Revamp Your Kitchen Counters with Leftover Sheet Vinyl

We had leftover Sheet Vinyl from our flooring projects and decided to use the off-cuts to transform our kitchen counters!

You might remember that I covered my kitchen counters in contact paper – not too long ago actually.  About six months ago, I decided to transform my kitchen counters with marble-look contact paper.  I loved the look and feel of the end result and desperately wanted them to be durable as much as they were pretty.  But it was not meant to be.  Six months down the line, I discovered a lot of scratches, and though some spots were repairable, others would not be as easy.  I did not want to recover the counters every six months, so I decided to revamp my kitchen counters with some leftover sheet vinyl from our flooring project. 

How to Makeover your Kitchen Counters with Sheet Vinyl

This is really an easy DIY project that you could easily do in an afternoon (depending on the size and shape of your counters of course).  Seriously, removing the contact paper took me longer than applying the new vinyl.  Plus if you have sheet vinyl and adhesive left over this update will cost you nothing.  I’ll take you through the steps below.

This project is also part of our monthly Thrifty Thursday Collaboration Series!  This time, I’m Joined by Jaclyn from One Thousand Oaks, Erin from Practical Whimsy Designs and Sara from The Inspired Decorator.  Be sure to check out their posts and show them some love on social media!  Links will be at the bottom of this post.

Always Clean your Surface

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As with most DIY projects, this is one of the most important steps.  You want your new counter material to adhere to the surface properly, and therefore you need to clean your counters.  I had to remove the contact paper and the residual glue right back to what my countertops were before.  I’ll expand on the method of how to remove contact paper glue in this post, but lemon essential oil and a paint scraper worked like a charm to get al the glumpy glue off.

Cut the Sheet Vinyl to Size

After cleaning, the next step is to cut, and dry-fit the sheet vinyl flooring to size.  I still have to meet a house where everything is square and straight, and these counters were no exception.  We allowed a little extra on the first cut and then trimmed the vinyl in place to fit the counter precisely.  Measure twice and cut once, always remember that.

Apply adhesive and place the vinyl on your kitchen counter

Now you can apply the adhesive.  We used the same flooring adhesive that we also had leftover from the flooring projects in our bedrooms.  It was a bit tricky to apply, the adhesive readily stuck to the rougher screed surface in our bedrooms and not as readily to the smooth and shiny countertops.  But with a bit of patience, we got it applied evenly across the entire surface.  The adhesive we use needs to be touch dry, and then you can install your sheet vinyl flooring on top.  Be sure to apply pressure evenly over the entire surface to ensure good bondage.  

Admire your new kitchen counters

We left the counters overnight to make sure the adhesive was adequately cured, and then it was business as usual!  The sheet vinyl we used is safe to use in kitchens and bathrooms, so it is water-safe and wipes clean so easily.  I love the transformation and love the warmth it adds to our kitchen!

Lessons and More Thrifty Thursday Ideas

Am I sorry that I went through the failed contact paper attempt?  Definitely not!  Applying the contact paper made me realise how easy it is to transform outdated kitchen counters.  It also made me realise that I did not want to revert back to the original look and prepared me to do an irreversible upgrade.  Because we could still remove the contact paper, but not the sheet vinyl flooring.  It can be scary to try something so permanent, and contact paper in the interim is a safe, reversible alternative. 

I also transformed a side table and picture frames with the leftover contact paper, which I love.  And the inspiration for those projects might never have struck if I had not used it on my kitchen counters.

Do I think contact paper is a bad product to use on counters?  No, I don’t.  But I do think you need to do your homework on which brand you use.  Our options are minimal when it comes to contact paper; we have a couple of designs from one brand.  So I do think if you choose a reputable brand, it will last longer than six months.  I think it is still a great and budget-friendly option to transform your kitchen counters quickly, so don’t be discouraged by my failure. 

And now time to check out more Thrifty Thursday Ideas:

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• Jaclyn used wooden spoons for unique wall art in her kitchen – I love how it looks!
• Erin painted an old dresser a moody black colour – check it out.
• Sara gave garden gnomes some much-needed love, just in time to spruce up your summer garden!  (Although it is winter here in South Africa, I love seeing all these summery projects!)

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I’ll see you soon with a new post.  Take care and stay safe!

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