How to Paint Formica Countertops to Look Like Granite

Clean the countertops with warm water and dish soap.

Fill any cracks or gouges with laminate repair filler. Smooth filler into the blemish with a putty knife. Allow the filler to cure for the time indicated in the manufacturer's instructions.

Sand the countertops with 220-grit sandpaper until the gloss finish is removed. An electric sander can also be used. Also sand down any coarseness left from filling in cracks or gouges.

Wipe away all sanding dust with a damp rag.

Paint the countertops with water-based plastic bonding primer. Use a foam brush to avoid streaks. Apply enough primer to create a consistent, opaque layer over the countertop. Allow the primer to dry.

Paint the countertops with white paint, using a sponge brush. Apply one thin, even coat. The finish texture of the paint you are using, such as glossy or satin, does not matter because it will be sealed later with a clear coat of polyurethane. Allow the paint to dry.

Pour small amounts of three to four paint colors onto individual plastic plates. Use colors commonly found in granite, such as beige, tan, cream, slate, gray and gray-blue. Avoid using straight black, as black often appears flat. If you want the look of black granite, use a black color that has undertones of purple or blue.

Apply the lightest color first. Touch one side of a sponge to the paint then dab the paint on a plate to remove excessive globs of color. Lightly touch the sponge to the countertop repeatedly until you create a speckled pattern over all of the surfaces. To mimic granite, the pattern should be irregular with dots of paint appearing in all different sizes and shapes.

Dab a fresh sponge in the next darkest color. Make an irregular, speckled pattern on the countertop in the same manner as the first color. This pattern will create a layer over the first, causing them merge together and start to look more like the complex, spotty grain of granite.

Use a clean sponge to lightly blot the new layer of speckles to blend them with the first layer of speckles.

Continue adding paint in the remaining colors until you have achieved an irregular, dappled pattern that mimics granite. Allow the paint to fully dry.

Paint the countertops with two to four coats of clear, gloss polyurethane to provide a thick, shiny, protective coat. Apply the polyurethane with a foam brush, using long, successive strokes. Allow the coat to dry to the touch. Sand each layer of polyurethane lightly with #0000 steel wool before applying an additional coat. Do not sand the final layer.

Allow the polyurethane to dry for the full time indicated on its packaging before using the countertop.