How to Choose the Right Paint for Your Bathroom

Many bathroom designs include paint, usually on the ceiling of the bathroom and sometimes on at least one wall. However, choosing paint for a bathroom isn't as simple as selecting your favourite colour and splashing it all over the walls. You need to choose a paint that can stand up to daily exposure to steam and splashes without peeling or developing spots of mould. Here are some tips that can help you choose the perfect paint for your bathroom.

Choose Semi-Gloss Over Matte Paint

Semi-gloss paint is usually the best choice for a bathroom wall or ceiling. This type of paint has a slightly shiny finish that acts as a barrier to moisture. By keeping moisture out of your walls and ceiling, semi-gloss paint can reduce the risk of mould developing in your bathroom.

Seal Flat Paint Finishes

Paints that are labelled matte or flat don't offer the same water protection as semi-gloss paint. However, if you have your heart set on one of these paints, you can make it safe for use in the bathroom by applying a sealer over the paint. You'll need to allow the paint to fully dry before you apply the sealer, and you can expect the paint to look slightly shiny once the sealer dries. If you want your walls to look as matte as possible, choose a low-sheen sealer.

Cover Up Imperfections in the Walls

If your walls aren't perfectly flat, a shiny semi-gloss paint can make the bumps show up prominently. There are two possible solutions for this problem. First, you can replaster the walls of your bathroom to make them completely flat before you start painting. The other option is to use eggshell paint. This kind of paint has a slight texture that covers up imperfections in the underlying surface. Not all eggshell paints are water-resistant, so be sure to choose one that is labelled as suitable for bathrooms.

Use a Muted Colour Palette

Most people use their bathrooms primarily in the early morning or late evening. During these times, vivid colours may not suit your mood. A bathroom is also typically a small space, which can easily be overwhelmed by colours that are too strong or dark. Create a calm environment in the bathroom by steering away from bolder shades and instead choosing neutral tones, such as soft blue, grey, brown, or beige.

Use Colour Swatch Cards or Samples

Trying to imagine what a paint will look like in your bathroom is tricky when you're standing in a store. Ask the store for paint samples or colour swatch cards that you can take home and view inside your bathroom to work out how they will look. If your bathroom has a window, remember to view the samples during the day and at night to find out how it looks under different types of light.

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