Bathroom Painting - What You Need to Know

Painting a bathroom is a little different from painting other rooms in your home.  Bathrooms are subject to moisture, as well as residue on the walls from soap and products like deodorant, hair spray or perfumes.  Because of the high levels of moisture, specially formulated bathroom paint should be used, but before you get to applying the paint, it’s important to clean the walls to remove any residues that would prevent the paint from adhering properly.

You’ll want to remove switch plates, towel bars, toilet paper holder and spring-fitted shower curtain rod.  It will be easier to paint behind the toilet if you also remove the tank cover.  Next, use a good quality, paintable caulk for bathrooms.  Look for places that could use fresh caulk around the tub or shower enclosure, where the countertop and vanity cabinet meet the wall, and along baseboards.

Darker colors can be intense in bathrooms, since they are generally smaller rooms.  Also, you’ll need to allow darker colors longer to cure, because steam and moisture can cause darker colors to run in spots and create an uneven look.  Look for a durable paint with a satin or gloss finish that can be wiped down and is recommended for bathrooms.