How to Paint a Countertop With Enamel Paint and a Sponge

Fill a bowl with warm water and drop of dishwashing soap. Dip a cleaning cloth into the soapy water, and wipe down the countertop. Remove as much dust, debris and crumbs as possible. Anything left stuck to the counter may interfere with the paint job.

Dry the counter with a microfiber cloth. Give the entire counter a light sanding with medium-grit sandpaper immediately after drying. A simple once-over is all you need to rough up the surface. Wipe the countertop down with another clean microfiber cloth after sanding.

Mask any areas that you do not want painted, using painter’s tape. Brush on a single coat of enamel over the entire countertop. This coat will act as your color backdrop. Apply the paint with a synthetic brush, using long, even strokes. Allow the enamel to dry for approximately two hours.

Pour a quarter-size amount of one -- or several, depending on your color scheme -- of the enamel paints onto a disposable pie tin. Dip a clean, dry sponge into one of the colors on the pie tin.

Stipple the enamel paint onto the countertop in whatever pattern you like. Use gentle pressure to blot the enamel paint onto the countertop with the sponge. Continue dipping the sponge, overlapping different colors to create a faux granite or marble look. Allow the sponge-painted surface to dry for two hours.

Seal the sponge pattern with a coat of water-based polyurethane. Apply a single coat of polyurethane with a paint roller. Allow the painted countertop to dry for 24 hours before use. Remove the painter’s tape after the wait time.