How to Paint a Bathroom Step-by-Step
Everything you need to know for a DIY bathroom revamp
 - Derek Rose.png?impolicy=thumbnail)
A fresh coat of paint enlivens any room in the house, and it’s a project that most homeowners can do over a weekend. While bathrooms aren’t necessarily harder to paint than other rooms, you need the right type of paint, and you’ll need to do so every three or four years to withstand the moisture. We’ll walk you through how to paint a bathroom in 10 easy steps so you can pull off your dream bathroom aesthetic.
Why It’s Worth Painting Your Bathroom
The most common reason to paint a bathroom, whether recently moving into a place or after living there for years, is to give it a new look. The right shade can tie the bathroom together and create the mood you’re going for. Painting a bathroom can also increase the value of your home; in fact, a full bathroom remodel can raise resale value by $5,000. On top of that, switching to mildew-resistant paint can protect your bathroom for years.
Paint Your Bathroom in 10 Steps
From setup to cleanup, here are the key steps to refresh those bathroom walls.
1. Empty the Bathroom
The fewer things in the bathroom, the easier it is to paint. Remove trash bins, shelving units, wall art, towel racks, and accouterment on the sink. Removing the bathroom door from its hinges might be worth it for maximum accessibility. Luckily, painting a bathroom can be done in a day or two, so the items won’t be occupying hallway space for long.
2. Clean the Walls
Bathroom walls amass grime and soap scum over time, largely due to the damp conditions. It’s important to clean the walls before painting; otherwise, the paint may not apply well. You can use various cleaning products or water with bleach, liquid soap, or vinegar—but never mix these ingredients with each other.
3. Cover Non-Painted Areas
Protect the areas you don’t want to paint. This primarily means placing painter’s tape on the corners of the baseboard, bathtub, sink, wall tile, and where the ceiling and walls meet if you’re not painting the ceiling. Place plastic covers on top of the toilet, sink, and bathtub.
4. Apply Primer (optional)
Primer isn’t mandatory, but it’s strongly recommended when painting a bathroom, especially if the walls are scuffed up. By creating a smooth undercoat, primer helps paint adhere better, prevents peeling, and protects against bathroom humidity. Some primers also ward off mold.
5. Choose the Right Paint
The two things to consider here are the color you want and the type of paint that will work best. Tried-and-true bathroom colors include soft whites, greys, and blues, but homeowners should feel free to experiment. Latex and acrylic paints are most common in bathrooms because they’re easy to clean and resist moisture. Plus, they are more eco-friendly than oil-based paints.
Paint finish matters, too. Stick with semi-gloss paints because they repel moisture and don’t look overly shiny when wet. Many brands sell mold-resistant paint specifically designed for bathroom walls that are worth the cost.
6. Paint the Walls
Some interior painting pros do the walls before the trim; others do the trim first. While the order is mostly up to personal preference, starting with the large surfaces and returning to the trim can be easier.
Start by painting the edges of the wall along the painter’s tape. From there, use a paint roller on the rest of the walls. You might need an extension pole or step stool for the highest parts of the wall.
7. Paint the Ceiling
Use a paintbrush on the edges to start, getting a few inches past the painter’s tape. Then, use a paint roller for the rest of the ceiling, painting in V or W-shaped motions to prevent streaking.
8. Paint Baseboard and Trim
Once the walls are dry, apply new painter’s tape so you can work on the trim without making a mess of your hard work. It’s popular to coat trim in high-gloss paint as an accent to the semi-gloss on the walls.
9. Apply a Second Coat
The process starts all over again with a second coat of paint. Wait about two to four hours to apply a second coat of latex or acrylic paint.
10. Reassemble the Bathroom
Once the last coat is dry, remove your protective coverings and bring in everything you removed at the start of the project. That’s it! Your new bathroom is complete.
DIY vs. Hiring a Pro
Many home projects involve choosing between tackling it yourself or hiring a pro. Even homeowners with limited painting experience can get by when it comes to painting a bathroom, so don’t be afraid to try DIY. On the other hand, hiring a professional guarantees a job done right. The question then becomes whether hiring someone is worth the added cost.
Cost to Paint a Bathroom
Hiring a professional to paint a bathroom costs $150 to $300. Painting a bathroom by yourself can cost less if you have materials on hand like rollers, paint trays, drop sheets, and brushes. You’ll pay $30 to $120 in paint for your bathroom, but be aware that mildew-resistant paint and primer will be on the higher end of that range. You’ll likely pay at least $100 extra if you don’t have the necessary tools and supplies. That’s not a huge price difference in the end, mainly because bathrooms are smaller than other rooms in the house. So, it could be worth contacting a professional painter in your area if you want to save some time and effort.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you want to spruce up your bathroom cabinets, here are the basic steps:
Remove the cabinet doors and drawers and bring them to your painting station
Remove the handles and hinges
Sand the wood to remove old paint and smooth imperfections
Vacuum the dust and wipe all parts with a soft cloth
Apply primer with a brush or roller
Paint the cabinet pieces, let them dry, and apply a second coat
Reassemble the cabinet
Yes, bathroom tile can be painted. It’s important to prep bathroom tile and stick with certain types of paint due to the humidity and fluctuating temperatures. Prep work involves cleaning and sanding the tiles, along with fixing any cracks. Latex paint will give you the best results.
Soft and light colors are more common in bathrooms than dark colors, partially because they create a sense of larger space. Neutrals like white, beige, and gray work, as well as various shades of blue and green. Of course, homeowners should feel free to follow the colors they’re most interested in. If you want to incorporate dark, bold colors, one idea is to use them as accents in small places rather than on the entire bathroom.