Kitchen worktop - help!

[kitchenideas12]

Just moved into a house with a kitchen that is completely liveable with but very unattractive (and I can’t afford a new one right now!) The worktop is these hideous little brown and beige tiles. What possessed the previous owner I don’t know, but she clearly didn’t have small children who choose to empty a full bag of chia seeds all over it, which then never come out the grouting.

I can’t put in a new worktop, so I am wondering if I can paint them a dark blue - at least then the dirt in between them would be less obvious. Has anyone any experience of this - what paint should I use? Any tips?

I had a worktop like that for two years while we were waiting to upgrade and it drove me mad! I would probably suggest regrouting them (maybe choose a nice - maybe even bright? - colour of grout?) so the grout is flush with the tiles so it is easier to wipe down. I regrouted some floor tiles myself which wasn’t too hard. I think a painted work surface could be tricky though so I’d probably try and keep the tiles as they are.

I'd also regrout, but if you did have some budget I'd just replace with a laminate worktop! It seems so high maintenance to have it tiled. You can also get worktop overlays which are new worktops fitted on top so a bit cheaper

Microcement the lot? I could be imagining that's a possibility however.

Thank you!
Is it possible/not too expensive to rip up a worktop and put a new one in without having to do a big kitchen refit, change the cupboards underneath?

Yes you can change a worktop with changing all the cabinets. Painting cabinets can be quite successful too, I just think it would be tricky with a worktop.

You don’t have to rip it up, OP, you can just unscrew the bolts underneath and lift it off ! If it is tiled it will be heavy though. Replacing a worktop is not a big job, but it will be more complex if you have cut outs around a sink or hob.

I would skim it with a smooth finish cement. Put masking tape over any appliance edges.

Just hover them up ( the chia seeds ) without any attachments fitted .
Regrout.

It doesn't look like that's been property grouted in the first place - I think I can see the mesh backing from the mosaic. Agree with others - get it grouted so it's flush and it will be much better, but you'll still find yourself constantly having to deal with stained grout - when I had to suffer with a tiled worktop I was forever having to bleach the grout, so I feel your pain.
In theory not too hard to replace worktop - you can get lengths of laminate from Wickes or similar, but it will depend on what you've got going through the worktop like taps, sinks, inset hobs - and whether you've got corners where it joins etc. Nothing impossible but it just turns quite quickly from an easy DIY job to a specialist job which will start pushing the price up.
I'd agree with others, paint would worry me for durability on a worktop.

Brilliant - thank you so much everyone. I’m going to look at replacing the worktop. Sorry if it is obvious - I’m not very good at DIY!

@Jennalong I wish I could just hoover them up - sadly the grout is so sticky and dirty and gross that they instantly stuck and needed to be ground out with a knife! Not wholly successfully…

Really grateful for everyone’s advice.