Bathroom tile paint ideas: 6 easy looks with before & after
Tiles are the star material in bathrooms, whether the home is decades old or newly built. Over the years, though, they end up wearing on you. And the thought of ripping out the tiling, with all the building work that involves, puts anyone off.
Painting bathroom tiles is the fastest, most affordable and most effective way to renovate a bathroom without building work, whether you have experience or not. With a good tile paint you can transform the space, modernise it and gain a greater sense of openness, without rubble or complications.
In this article we share six ideas that will show you how simple it is to give any bathroom a refreshed look, along with the step by step, an indicative cost and answers to the most common questions.
6 bathroom tile paint ideas
The bathroom is usually a small, sparsely decorated room, but renovating it without building work is entirely possible thanks to tile paint. If you were considering a traditional renovation, pause for a second: with paint you can enjoy a brand-new bathroom without spending a fortune. Here are six effective ways to do it.
1. Design a renovated bathroom by painting the tiles
Tiles are the most visible face of a bathroom and time takes its toll on them, so it is only natural to want to renew them and give the room a new feel.
Painting outdated tiles delivers a completely new look. Understated tones help create a minimalist bathroom, and if you add floating shelves or wicker baskets you will achieve a warm, cohesive atmosphere.
2. Bring back the light by painting the tiles white
White is one of the most widely used colours in interior design. Because it reflects light, it makes spaces feel visually larger and brighter, adding a sense of order.
If the bathroom has lost light, painting the tiles white rejuvenates it immediately and adds a greater sense of space, especially in small bathrooms. You can balance the room with black taps or colourful towels to counteract any cold or impersonal feel.
3. Combine colours for a bathroom with personality
Mixing colours when painting tiles lets you create modern contrasts, set apart areas such as the shower, or highlight the upper half of the wall in a different shade. Complete the look with textiles or shelves for a vibrant style.
Some combinations never fail: white and black for an elegant contrast, or green with earth tones for that sense of nature and freshness we love so much.
4. Create a monochrome look
A monochrome style creates a sense of continuous space. You can use a single colour throughout the bathroom or different intensities within the same palette to achieve harmony and depth.
In interior design this technique is used to make rooms feel larger, and also for the opposite when the space being renovated is very large. In fact, the total colour look, like minimalism, is a trend that keeps winning people over, and with this idea you can bring it into your home perfectly.
5. Make the grout lines visually disappear
Dark grout lines are one of the features that age a bathroom the most. When you paint the tiles, the grout lines blur and visually disappear, leaving a cleaner, more modern and more uniform surface.
This seamless effect helps the room feel larger and tidier, achieving a brighter, more current look.
6. Paint the tiles in small bathrooms to make them more welcoming
In small bathrooms, light colours add space and brightness. A built-in wooden unit or discreet accessories help round off the look without overloading the room. Repainting is quick and very effective.
Choosing neutral tones such as whites, beiges, greys or soft earth shades will reflect much more light, giving the bathroom greater visual depth.
Important: this guide is for wall tiles. If what you want to renovate is the floor, you need a dedicated floor paint and a different step by step: how to paint the bathroom floor.
Before and after painting bathroom tiles
The change after painting the tiles is striking: the grout lines fade visually, the bathroom gains continuity and the sense of modernity increases instantly.
Before and after renovating the tiles
Renovation carried out by @nusihome
Transformation carried out by @s4girls
Before and after @jenshomejournal’s renovation
Result of the transformation carried out by @bland_design
How to paint bathroom tiles: step by step
A good, attractive and affordable renovation is possible if you do it yourself. Here is the step by step to paint bathroom tiles with a professional result.
1. Clean, degrease and repair the surface
If your bathroom wall has cracks or chips, it is important to fill them first with putty using a spatula, then let it dry for the time stated by the manufacturer.
Next, clean the tiles thoroughly with soap and water to degrease them. A brush can be a great help to leave the grout lines perfectly clean. Also remove any limescale with vinegar, rinse with water and dry with a clean cloth.
Don’t forget to cover the floor of the area with plastic sheeting and to mask the edges, as well as any sockets and switches.
2. Prime the tiles (only if your paint needs it)
The purpose of a primer is to improve the paint’s adhesion. Stir it and pour it into a tray to load a brush, which you will use to cover edges and corners. For the rest of the tiling, use a roller, loading it and wringing it out first. Apply two coats: one in one direction and the second crosswise.
Once you have finished, do not wait for it to dry — remove the masking tape you applied earlier. Then let it dry for the time indicated by the manufacturer.
In the case of Smartcover Tiles you can skip this step: it is a paint that adheres so well it needs no primer.
3. Apply the paint in two thin coats
Before applying the paint over the tiles, protect the tiling, sockets and switches again.
Open the can, stir until the mixture is smooth and pour it into the tray. Repeat the technique from the previous step: first apply the paint to edges and corners with the brush, then use the roller for the rest of the surface.
When this first coat is dry, apply a second one, alternating the direction. If the first was vertical, make this one horizontal, and vice versa. The important thing is to alternate the direction with each coat.
Two coats are generally enough but, depending on the original colour of the tiles, you may need an extra one.
If you use Smartcover Tiles, thanks to its high covering power two coats are all you need, whatever the original colour of your tiling.
4. Respect drying and curing times
Between the first and second coats, respect the drying time indicated by the manufacturer. In the case of Smartcover Tiles, the paint is touch-dry in around 30 minutes and it is best to leave 8 hours between coats.
Full curing depends on ambient conditions: allow around 7 days before putting the area back into full use, so the paint reaches its maximum resistance.
How much does it cost to paint bathroom tiles?
Painting the tiles is the most economical way to renovate a bathroom: with a dedicated tile paint, the material starts — in Spain, as a reference — at around €5/m² (1 m² ≈ 10.8 sq ft). The comparison helps you decide. Retiling means removing the current cladding, with building work, rubble and several days of labour. Covering the tiles with a microcement kit for tiles, the other no-building-work route, starts from €186.61 depending on the area to cover. If you are after a colour change with the minimum outlay, paint is the most direct route.
And if the seamless, grout-free finish is what tempts you, our guide to microcement in bathrooms shows everything that coating can do on walls, floors and showers.
How to maintain painted tiles
Keeping painted tiles looking their best and extending their lifespan is very easy if you follow a few basic day-to-day habits. As this is a renewed surface, cleaning it properly and using it sensibly will make all the difference to its durability.
- Use gentle cleaners: choose neutral detergents and soft cloths or non-abrasive sponges. Avoid harsh products such as bleach, ammonia or metal scourers, as they can wear down the finish over time.
- Clean regularly: there is no need to wait for dirt to build up. Frequent cleaning prevents stubborn stains and makes upkeep easier, keeping a far more polished look over time.
- Pay attention to humidity: although tile paint is made for damp areas, it is advisable to ventilate the bathroom after showers to avoid excessive condensation. This will help keep the finish in perfect condition for much longer.
- Check the most exposed areas regularly: keep an eye above all on areas such as the washbasin or the shower, which get the most use. Spotting any wear early lets you fix it quickly without having to repaint all the tiling.
- Avoid knocks and hard scrapes: tile paint has a resistant finish, but it still deserves care, as impacts can damage the surface, especially from hard or sharp objects.
- Refresh the grout lines if needed: if over time you notice an area such as the grout lines losing intensity or starting to wear slightly, you can apply a new coat to that specific spot to restore its original look quickly and easily.
If you follow these tips, your painted tiles will stay in perfect condition for much longer, keeping a clean, well-kept, modern and uniform look.
Frequently asked questions about painting bathroom tiles
What paint do I need to paint bathroom tiles?
You need a dedicated tile paint, formulated to adhere to ceramic surfaces such as tiles, stoneware or mosaic. Current formulas, like Smartcover Tiles, are applied directly without primer and get the job done with two thin coats.
How long does the paint last on tiles?
There is no single answer: durability depends on the preparation, on respecting the full curing time and on how the surface is treated. The manufacturer highlights a durable, non-yellowing finish with good chemical resistance. If an area wears over time, you can repaint that spot without redoing all the tiling.
Can I paint the shower tiles?
Yes. The Smartcover Tiles product page states that it withstands water splashes and can be applied on shower walls. One condition: respect the full curing time, around 7 days, before using the shower normally again. For the shower tray or floor you need a dedicated floor paint.
Paint the tiles or cover them with microcement?
It depends on the result you are after. If you want to change the colour with the minimum outlay, paint is your option. If you would rather remove the grout lines completely and enjoy a seamless texture, the alternative is to apply microcement over the tiles without removing them.
Smartcover Tiles for painting bathroom tiles
To paint bathroom tiles easily and durably, it is essential to choose a paint designed specifically for this type of surface. Smartcover Tiles paint lets you renovate the bathroom quickly: satin finish, high coverage, water resistance and ready to use. It needs no primer and two coats give you the final finish, with easy cleaning and great durability. You can choose from 11 colours. If you are weighing up paint types, see our tile paint guide.