Well, this may not be what you want to hear, but IMHO, your counter is fine. What might need updating is the color of your cabinets and backsplash.

No, that counter is not fine and the OP asked about updating it without spending much money and didn't ask about the cabinets, so let's see what Houzzers can come up with to help her out.

IMO a lighter colored counter would spark this kitchen up. Maybe you can find a piece of quartz at a reasonable price to use as replacement. Measure it and call countertop fabricators in your area to see if they happen to have a scrap piece that would fit. The reason I suggest this is that I did it myself to find a smaller piece for my bathroom and was astonished when I saw how many large pieces they had in their scrap area. However, I am not sure just what exactly you had in mind.

These days you can find granite in great prices and not all that expensive. Take a look at a shop near you. You might be happier switching out the granite instead of trying to "fix" it, which I think would be pretty impossible to do. And yes, check their scrap piles for something that could work, at a much lower price. I found my Carrera marble for the bathroom discounted by half. Good luck

With the angles and the light I find this a nice space. What do you dislike about the granite? The thick edge is dated but it works in this space. The one quick change you can do is paint the red wall white like the others or a bright limey green.

This is a very interesting space! I agree with painting the back wall a lighter or bright color! If you cannot find an island top on craigslist or in a stone supplier yard, here is what we did. My son built an island out of plywood and trimmed it with a special counter trim he found at home depot. Then we bought 12x12" granite squares and tiled the interior butting the tiles against each other tightly and grouted in the matching color. You can barely see the cracks and it looks great. Total cost of island top was less than $300 and took a morning to make.

Cheapest update for your counters that I can think of is to just let them recede:

Does anyone have experience with having a thin sheet of concrete poured over your existing countertop? I talked to a concrete guy who told me this is a relatively inexpensive way to change the color and pattern of a countertop you've grown tired of. There are a surprising number of color/pattern options, all of them custom. I also agree with changing the color on the backsplash to something brighter. Hate to admit it, but I also find the oak(?) cabinets date the space.

I agree with painting the cabinets and wall ,but I felt dealing with the granite would lead me to the wall colors. If I stay with the granite then my colors will need to compliment. It is a rental and we will be here for 2 more years so I do not want to invest too much.

So I noticed the red was left on the one section, do think it should change to black?

Are you the owner or the renter?

Depending on where you are in the country you may be able to score a really nice remnant marble slab super inexpensively. Or check your local slab yards for great deals on one slab purchases. In California, everything is more expensive, but as an example you could replace all your counters here for approx $1,500. total with fabrication and materials for the minimal amount of surfaces that you need replacing. It's a thought.

Otherwise there are several other options such as replacing the counters in man-made resin products such a prefab Quartz or even wrapping them in sheets of polished stainless steel. Color injected concrete is also a great look but it's just as expensive (but not as durable) as marble due to the laborious nature of the application and fabrication process.

If you are referring to the back wall, I personally don't. The wall goes well with the floor as-is, and draws the appropriate undertones from the granite to compliment (once the orange oak colour is gone). It provides better homogeneity- useful in that small area,

There is no way you can upgrade cheaply. Exixting counters will have to be removed and then you still buy and install a cheaper product? Doing the math...nope.

Why not try painting the under cabinets of the bar first. It may change the look of everything.

If you go with new, think about quartz especially if you can find a remnant. Also you should go with all counter height rather that part counter, part bar height for better prep space, but since you are a renter you probably won't want to go that far. Ask the owner to pay for it & you could supervise the install for him.

Its complicated, but I do not want to invest in this too much.I Think I will follow Studio 10001's guidelines, I am trying to post a pic with colors from Home Depots app so I can get some feedback.

judyG is right about painting under the counter in front of the chairs. I installed inexpensive white bead board on a similar space and it brightened up the space considerably.

Paint the base of the island...it has a sort of Art deco look that would be enhanced by just painting the base to set it apart..my first thought was semi flat black..but a dusty turquoise or any deco era color would make the outdated feel look a little more trendy..also sort of separates it as an accent piece...any more than this may require permission from the landlord...

How about a closer view of the side and top of the counter on the peninsula?

HI -- I actually like the kitchen the way it is ---- kind of Mid century looking . But I do see what you mean about the granite -- it looks kind of 80's style . Price out having some back painted tempered glass applied as an overlay . Then I would maybe tile that back wall with some glass subway tiles or glass mosaic tiles for a bit of sparkle . There are companies that do overlays of a concrete substance , but have never seen any that looks good . I don't think you need to paint the cabinets but possibly just the front of the peninsula is the only part I would do .

I agree with painting cabinets a pale grey or beige to lighten the look....not sure if back wall can be painted or is that granite too. Modern handles would make a difference too. A wall paper in a modern design or grasscloth on the back wall and island wall would help too.

Finally a stager might be able to give you some ideas that would make it look different for a nominal fee and items you can take wiht you if you buy them? Just a thought. Often times renters fix a place up and the the landlord notices and raises the rent. It happens!