Our bathroom vanity countertop was in need of a facelift! One of my favorite bloggers, Allie (@prvbsthirtyonegirl) , had shared how she updated hers for $4. I was immediately intrigued and had to give it a try. What could go wrong that I couldn't just fix with a new vanity if needed, right? I'll share with you my journey, and what I ended up doing to make it look (almost) brand new.
From this (left) to this (right). What a transformation!
Before I give you the supplies list, let me give you a little background. Allie, my Instagram inspiration, used the spray paint version of Rustoleum Appliance Epoxy. I found it at my local Walmart and was ready to go. After prepping the space and following her instructions, I was left with lots of little splatters from the spray paint. It could have been a faulty can, my spraying, or just bad luck but each coat added more splatters. UGH! I let it dry to try to see if I could salvage it, but I couldn't see past the spots. My husband, the sweet man that he is, sanded it down and I decided to give it another shot. I had a whole new can, shook it up for 10 minutes straight, but was left with the same results. With that said, I searched high and low for other recommendations on how to fix it and found nothing. I needed to start over. We sanded the countertop down completely (talk about a mess to clean up) and started fresh with the paint on version of the same product. With my lessons learned, here's what you'll need to make this a reality for yourself.
Supplies:
Appliance Epoxy Paint (if you try the spray paint option and it works, let me know!)
4 inch foam roller (2-3)
Foam roller handle
Paintbrush
Painters tape (I highly recommend Frog tape over the blue painters tape - I've found it sticks MUCH better and reduces the leaks)
Steps
1. Prepare your space:
Lightly sand your countertop to help the epoxy stick to the surface (I used 120 grit sandpaper)
Thoroughly clean the surface so there is no dust or debris left
Tape along the edges and cover up your faucet if you're not going to replace it. We replaced ours, so we removed the the whole thing before starting.
Get your drop clothes ready
2. Get Painting:
Use your brush to trim and get in all the edges (and sink if needed). It's REALLY important to pay close attention to your brush strokes and making them as even and unseen as possible because they don't flatten out like normal paint.
Use your foam roller to roll on the epoxy. This is easier said than done. I learned to roll on the paint and go back over VERY lightly to remove the bubbles that form when you're rolling. When you're doing this, be very light with your hand! Another important note about rolling is you'll want to stay in the same direction and blend your lines as much as possible.
3. Add another coat (or 2):
I ended up doing two coats, but had to wait 24 hours for the epoxy to completely dry between each coat. I could have probably done 3 and had a better result, but didn't want to risk it after my spray paint flops.
4. Admire your work!
I ended up painting the base of the vanity as well, which made a HUGE difference in the transformation. I highly recommend taking the plunge if you're on the fence.
If you want to go the route of trying out the spray paint, go for it. It may have just been me. If you do, here are my lessons learned:
Prep work is key! This one is all about the prep work. You will need additional protection for your walls and things surrounding the countertop because there is a LOT of sticky overspray. (PICTURE)
It's all about the hold and distance. Make sure you're pressing consistently on the nozzle and that you're far enough away (at least 10-12 inches) from the countertops as you're spraying. To watch it in action, here's a quick instructional video.
Keep a continuous spray rather than stopping and starting.
Don't let my spray paint failure deter you from giving this a try! I LOVE the transformation it gave our bathroom and it would have been done in 2 days had I not goofed.
Happy painting! Let us know if you give it a try!
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