2 min readGrowing up with a mom who has a knack for home improvement (and a love for HGTV) has certainly rubbed off on me. I’m notorious for finding furniture and decor on the street and giving them a second life. DIY projects have also become a hobby of mine, with one of my recent favorites being the marble contact paper I installed in my kitchen. The dark granite countertops in my rental made my space feel so, well, dark.
I knew the process would likely involve plenty of trial and error, so I ordered two rolls from Amazon (you can buy the exact ones I used below). These come in a range of sizes, from 11.8” x 78.7” to 47.2” x 196”—pull out a measuring tape and choose the best option for your space.
I’ll be honest: The project was anything but easy, though that was partly because I tackled it solo. Yes, having a second set of hands would have made the process much smoother, as peeling off the backing and applying the contact paper can get tricky.
Whether you’re taking on the project alone or with a helping hand, here’s step one: Clean your countertops so the paper goes on smoothly. I’d also suggest buying this smoothing tool kit from Amazon, as it was a real game-changer for me. When you’re ready to get started, peel back a small section of the backing and carefully press the adhesive side onto the counter. I worked little by little, using the smoothing tool to eliminate any air bubbles as I went. There are also grid lines on the backing, making it easy to measure and trim the paper to fit your countertops.
My countertops before I installed the contact paper.
After! Excuse the installation mess.
From start to finish, the project took me roughly seven hours on a Saturday. Again, part of that was because I was working alone, not to mention it was my first time using contact paper—and those pesky air bubbles were my biggest challenge. My countertops also have several curved edges, which only made the process harder.
Mine are far from perfect, but I don’t regret installing them in the slightest. Not only have they brightened up my kitchen tenfold, but they also haven’t budged in the year or so I’ve had them. If marble doesn’t align with your style, there are a slew of other iterations on Amazon, from wood finishes to stark white. The beauty of this contact paper lies in its versatility—it can also double as wallpaper or be used to spruce up a nightstand or dresser. I’ll leave the decision up to you.
