Affordable Ways to Update with Paint and How they Hold Up
Often I tackle DIY’s with the mentality that if it works it’s better than what I started with. Often I go into these projects knowing that it may or may not hold up. Today I want to share some of these DIY’s with you and answer the question everyone always want to know, “How’s it Holding Up?” **This post contains affiliate links**
Faux Marble Countertops
Just over a year ago I was so tired of our red countertops that I covered them with these faux marble sticker decals. Now, one year later we’re giving the stickers the boot in favor of replacing them with quartz. Honestly, they held up pretty well over the last year, but we definitely had to be gentle with them. We always used cutting boards and hot pads, and never let water sit near the seams. Within the last month once we knew we’d be replacing them we got a little rougher on them and it shows. The faux marble sticker now has many burn marks, cut marks, and scuffs. Honestly, I think it’s a really good short term fix, but I think the one year mark is about it’s max. Would I do it again? Absolutely! For the last year I didn’t have to look at my red countertops, and I got to discover how much I love white counters in this kitchen.
Painted Backsplash
Knowing we’d eventually replace our counters, I didn’t want to prematurely replace our backsplash. Instead I used Tile Paint to paint it white. This brightened up our entire kitchen and I am SO happy I did this. Over a year later it still looks perfect. The backsplash doesn’t get much wear or tear, but I do wipe it down frequently. This is another DIY that I would absolutely do again.
Painted Tile Countertops
I used the same Tile Paint to paint the blue tile in our bathroom. Six months later there are three small spots that the paint has scratched that needs touching up. I don’t regret painting these counters, but it probably isn’t going to be a long term fix. Until we can afford to replace the counters I’ll just plan on touching them up every six months or so.
Painted Brass Fireplace Surround
Shortly after moving into our house I spray painted our brass fireplace surround with high heat paint. We don’t actually use our fireplace much, so it really doesn’t get much wear, but it still looks great. We’re hoping to eventually replace the surround with a gas insert, but until then this is a bargain DIY that I would reccomend.
DIY Stenciled Cement Tile Floors
My DIY Faux Cement Tile Floors have become one to my top posts. They’ve only been finished for about three months now, but so far they are holding up wonderfully! They got chipped in one place when I dropped a screwdriver, but I’m pretty sure it was the actual tile that chipped, not the painted finish. It was also very simple to touch up. Thankfully there hasn’t been any scratches or scuffs! I also frequently run the vacuum across these floors and it doesn’t do any damage. This is a DIY that I wasn’t sure if it would hold up or not! After countless hours of stenciling I am SO thankful they’re holding up as well as they are.
Spray Painted Countertops
I’ve also tackled similar DIY’s in our past houses and can only answer to how they held up as long as we lived in those houses. The DIY that I get the very most questions about is my DIY Spray Painted Countertops. This also happens to be my VERY most popular post. Honestly, I think that if I would have sealed them really well they might have held up for a long time, but I only had one coat of polycrilic on them and I doubt they lasted long. With a sealer like Envirotex I think they could last forever which is the same stuff used on bar tops. Would I do this again? That’s the million dollar question. Honestly, I doubt it. It worked ok as a short term fix, but I think it’s mostly cosmetic and probably isn’t a great long term fix. If you’re willing to take a gamble though, it did look nice.
Hopefully if you’ve considered tackling any of these DIY’s this post helped answer all your questions! I also hope that it inspires you that not every DIY requires a major renovation where you replace everything. Sometimes some paint and patience can transform your space! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Hey I see it’s almost a year and wondering if your stenciled tiles are still holding up? I’m considering doing our ensuite flirt tiles. Probably in a solid colour but unsure if I should consider this or not…
We actually sold the house and moved, but here is a post I wrote about how well it was holding up: https://www.brightgreendoor.com/affordable-ways-to-update-with-paint/ Thanks!
Hi my name is Willa. I love your diy stenciled tile from the Marquette house! Funny thing is I live in Marquette and saw the picture on line when your house was for sale. I was immediately in love with the tile and just assumed it was the cement tile I have wanted to install in my own home ever since I discovered it. I just found your green door website when I was googling stenciling and realized the pics were from the house I saw listed in my area with the tile I liked! Small world! Anyway, I’m wondering if you’ve ever done stenciling on maple hardwood? We are purchasing a 1880 colonial style home with maple floors throughout and I really want to do something in the foyer that is different and eye catching. Do you think it would look weird to do a black stencil over the natural maple?
What a small small world! Thank you so much for commenting and telling me that story. I’ve only ever stenciled tile and linoleum, but I know that many people paint wood floors and are happy with it. I don’t think it would be weird at all! It might even be cool to let the wood show through as either the black or white! Something like this- https://www.pinterest.com/pin/140526450850447138/?lp=true.
Hi! I admire your stenciled floor tiles very much. Great job! I’m also thrilled to see you’ve sold your home with the painted tiles as we are planning to put our home up for sale in the next six months and are looking for budget friendly options to improve it’s appeal. We’ve got very similar bland tiles in our kitchen, but it’s just too large a space to affordably retile so I was considering stenciling them as you have but was hesitant about how painted tiles would effect the sale. Did you have any issues with prospective buyers over the painted tile? Did you have to formally disclose that they were painted? Thanks so much for sharing your amazing transformation!
Thanks for your kind words. Actually the people we sold our house to had been the competing offer against us when we bought the house two years prior, so in our case they knew how it had looked and loved what I did. I actually got to tour it with her 9 months later and she said the floors were one of her favorite parts!
We bought a house that should ave been flipped. Our realtor did not have our back. We have a lot to do, my husband is disabled and I’m trying my best to get it done as cheap as possible. Love painting the tile backsplash idea, can any a color be used, you mentioned a white type of material?
This particular type of paint that I used on the backsplash only comes in white. I also think white looks the most modern and updated! Way to tackle these projects yourself!
This post made my heart flutter! We’re in the process of shopping for our first home and we’re hoping to find an older house that needs a little lovin’. I am so inspired by your paint fixes. They give me hope that I CAN make my house pretty right away while I save up for a long-term fix. Thanks for putting this together!