If you want cheap, go gloss black with a roller. Looks okay, real sturdy, kinda gothic.
Contact paper is for shelves. Nothing else. And it doesn't do good on those. I had a cab that was covered in it I got at the auction. Greenish marble color, ugh.
If you want color, go laminate. Go to home depot, Lowes, whatever and walk to the area they have paneling. It's there. You can buy it in sheets of 8'x4' as well as rolls.
You need a laminate bit for a router, and a glue brush with the right glue.