
Marble countertops bring something special to your kitchen or bathroom. They’re beautiful, classic and won’t harbor germs or bacteria. But they can also be prohibitively expensive.
But have you ever thought about making one yourself? Yes, a DIY marble countertop is possible – and there are lots of online plans showing you how to do it.
We’ve found 17 plans to help you craft a gorgeous marble countertop for your own home. So why not take a look and be inspired?
Contents
- 1. How to Make a Marble Countertop
- 2. How to Make Your Own Marble Countertops
- 3. DIY Marble Apartment Kitchen Makeover
- 4. How to Paint a Faux Marble Countertop
- 5. How to DIY Faux Marble Countertops For Under $100, According To a Pro Designer
- 6. Painted Faux Marble Countertop
- 7. Painting Our Counter Marble
- 8. How to Paint Countertops to Look Like Marble
- 9. DIY Marble Countertops Look Like the Real Thing
- 10. $30 DIY Faux Marble Countertops
- 11. Giani DIY Marble Countertop Paint Kit
- 12. DIY Marble Countertops for Under $300
- 13. Transform Your Kitchen for $20 – DIY White Marble Countertop
- 14. DIY Marble Countertops
- 15. DIY Marble Countertop Transformation – How to Epoxy
- 16. Painting Kitchen Countertops to Look Like Carrara Marble
- 17. Cheap and Easy DIY Marble Kitchen Counters
- Ready to Create Your Own Marble Countertop?
1. How to Make a Marble Countertop
If you want the real deal, you’re going to need serious tools for cutting and shaping the marble. They’re expensive, so if this is your only stone cutting project, it won’t make financial sense to buy them. But if you already have them, or need them for other projects too, this is a brilliant guide. It shows you how to make a bathroom vanity, makeup table, and shower bench in beautiful cream marble. All the tools needed are listed at the beginning. And the video is divided into helpful sections, including cutting, edge detailing and making cut-outs for sinks.
2. How to Make Your Own Marble Countertops
This brilliantly detailed guide demonstrates how to use the Giani marbling kit to create faux marble countertops. It’s rather heavy on text and you won’t find photographs for every stage of the project. But it’s packed full of information, including lots of helpful troubleshooting tips. And the before and after photos show how a basic kitchen can be given a complete makeover on almost any budget.
3. DIY Marble Apartment Kitchen Makeover
This video shows how to use marble contact paper over existing countertops. It gives you the look of marble without the price tag. YouTuber Marie Jay takes you through all the equipment you’ll need at the beginning. She then covers pre-cutting the contact paper and how to apply it without bubbles. Check out the comments too for a helpful tip on avoiding water getting underneath the paper.
4. How to Paint a Faux Marble Countertop
This guide from home renovation website This Old House takes the process of painting a faux marble countertop step by step. The text is brief and clear, and there’s a helpful list of all the equipment you’ll need at the end. There are plenty of links to online suppliers too. There aren’t many photographs with this one though. If this is the plan you use, research images of marble effects to help you get a convincing finish.
5. How to DIY Faux Marble Countertops For Under $100, According To a Pro Designer
This clip from the Rachael Ray Show shows how to use the Giani marbling kit to give laminate worktops a marble effect. The presentation is enthusiastic and chatty – just note that there may be a bit too much shrieking for early morning viewing! The whole video is under three minutes long, so it’s an easy watch. But while it’s great for inspiration, it doesn’t show the sealing process, skipping straight to the finished product. You’ll want something with more detail if you plan to follow the action step by step.
6. Painted Faux Marble Countertop
This is one of the best guides we’ve found to getting super-convincing results with paint. The process here is more involved than with other painting projects, including an extra two coats and the use of white glitter. But if you’re happy to spend the time required, it will give you a truly superior finish. We defy you to look at those pictures and be able to tell this isn’t real marble!
7. Painting Our Counter Marble
This is another guide that shows you how to paint a convincing marble effect on existing countertops. And you can purchase the exact same kit used in the project via the link in the video information. Here you’ll see a countertop in a campervan being transformed from laminate to faux marble. It takes you through all the elements of the kit, and shows you every stage of the process. There are lots of tips and reassurance along the way too.
8. How to Paint Countertops to Look Like Marble
This clever guide shows you how to paint a marble effect on laminate countertops. And you won’t even have to buy a specialist painting kit. There’s guidance on the best paint to choose, plus a detailed description of every step. And there’s a materials list with links to places to buy the items online. The finish is more subtle than many faux marbles – great if you don’t want too much bling.
9. DIY Marble Countertops Look Like the Real Thing
This short video provides a quick overview of how to use a marbling kit to create a faux marble surface. The kit used here is from Giani, and every step is shown in real time. That includes using white highlighter paint to create additional depth in the marble effect. The whole thing is demonstrated on a small wooden board, and takes just over a minute from start to finish. But you won’t get advice on how to navigate obstacles like appliances or sinks.
10. $30 DIY Faux Marble Countertops
This detailed guide shows how to create a realistic marble surface using epoxy, paint and glitter. The process is described step by step, with tonnes of photos at every stage to help you follow along. There’s lots of detailed information on sealing your countertops here. Some guides skimp on this stage, so this is a brilliant resource.
11. Giani DIY Marble Countertop Paint Kit
If you’re thinking of using the Giani paint kit to create your marble countertops, this is a superior guide. It comes direct from the manufacturers, and provides loads of detail to get the best results. The start of the video shows you everything that’s inside the kit. It then lists the other equipment you’ll need, so you can assemble it all before you get started. There’s lots of information on how to plan your design, and the techniques to use to get a realistic finish.
12. DIY Marble Countertops for Under $300
If you lust after black marble, check out this brilliant guide from website Modern Mill Home. This one uses Montana marbling spray to create a dramatic and distinctive faux marble finish. There’s a clear description of each step, and embedded videos showing the results along the way. But it doesn’t show you how to spray on the marbling effect, so you’ll need to practice that before you start.
13. Transform Your Kitchen for $20 – DIY White Marble Countertop
This video from YouTuber Cody Jensen uses the contact paper method to achieve stunning results. And you’ll be hard pressed to find a more budget-friendly option. The video lists the materials and equipment required at the beginning, and it’s all simple stuff. You’ll then see Cody cover his existing countertops and splashbacks. The final result looks brilliant.
14. DIY Marble Countertops
If you can’t love the color of your old granite countertops, this could be the guide for you. It shows you how to use a product called Stonecoat Countertops to transform them to a marble look. It’s honest about the challenges, and provides lots of helpful links to additional resources. The step by step guide is clear and succinct, and there are plenty of images too.
15. DIY Marble Countertop Transformation – How to Epoxy
This is another video which shows you how to give existing countertops a convincing marble look. This one uses a product called Countertop Epoxy. There’s a link to the company’s website in the video information so you can get more details and place an order. There’s lots of information here on how to prepare your countertops before you start, and how to protect your kitchen as you work. And you’ll see how well this approach can work on a big surface like a kitchen island.
16. Painting Kitchen Countertops to Look Like Carrara Marble
This guide shows how to use the Giani Carrara Marble painting kit to get a realistic marble finish. And if that’s out of your price range, there’s also a link to a separate post showing how to get a similar effect with craft paints. There’s loads of information, hints and tips, plus a complete materials and equipment list. And there are multiple photographs at every stage, so you can see exactly what to do.
17. Cheap and Easy DIY Marble Kitchen Counters
New York-based vlogger Jessica Flores shows how to create a new look in a rented kitchen. This video is another one that uses contact paper to transform countertops for next to nothing. You’ll find a list of the materials you’ll need near the beginning, to help you with your shopping list. And you’ll see every step of the project, from Jessica clearing off her existing countertops to the finished product. It’s particularly worth checking out Jessica’s approach to achieving neat corners.
Ready to Create Your Own Marble Countertop?
We hope these wonderful guides have inspired you to create your very own marble countertop! Whether you want the real thing, or are working with a tiny budget, there are some great plans to follow.
If you go for the painted route, take your time to practice your technique before you start on your countertops. And research what real marble looks like to get a realistic effect.
Alternatively, carefully applying contact paper can create an amazingly convincing look. Just add caulk around the outside of your appliances and sink for a neat finish.
Good luck with your next project!