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Countertops are one of the most important features of a kitchen. Whether you go with marble, granite, or engineered stone, they truly make or break your kitchen in terms of style. While reviving old cabinets really just requires a fresh coat of paint (plus a little prep work), it feels like when you have old countertops you’re basically stuck. Or are you?

While replacing your countertops is ideal, if it isn’t in your budget, that doesn’t mean you can’t change their aesthetic. You just need to be creative! Here are six expert tips for making your old kitchen countertops look brand new.

1. Reorganize your countertops

A messy kitchen will never look or feel as good as a tidy one. Feng Shui-informed interior designer Orie Prince recommends cleaning and reorganizing your countertops. He says, “Let’s start with organization and clutter management. Excess items can overwhelm the senses and create stress. Take a moment and look at your space to see what you truly need or what could be tucked away until later.”

The designer also suggests looking into storage solutions that are cohesive with other items in your kitchen such as baskets, trays, or bowls. “Making small changes like clearing clutter can have a large impact on your relationship with your kitchen and give a new perspective to your countertops.”

2. Consider a kit

If replacing your countertops altogether isn’t in the cards or budget, Kat Christie, licensed contractor and founder of She Fixed That LLC, suggests looking into using a DIY kit. Just keep in mind if you’re new to DIY projects, you may want to enlist professional help, which will still be less expensive than new countertops.

She says, “There are some inexpensive DIY options out there that include paint kits, which provides great results. As long as you follow the directions perfectly, you can tile over your existing countertops, but keep in mind that may change how your sink sits.”

3. Try contact paper

If you can’t use a kit or simply aren’t the best DIYer, contact paper is worth considering. Christie says, “You will have to keep in mind that you need to think about how you use your kitchen. If you want this but do not want to have to think about putting hot dishes or wet things down on your countertops, then some of the above options may not be for you.”

Installing contact paper over your current countertops is also something renters can do and easily change back when they move out. Best of all, there are lots of different options available including faux marble, and butcher block.

4. Stain your countertops

Prince suggests re-staining your countertops in a way that works with your current style but also elevates and refreshes the space. “You could even complement the refinished countertops with new hardware by replacing old cabinet knobs, pulls, or even faucet fixtures,” he says.

5. Reseal your countertops

If you have butcher block or marble countertops, you may be able to re-seal them yourself or have a pro come in and do it. Resealing will help them look shiny again and will prevent staining, making them easier to clean.

6. Redecorate your countertops

According to Prince, if it’s not in the budget to change how your countertops look, try placing personal or meaningful items around your workstation instead.

He advises, “Display photos, ceramics, or art and bring those happy memories in. Incorporating these elements can help add character to your kitchen and put focus on what matters to you.” After all, if you don’t love your countertop, you can at least love what’s sitting on top of it.

(Real Simple magazine provides smart, realistic solutions to everyday challenges. Online at www.realsimple.com.)

©2025 Dotdash Meredith. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.