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DIY Wood Bathroom Countertop: An Easy Way to Change your Vanity in 1 Weekend

Vintage Farmhouse Powder Room - working with a limited budget, these bloggers are going to try to makeover their 1/2 bath

Since we only had $50 to replace our countertop in our half bath, I had to find a creative solution. This is how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend with a DIY wood bathroom countertop.

Here we are at week 6 of the One Room Challenge, hosted by Linda from the blog Calling it Home and by House Beautiful magazine. The hosts extended the challenge by one week and I’m so glad they did! This week wasn’t without a few hiccups.

We needed to tackle this countertop and do it in record time and within budget. I certainly have to admit, I’m surprised at how easy this was and how stunning the result is! This half bath is being remodeled into a Farmhouse inspired Powder Room. Originally, we hoped to replace the countertop with a vintage washstand, but finding one in our budget and retrofitting it for this space was more difficult than originally planned. So here’s how we created the same look with this DIY wood bathroom countertop. Affiliate links are provided for your convenience – at no cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

DIY Wood Bathroom Countertop Materials

(Some affiliate links are provided below. Full disclosure here.)

Birch Veneer Plywood – 2 ft x 4 ft
Birch Veneer Plywood – 2 ft x 2 ft
Minwax Stain in Provincial
Trim pieces
Reciprocating Saw
Construction adhesive
Minwax Water based Polycrylic clear
Silicone Caulk

We started by removing the sink basin. Our plan was to reuse it to save on cost, so we needed to be careful in the removal process.  First we disconnected the old plumbing.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

Next, we scraped away the grout holding the sink basin in place and gently lifted it from the countertop.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

Now to remove the old formica countertop. Wedged in really tight, and not wanting to damage our walls, our only option was to cut it out.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

Using a reciprocating saw, we cut through the front and back of the old countertop. But be careful not to cut too deep if you are wanting to salvage the old base.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend
DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

We easily pulled the pieces out.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

They glued the old backsplash on, but with a few taps of the hammer, it came unlodged in a few minutes.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

Now we had the space to work! We measured for the new counters and started cutting. Our sink was 3 foot wide by 22 inches deep.

Painting Metal Shelf Brackets - Week 5 of the One Room Challenge was slow going, but we've prepped the wood for our countertops

Using a circular saw, we trimmed our pieces to the right size.

Painting Metal Shelf Brackets - Week 5 of the One Room Challenge was slow going, but we've got the cuts made for our wood countertop!

From the leftover scraps, we cut the sides and backsplash. Next, we stained the pieces with the Provincial stain from Minwax.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

Then it was time to cut out the hole for the the sink basin.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

We marked the center on the wood and set the sink upside down and traced the outline of the sink. Using the reciprocating saw, we trimmed on the inside edge of the circle. If we had a jig saw, that would have been easier – but it’s on my wish list along with a table saw!

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

A perfect fit! In fact, that was one thing I did not want to mess up!

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

Using construction glue, we attached the countertop and backsplash to the sink base and walls. Then we set the sink in place with silicone caulk.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

While the caulk was drying, we cut the pieces of trim for the sides and front.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

This DIY wood bathroom countertop needs to look like an old piece of furniture, so the more details, the better the result. For that reason, we opted for mitered corners for our trim.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

We nailed the back trim and side trim in place with a pneumatic nail gun – the smartest investment we have made so far! So many projects were that much faster with this tool! You can find one like ours here.

Next, it was time to add the plumbing back in place. Then we finished it off with the trim in the front.

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

What a difference, right?! And the total cost for all of this was altogether just under $50!

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend
DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

As can be seen, it was such an easy makeover and didn’t take that much time!

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

So, let’s check in on our budget to see where we are lining up at this point.

Vintage Farmhouse Powder Room Makeover

Materials we had on hand:

  • ✓Replace Flooring using leftover from Kitchen and Laundry Room
  • ✓Paint existing cabinet using paint on hand
  • ✓Paint beadboard with white oil on hand
  • ✓Replace light fixture with previously used one from another room
  • ✓Make shelves from leftover countertop scraps
  • ✓Reuse Sink basin
  • ✓Hang Vintage Medicine Cabinet

Purchases to Make:

  • ✓Replace Toilet – $100
  • ✓Install BeadBoard and Trim – $50
  • ✓Build Wood Countertop – $48
  • ✓DIY Fabric Wallpaper with starch – $82
  • ✓Replace Faucet – $98
  • Decor Purchases – $14
    • Painted Metal Shelf brackets –  $14

TOTAL SPENT SO FAR: $392

With $108 left in our $500 budget for decor, I think we’ll make it under budget. We had to make a faucet change at the last minute, so we were out a few more dollars. Now to tie it all together with some decor! I can’t believe we are this close to the reveal!

So stay tuned for next week to see the final reveal of our Vintage Farmhouse Powder Room. I can’t wait to finally see where everyone’s progress is this week.  By all means, head over to Linda’s blog to see what the other bloggers are doing for their makeovers.

week 1week 2week 3week 4week 5, week 6, REVEAL

DIY wood Bathroom Countertop: how we replaced our ugly formica countertops in one weekend

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36 Comments

  1. Hey Brenda – thanks so much for reaching out! We used Sherwin Williams Dovetail.

    Hope that helps!
    Jen

  2. Love this!!!! What color paint did you use for the vanity?

  3. Love this!!!! It’s exactly what i want to do in our guest bathroom, only I’ll be using a vessel sink I think the wood countertop is beautiful… What color paint did you use for the vanity?

  4. Hey Lisa – great question!

    Yes – we made sure to caulk and we used a clear caulk where the wood met and a white based caulk next to the bead board surface. However, the trim piece we added on top of the backsplash was not caulked since it was purely decorative.

    Hope that helps!

  5. Did you caulk between the backsplash and the wooden top? If so was it a clear sealer?

  6. Hi Robbin! Thank you for taking the time to leave such a nice comment. Good luck on your renovation and feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

  7. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this article. You’re working on a fantastic project to give your bathroom a whole new appearance. The more I look at her, the more I notice how brilliant she is. She generates a mood in which I want to relax and forget about my worries. This is a success, in my opinion. Thank you for letting us know what brought you to this point. My first impression is that it’s really expensive-looking and high-end. Now I’m in the market to renovate my bathroom as soon as possible.

  8. Thank you so much for taking the time to put this article. You’re working on a fantastic project to give your bathroom a whole new appearance. The more I look at her, the more I notice how brilliant she is. She generates a mood in which I want to relax and forget about my worries. This is a success, in my opinion. Thank you for letting us know what brought you to this point. My first impression is that it’s really expensive-looking and high-end. Now I’m in the market to renovate my bathroom as soon as possible.

  9. Hi Jinny – thanks so much for reaching out! If you go to the plywood section, you will want to look for their hardwood pieces. They are the ones with the veneered tops. I’ve seen maple and red oak as well as the birch veneer. Just take your time and pick out a piece that you enjoy the veining. If you love it from the start, then you will really enjoy it as your counter! Hope that helps!

  10. Thank you for this. I have been looking for something similar except I will have a those sink that you just place on top of the counter but demolishing is the part that I am concerned until I found your post.

    I have a question: What other wood you will recommend if in case I won’t be able to find the birch veneer one?

  11. Great Question! We waited at least 24 hours. I like to go by touch and if it feels damp or soft wood at all, I wait. Hope that helps!

  12. Hey Erica – great question and thanks for reaching out! I used a waterbased wipe on polyurethane and applied about 3 coats since I knew it would get lots of use. Hope that helps!

  13. What did you use to Seal the wood from water damage? I bought a vessel sink and I’m stumped on a countertop but this is beautiful!!

  14. Hey Tammy – this is a 3/4 inch piece of plywood from Lowe’s. I believe it’s the top choice birch. It’s more economical with the veneer covering instead of a solid piece of wood. Hope that helps!

  15. Hi. This is great. I wonder what type of actual wood you used and where you get a piece of wood from? I love this look and price!

  16. Hi Jamie! Thats a great question. It will depend on the wood that you are using for your base, but this is the direct link to the trim we used. Hope that helps!

  17. Looks great! Do you have a link to the trim you used, or can you give me more details on what I’m looking for?

    Thanks!

  18. We had one mix up that needed a repair. My youngest son was cleaning a lego piece with rubbing alcohol and it spotted up the finish. But the fix was super easy – we lightly rubbed the spots with #0000 steel wool, wiped clean, and reapplied a fresh coat of clear. You can’t even tell those spots were there!

    All in all – I would say it has held up extremely well! Kid-approved!

  19. how has the wood countertop held up. just wanted a update.

  20. Thank you so much for sharing on the Whisk It Wednesday Link Party. Make sure you stop by tomorrow and join us again! Hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Carrie @ Carrie’s Home Cooking

  21. Thank you Nikki! I’m honored that this inspired you! Send me a pic if you decide to do it!

  22. It turned out beautifully! I love wood countertops. I need to do something in my bathroom and maybe, since you make it look so easy, this is my solution!
    🙂 gwingal

  23. Wow! What a difference that makes…and super economical! Way to go!

  24. What a nice job. I love the look and I know you said it cost under $50 it looks so expensive.

  25. We applied 3 coats of the poly to ensure protection from water. Hope that helps!

  26. I ever so quietly stepped out of the room when all that cutting went down. It was scary indeed!

  27. Wow!!! Cutting out that old counter top would be a bit scary. I would be so afraid to mess up the counter below! 🙂 Your new counter top looks fabulous! I can’t wait to see your final reveal!

  28. Looks great! Wondering how many coats of sealer did you use on the sink? I’ve considered doing something similar but I know I’ll need a good matte sealer so the water doesn’t penetrate the wood and ruin it.

  29. Jen it looks so so good! and woohoo for that budget! I also love the cabinet color! Cant wait to see it all!