How to Temporarily Cover an Old Countertop

Contact paper is a quick and easy way to update your kitchen counter tops.

Covering an old counter top for a while can be done easily with an old standby...contact paper. Contact paper is readily available from discount stores. It is affordable and comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns. It's washable and easy to apply, making it a good choice for covering kitchen or bathroom counters for a quick decor change. This is a good fix for apartments or other rentals, as the contact paper removes without damaging the surface of the counter when you're ready to move.

Things You'll Need

• Contact paper
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Craft knife
• Sponge
• Squeegee

Instructions

1. Clean your counter top well and allow to dry.

2. Lay contact paper over the counter with the paper still attached to the sticky side. Use a pencil to outline the counter top on the paper side of the contact paper. If you will be using more than one piece, number them. If you need seams, they should overlap by 1 inch.

3. Cut out the pieces of contact paper. For a clean edge, let the paper hang over the edge of the counter and slice with a craft knife.

4. Wipe the counter top with a damp sponge. Remove the paper from the sticky side of the contact paper. Lay the contact paper in place. The water allows the paper to move around some while you position it.

5. Use a squeegee to smooth the contact paper in place. This works out the air bubbles and ensures a smooth surface.

6. Cut pieces of contact paper to exactly fit the edges of the counter top and apply these the same way, using a squeegee to smooth onto a damp surface.

References

• Curbly: The Dollar Store Rental Kitchen Makeover -- Again
• Cut Out and Keep: Cheap Countertop Redo With Contact Paper