of the table, the following procedures are then carried out:

the tabletop is cleaned of dirt and coated with a base color from a sprayer;
the surface of the table is completely covered with tulle, its edges are fixed with masking tape;
a second layer of contrasting paint is carefully applied from a spray bottle over the piece of tulle;
after partial drying, the tulle is carefully removed, when the paint is dry, the tabletop is varnished.

To preserve the effect of the design composition, before applying the second layer of paint, the edges of the table are covered with masking tape so that the paint will not get through it onto the tabletop.

Kitchen Design

The design of kitchen furniture should always be a single ensemble. Regardless of whether a plastic or wooden set is chosen, the countertop should be in harmony with the cabinets in color and style.

When choosing a design, you must focus on the following criteria:

Coverage quality. Moisture constantly gets on the countertop and stains form. Only high-quality material will last a long time.
Easy to use. Modern technologies make it possible to produce furniture that can be simply wiped with a napkin to remove all dirt.
Experts advise laminating surfaces. The service life of MDF and chipboard without plastic coating is short.
The kitchen set should be bright and attractive. The kitchen should be cozy.

Recently, designers have been advising not to be afraid of radical solutions. A black set will look rich and elegant. Even if it is an artificial stone, it will create the illusion of real dark marble.

The white option is ideal for lovers of bright rooms. It lifts and improves your mood. The morning in such a kitchen will always be good.

Often there are unusual bright colors, plain orange, light green, blue and other shades. Countertops must be in harmony with the kitchen. It is possible to make them not just brown or beige, but also highlight them with any other color.

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