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Painting a bathroom can be a simple and cost-effective way to refresh the look of the space. Here are the basic steps to paint a bathroom:
1. Prepare the bathroom by removing any items from the walls and protecting fixtures with plastic or drop cloths.
2. Clean the walls thoroughly to remove any dirt or grime.
3. Repair any holes or cracks in the walls using spackling or caulk.
4. Prime the walls with a high-quality primer to ensure better paint adhesion and coverage.
5. Choose a paint color that suits your bathroom style and apply two coats of paint, allowing each coat to dry completely.
6. Finish the project by touching up any missed spots and cleaning up any paint drips or spills.
By following these steps, you can easily paint your bathroom and give it a fresh new look.
Out of all the rooms in your house, your bathroom walls require regular maintenance and repainting. The moisture in the bathroom promotes mold growth, especially in corners and behind the toilet. Mold can leave permanent discoloration that can only be fixed with a fresh coat of paint. Even if your walls are not dirty, repainting provides an opportunity to update the colors and change the mood of the room that you visit every day. To achieve the best results, it is important to use the right type of paint and properly prepare the walls to prevent the new paint from peeling off after a few months.
Choosing the Paint Color and Sheen
Deciding on the right colors can be overwhelming as it involves not only selecting the hues and shades but also considering how they blend together. If you are unsure, whites, off-whites, and grays are generally safe choices. For pastels or other colors, try to match them with the permanent fixtures in the bathroom, such as the tile countertops, for a comfortable and subtle look. Avoid using sharp contrasts as they create a dramatic effect that is usually not suitable for a bathroom. If your bathroom has a lot of natural light and you want to create a cozy atmosphere, opt for darker shades. Conversely, choose light colors to make a small, dark bathroom appear larger and more open.
When it comes to the type of paint to use in your bathroom, it is recommended to choose a glossy finish. Glossy paint contains more binders, which repel moisture and dirt better than pigments found in matte coatings. Opt for full-gloss or semi-gloss finishes and avoid satin, eggshell, or flat sheens, which are more suitable for living rooms and bedrooms. For the woodwork, you can use latex trim enamel, which has a glossy finish and works well in bathrooms as it does in other parts of the house.
Preparation is Key
Professional painters always emphasize the importance of proper preparation. Start by cleaning the walls of your bathroom using a solution of trisodium phosphate (TSP) and water. TSP is a strong detergent that removes grease, soap, and even mold while also de-glossing the existing paint. Wear gloves while using TSP as it can be slightly caustic.
Next, scrape off any flaking or peeling paint with a paint scraper. After rinsing the walls and ceiling with water and allowing them to dry, scuff the surfaces with 120-grit sandpaper. This step ensures that all the loose paint flecks are removed and prevents any more old paint from coming off. If you notice any areas with mold, scrub them with the TSP solution until it is completely gone. Avoid using bleach as it is not more effective than TSP and its fumes can be overwhelming. Once the walls are cleaned and sanded, mask off any areas that you do not want to paint, lay down drop cloths, and you are ready to prime.
Although it is not always necessary to prime a wall that is already painted, it is a good idea to do so in a bathroom. Use a high-solids latex primer as it ensures good paint coverage, prevents bleed-through, and guarantees a smooth finish. Tinting the primer to a color similar to the topcoat can help avoid the need for extra coats.
Time to Apply Paint
To paint the walls and ceiling, you will need a brush and a roller. It is important to use a synthetic-bristle brush when applying latex paint, as a natural-bristle brush will become floppy when it gets wet. For cutting in and painting trim, a 2- or 3-inch sash brush with a tapered edge works best. In small spaces like a bathroom, a 6 1/2-inch mini roller is more efficient than a full-sized roller and can reach tight areas.
Start by painting the ceiling, followed by the walls, and finish with the trim. Before rolling, use the brush to cut in along the edges of the entire surface. When rolling, make sure to maintain a wet edge by overlapping fresh paint. Overlapping at least half the length of the roller on each pass will prevent overlap lines.
It is recommended to apply two coats of paint, even if you have tinted your primer. Trying to achieve complete coverage with a single coat can result in applying too much paint at once, leading to sagging or dripping. If this happens, allow the paint to dry, sand the sagged areas flat, and apply another coat.
Wait for the walls and ceiling to dry before painting the trim. You may need to remove some masking tape to access the trim, and wet paint on the tape can end up in unwanted areas. Whether or not to mask the walls before painting the trim is a personal choice, as some professionals rely on good eye-to-hand coordination for straight lines. Masking tape tends to allow paint to seep under it, and removing tape from a freshly painted wall can remove some of the paint as well.
Painting Safety Measures
Although interior latex paints have low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it is still advisable to wear a respirator while painting. If possible, keep a window open for ventilation. If there is an exhaust fan in the bathroom, keep it running to remove fumes and circulate the air, which will help speed up drying time.
