Marble countertops are so pleasing to the eye. They can make any kitchen look expensive and luxurious. Unfortunately, they can also cost a fortune.
Luckily, there are ways to create the marble effect on your countertops without breaking the bank. They are easy and don’t cost too much. Here, we listed the steps on how to make DIY faux marble countertops.
Things You Will Need:
- Damp wash cloth or rag
- Sandpaper
- Paint roller
- Large paint brush
- Small paint brush
- Oil-based primer
- Oil-based paint (for the base: eggshell white, for the marble effect: shades of grey-light grey, medium and dark)
- Oil-based clear gloss polyurethane topcoat
- Paint thinner
- Plastic sheeting
Step 1: Smoothen The Surface
You want to make sure your countertops’ surface are smooth before applying any paint. Use a sandpaper to keep it smooth. You can also fill in any small holes you see. Remove the dust with a damp cloth.
Step 2: Prepare For Painting
Prepare for painting by putting plastic sheeting to any surface you don’t want to paint.
Step 3: Primer
Using a paint roller, start applying the primer to the countertops. Make sure you include all the edges. Let it dry overnight.
Step 4: Base
Start applying the oil-based paint eggshell white for the base. You can alternate using the big and small paintbrushes for the nooks and crannies. You can also use the paint roller for bigger spaces.
Step 5: Get Creative
Using the small and big brushes, randomly dab the three grey colors of paint on the surface. These will make the marble effect so try to blend it little as you go.
If you’re not too confident with the pattern, you can look up photos of marbles for reference.
Step 6: Soften The Edges
Using a sea sponge, soften the edges of your grey shades by dabbing and blending them a little. You’ll notice that some parts are not as even as others. Don’t worry, it’ll eventually settle once everything dries.
Step 7: Make The Veins And Lines
To make your faux marble more “realistic” looking, use a painter’s brush to create the veins or the long lines. Again, you can use photos of marble for reference as you make those lines.
Don’t worry if it smudges or gets too dark, these are all part of your “marble effect.”
Step 8: Polyurethane Finish
Once you’re settled with the design, let it dry completely.
Once dry, apply oil-based polyurethane to make it waterproof and give it a shiny finish. When applying polyurethane, never shake the can or skim the brush along the edges of the can. These usually result to bubbles that you don’t want in your countertops.
Let it dry completely.
There you have it! You now have your own faux marble countertops that’s cost-effective.
There are many home improvement you can do around your kitchen. You can start with small project such as replacing old kitchen cabinets with new ones, or big ones like making a kitchen garden.
