How to Make IKEA Wood Countertops Look Good

Use natural wood stain to give unfinished Ikea wood countertops more depth and allow them to blend better with other pieces of furniture and appliances in your kitchen. Wood stains are best for more traditional and transitional styles of décor, though light wood stains like beech or darker ones can be used in contemporary design as well.

Paint unfinished wood countertops with heat-resistant semigloss or high-gloss paint. Heat-resistant paint will be necessary in the kitchen, since warm plates or pots and pans can damage the finish, and semigloss or high-gloss paint will be easier to clean with a diluted soap and water mixture and a clean sponge. Painted countertops work best with more contemporary designs; choose bold, bright or colors or dramatic dark ones, though pastels and colors that aren’t heavily saturated can work in more traditional settings.

Put decorative appliances, such as a designer coffee press or vintage toaster, on your countertop to give the area a more unique touch. Avoid cluttering the countertops with too many different accessories in different finishes to keep the kitchen from looking thrown together. Alternately, small decorative items like a vase with fresh or high-quality silk flowers can dress up your Ikea countertops.

Put a decorative wood or marble butcher block on top of the countertop for chopping and preparing food. The decorative butcher block will disguise the countertops and serve a practical purpose while making cleanup easier after you are done cooking. You can use a decorative butcher block along with staining or painting the countertops for an even more customized look.