I posted my kitchen worktop makeover in a Facebook group and got so many questions I decided to answer them here. We’d had a quote of £1,000 for new worktops, which we can’t afford right now, so I used a sticky-back vinyl wrap called DC Fix to cover the old surface. It transformed the look for under £50.
The wrap comes on a roll like wallpaper. I chose a Ribbeck Oak pattern from Create Your World, ordering a 90 cm by 10 m roll for £39. I liked the rustic oak tone because it suited the painted cupboard doors. My worktops measured about 7 metres, so I ordered extra in case of mistakes or future repairs.
Last summer I painted the cupboard doors with Frenchic Paint, Al Fresco in the colour Cool Beans, which brightened the kitchen. The faux-wood worktops now complete the shabby-chic, country look I was aiming for.
Tools: I used just scissors and a DC Fix accessories pack from Amazon that included a smoother and a craft knife. It cost about £5. The smoother and craft knife are essential for getting the vinyl on without bubbles and for cutting neat edges. That’s it — three simple tools.
Preparation: Clean the worktop thoroughly. Use sugar soap if it’s sticky or grimy, then dry it completely — no water on the surface when you apply the vinyl.
Measuring and cutting: Flip the roll over and use the ruler guides on the backing to mark and cut the pieces you need. Then turn the vinyl so the wood side faces up and position it on the worktop. Consider the different edge sizes and any bullnose curves you need to wrap.
Application: I aligned the vinyl, stuck down the wall end first (the shortest edge), and worked across toward the opposite side. Use the smoother to push out air as you go. My technique was to pull the backing away from under the vinyl with my left hand while smoothing with my right. Always push air outwards, away from the edge you started at, using forward strokes to avoid creating bubbles.
Finishing cuts: At the far end I used the craft knife to trim precisely around the edging. One section had an angled cut so I wrapped the long edges first, then cut separate pieces to fit the three remaining edges. It was fiddly and took a few tries, but the finished result looked tidy.
Tidying edges: The edges didn’t have to be perfect because we plan to add a splashback over the tiles and finish the wall edges with white beading. I trimmed things so they looked neat until that stage.
I still need to do the sink area and buy a little more bullnose to finish around the dishwasher, but this update has already made a huge difference. If you try this, expect a bit of patience for tricky corners, but the basic steps are simple and the results are well worth it.
