Instructions on How to Paint a Faux Marble Finish Onto a Laminate Countertop

Clean the surface of the countertop with a mild liquid soap and warm water. Use a sponge to remove loose dirt and debris, switching to a scrub brush if the dirt proves hard to wipe away. Rinse the counter thoroughly with clean water and then pat it dry with a clean cloth.

Sand the counter to create a slight texture on which the paint can adhere. Use a medium grade sandpaper to go over the surface of the counter, covering the top and sides with small circles to create a series of small indistinguishable scratches. Wipe the counter with a tack cloth to remove any sanding residue.

Place masking tape along the edges of adjacent surfaces to avoid errant paint marks. Press firmly on the top of the tape to ensure that it's sealed tightly against the surface to prevent paint bleeding under the tape edge. Place a drop cloth on the floor along the base of the countertop to catch any paint drips.

Apply a coat of primer tinted to the base color onto the laminate using a low-nap paint roller. Spread the primer in rows across the surface of the countertop, overlapping row edges to avoid missing spots or leaving obvious paint lines. Allow the primer to cure overnight.

Sand the primer with a very fine grade of wet/dry sandpaper to remove any paint irregularities and create a smooth surface. Saturate the paper with water and then go over the entire counter, wetting the paper again when needed to create as smooth a surface as possible. Wipe the sanding residue off with the tack cloth.

Obtain a photo of the marble you wish to emulate. Keep it nearby as you paint the surface for reference.

Apply the first color of your marble surface using a small paintbrush. Apply the lightest shade color of your marble design from the center of the countertop toward the edges. Wait six hours for the color to dry, or follow the manufacturer's suggested drying time. Apply each additional shade of paint onto the counter working from light to dark until you have all the colors applied but the marble veins. Thin the additional colors by mixing the paint with 1 part paint, 1 part thinner and 1 part glaze to add color depth. Use a color chart from the paint manufacturer to choose common tones as colors. Use a sponge rather than a brush to add the colors in a mottled fashion, creating subtle shadings in color depth.

Add the marble veins to the countertop before the paint has a chance to dry. Use an artist's brush to apply the veins using white paint. Emulate the look of your marble sample photo as closely as possible. Allow the paint to dry overnight.

Seal the painted laminate with three coats of polyurethane to protect the faux marble from damage. Use a paint roller to roll the sealant over the laminate, overlapping the rows as with the primer layer. Let each layer cure for 24 hours.