Key Takeaways
- Painting your bathroom tile is an affordable way to give your bathroom a new look.
- Bathroom tile painting is a beginner-friendly DIY project that can be done over a weekend.
- Painting your bathroom tile gives you more control over the colors in your bathroom.
Dreaming of a bathroom refresh? No, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a gutting renovation. All you need is a bucket of paint!
”Painting shower tiles isn’t just a DIY hack; it’s an actual design upgrade when done right,” says Jan Odesanya, an interior designer at Mondan & Co Interiors. ”Most people think paint is just a quick fix, but it’s actually a powerful design tool. Whether it’s covering up dated beige tiles, creating a high-contrast modern look, or even mimicking real stone, the right paint can totally transform your space.”
Ready for a simple, quick-and-easy new bathroom? Here’s everything you need to know about this effortless hack to totally bring your bathroom vision to life.
How Does Painting Shower Tiles Transform Your Bathroom?
If you’re staring at your bathroom thinking, ”How can I revamp this space with a whole new look?” You might be surprised to know all you need is a paintbrush and a new shade to paint your shower tiles.
”People assume the only way to modernize an outdated bathroom is with a pricey gut renovation, but a $50 can of the right paint can do wonders,” Odesanya says.
How? Because the right shade (based on the look you’re going for), can create a mood in your bathroom quickly and easily.
”You can turn a boring, builder-grade bathroom into a boutique hotel-inspired space that feel high-end instantly with a deep charcoal or navy tile refresh,” Odesanya adds.
She also says pastel colors can give your bathroom a modern vintage touch. The best part, according to Odesanya, is that you can change paint colors much easier than tile—so it won’t be a problem swapping out the vintage look down the line.
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Planning is ”Key”
While painting your shower tiles is a great beginner-friendly DIY task that takes about a day or two to complete, Artem Kropovinsky, interior designer and founder of award-winning Arsight Studio, says planning your project is key to making it work.
”The painting process requires both time and good-quality materials,” Kropovinsky shares. ”Painting a tile shower requires you to perform various steps from deep cleaning to sanding and priming before painting with multiple layers and applying a protective topcoat.”
Kropovinsky recommends cleaning and lightly sanding your tiles before painting so the paint can adhere better.
So while you do have to plan ahead in terms of design, color choices, and making sure you have the right materials on hand, you also have to plan for the prep work of getting your tiles ready for paint.
It Works With High-Quality Materials
Speaking of materials, both of our experts say apart from prepping, choosing high-quality materials is also important for your project to turn out better than expected.
”The success of tile painting depends on applying a high-quality bonding primer before using epoxy or tile-specific paint to resist moisture and humidity,” Kropovinsky says. ”A waterproof topcoat applied to the painted surface will extend its lifespan and protect it from moisture.”
While you’re shopping for materials, Odesanya says to pay attention to the type of paint you select since this also impacts to final result.
”Skip regular wall paint. Epoxy-based or waterproof tile paint is a non-negotiable,” she says.
The Right Color is Crucial
Other than choosing a high-quality primer and epoxy-based or waterproof paint, the next biggest choice is the actual shade. Before selecting a paint color, think about the mood you want to evoke in the space. Are you going for a spa-like feel, something moody, classic, or trendy?
The best way to find the shade of your dreams is to spend some time in the planning stage looking at photos to get an idea of where you want to go for your new design.
Here are a few colors Odesanya recommends based on the room’s mood:
- Farrow & Ball “Mizzle” (soft green-gray) or Benjamin Moore “Revere Pewter” (warm grey) for a spa-like feel.
- Sherwin-Williams “Iron Ore” (deep navy or charcoal) for a moody, luxe look.
- Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace” (creamy white) for a classic and bright refresh.
- For a trendy, earthy approach, Behr’s “Smoky Green” (muted sage) feels modern but timeless.
Don’t Forget a Sealant
After the hard work is done, our pros say you shouldn’t skip adding a protective sealant to keep your hard work intact.
Kropovinsky says a waterproof topcoat will extend your paint’s lifespan and protect it from moisture, which is crucial to hold up from the consistent moisture and steam bathrooms experience.