By Kerry Hale

How to Paint Bathroom Tiles

  • Thursday 4th April 2024
  • 2 minute read

Our guide has everything you need to know before you start painting your tiles, from preparing the surface to the best tile paint.

If you’re planning a bathroom renovation and want to change the colour scheme, your current tiles may no longer work with the design. However, bathroom tiles can be expensive to replace and tiling your bathroom can be time-consuming, so painting them is a great way to update your bathroom on a budget.

Can you paint over tiles?

You can paint over tiles, provided you use a specialist tile paint. Other types of paint won’t adhere to the surface and could peel or crack, making your bathroom paintwork look shabby. Painting is a stylish and durable solution whether you’re updating your wall or floor tiles.

The best bathroom tile paint

Many different tile paints are available, so you can find a solution to suit your bathroom. Choose from various shades and finishes, including gloss, satin, and matt paint. We recommend using a primer before painting to help it adhere to the surface and boost your paintwork’s longevity.

Step-by-step guide to painting tiles

If you’re painting tiles for the first time, follow our step-by-step guide for the best results. We’ll cover prep work, painting and aftercare to help you ensure a professional finish.

1. Cover bathroom flooring and fixtures

Before you start painting, cover your bathroom floor and fixtures to prevent paint splashes. Depending on where the tiles are, this may include windows, doors, shower enclosures and trays, baths, sinks, taps, toilets, radiators and towel rails. Use dust sheets, newspaper or bin bags to protect these areas.

2. Clean the tiles

Clean your tiles thoroughly before painting to improve adhesion. Soap scum, water residue, mould and mildew can impact this, so give them a deep clean. Let them dry completely before you apply primer or paint.

3. Mask around the edges

Mask around the edges of tiled areas where they meet the walls, ensuring a neat finish on your paintwork. This means less cleaning up afterwards, as you should be able to remove the tape when the paint is dry and achieve a clean edge around the tiled zone.

4. Apply your chosen paint

Once the prep work is complete, it’s time to start painting! Use a roller or brush to apply your chosen paint, covering the tiles and the grout (you can tidy this part up later). If you’re painting dark or patterned tiles with a lighter colour, you may need a second coat.

5. Add the finishing touches

Grout lines make your tiles stand out, and they’ll likely get lost when painting. Fill in these areas using a grout pen to add definition, especially if you have dark tiles with pale grout. For more grouting tips, learn how to regrout bathroom tiles in our handy guide.

Thinking about removing your bathroom tiles completely? Explore our step-by-step guide for more help. Then, replace them with bathroom wall panels, which can be easier to clean and keep mould-free.

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