Giving Your Bathroom a Whole New Look With Paint

If your bathroom is looking a bit droopy, perhaps it is time to pep it up with a coat of paint. Bathroom paint is a special type, different from ordinary interior paint. Moisture is your number one consideration when painting a bathroom-we all know that bathrooms are steamy and wet. There are also newer bathroom paints that manufacturers swear contain mold-inhibiting properties; however it may not be worth the extra money unless you live in a very humid region, have severe mold allergies, or have some reason to be especially concerned about mold in your home.

Paint Sheen

There are several types of finishes to consider when deciding to paint your bathroom. Flat paint is generally not so good for bathrooms as it absorbs moisture, and is typically used in lower-traffic areas where it is not touched and does not need to be cleaned or scrubbed. Eggshell finish is a bit more washable than flat, but probably still not the best paint choice for your bathroom. Satin finish is a little bit glossy and can easily be used in bathroom that are fairly low-moisture, such as your guest bathroom or a powder room which gets little traffic. Semi-gloss finish will work in most all types of bathrooms and is good at repelling moisture. The very best paint finish for a bathroom will be high-gloss, which can repel water in a truly outstanding manner. Some people are not so enamored of how high gloss paint looks, especially in larger bathrooms, so this is, of course, an important consideration.

Mold and Mildew Resistant Paint

Perma-White, a brand of paint from Zinsser, claims to prevent the growth of mold and mildew for at least five years, and can be tinted to an off-white or pastel color. Perma-White comes in satin, eggshell or semi-gloss finishes. Another paint made especially for bathrooms comes from Sherwin Williams and is called Bath Paint. Bath Paint also comes with a five year guarantee, but is available in more colors than the Zinsser paint. Once you have chosen your perfect paint, it is time to get to work.

Time to Paint

Even though the bathroom may be small, you will find out just how much "stuff" you keep in your bathroom once you have to remove it all to paint. Take everything from the walls, and if possible take down the towel bars and toilet paper holders as well. Remove as much clutter from your bathroom as possible before you begin painting. Using masking tape or special painter's tape and mask off everything you don't want paint on including light fixtures, towel bars (if you were unable to remove them), floors, etc. If you can, remove the mirror, if not, mask around it completely.

Before you begin painting, wash down your walls to ensure they are clean; bathrooms typically have hair spray, cologne or deodorant sprayed in them, and these products can interfere with paint adherence. Paint corners, around sink, tub and toilet and around anything else first, then you can just go to town when painting the walls. Painting around everything is known as "outlining" and is the hardest part of painting your bathroom. Use a smaller paint brush to get everything outlined, then a larger brush or roller to paint the actual walls. Use at least two coats of paint, then go back and touch up any areas that need it. Allow to dry and presto! You now have a bathroom which looks updated, fresh and beautiful.