Has anyone painted bathroom tiles successfully?

Question

I HATE my 1985 yellowing cream, public toilet-like bathroom! I can't afford to redo it at all & I'm thinking to paint the tiles, but when I've seen hand painted tiles before they looked awful, I could see all the brush marks & didn't think it was an improvement! Is there special tile paint? Is it waterproof, for inside the shower & does one use a brush or roller? Is there any prep involved? So many questions! Can anyone help me please!?

Jim L · Answer

My I suggest that you paint the walls a medium shade of gray...this will make your tile look 100 % better Right now there is nothing to 'grab' your attention. Then add some white or dark gray towels...or maybe even RED!

Melly · Answer

I have painted tile.  It looked like painted tile.  The prep work was daunting.  I did it for a friend who wanted a temporary solution.  It was indeed temporary.  Lots of work for a result that looked entirely average.
Wouldn't do it again....

Brenda P · Answer

I think using a roller vs. paint brush may work. You could even use a 'double roller' so you could roll on two shades and kind of blend the colors. Here's one link I found that might help. :) http://littlegreennotebook.com/2014/05/painting-bathroom-tile.html/ Another idea would be to find a pretty stamp and stamp the tiles and then seal them. Would love to see 'after' photos. Good luck.

Vicky Johnson · Answer

I did both kitchen and bathroom wall tile! I used a bonding  primer first and then latex paint. It is scrub able and has been great and I did it in one day!

Nadine · Answer

Can you afford some bead board? If you break up all the tile with some bead board on the bottom, it would make a big difference. You can glue the bead board directly on the tile. Do half bead board on the bottom, trim and then paint it your favorite accent color.

William · Answer

A few sites to check out! http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-paint-over-ceramic-tile-in-a-bathroom/ http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/tips-from-the-pros-on-painting-bathtubs-and-tile http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/tips-from-the-pros-on-painting-bathtubs-and-tile http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/skills-and-know-how/painting/tips-from-the-pros-on-painting-bathtubs-and-tile Tub and Tile Paint Kits: http://www.homedepot.com/b/Paint-Appliance-Tub-Tile-Paint/N-5yc1vZc61n

MN Mom · Answer

You have a lot of tile! Is it in the budget to replace and update the vanity cabinet and sink? That would add an element of color to your neutral bathroom. Also adding a colorful or pattern window treatment and a throw rug would warm up the room and add interest. I personally think painted tile looks like painted tile. If you have Command Hooks available, you can use them to hang some wall art without damaging the wall tile.

CK · Answer

This is a product a blogger used on her ceramic kitchen and bath countertops. Don't know if it would work on your floors but certainly would work on the walls. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000U9K85S/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000U9K85S&linkCode=as2&tag=li0a6a-20 While I totally understand your desire to update your yellowing tiles, one of the reasons your bathroom looks so like a public restroom is because it really doesn't have any personality. ;-) Before you try painting anything, try adding in some colored towels and accessories of your choosing. Maybe switch out the plain white curtains to something prettier with a little pattern. Or you might be able to install blinds or shutters (Can't tell if this is possible by looking at the photo.) You could also paint the vanity for some color. Sometimes these little, less expensive, less permanent fixes make a huge difference in the room.

CK · Answer

Oopps....sorry, I just saw that product I linked to can only be shipped in the U.S.

Johnchip · Answer

Celan and prep paint with epoxy spray. Venting is critical. I would suggest you only do a couple line changes of cool or some random pieces. You could always paint a redesign on some, also consider just tiling over some with a new tile. Way too much to try and do the whole room. A neutral beige is perfect as the major back color to some other color areas or drama pieces.

Dale · Answer

Marine (boat) paint? OR, peel & stick vinyl flooring can go right over tile ~

Cindy · Answer

yes there is a paint that will cover them just ask at a paint store and they will tell what u need

Vicky Johnson · Answer

I do things easy and quick or lazy of you so choose. I went to the hardware locally and my 'advisor' told me to use this primer and it sticks to anything. I will list it at the end. I washed the tile with vinegar water and used the primer and then two coats of white latex interior paint. You can lightly sand but she said you don't have to so of course I didn't! I used a brush for the 'cracks' aka grout lines and then a small Purdy roller. The primer was Valspar Interior/Exterior Bonding Primer.  The paint was also Valspar latex. The primer dries quickly and I did it all in a day. I was careful with water in the backsplash area for a couple days just to let everything cure really well. It is washable if I splatter on it and so far so good. It has been a few months. My 'advisor' at the hardware store told me she had done it at her moms and church for years and all is well! I had ceramic white to cream tiles with green speckles in the kitchen and same thing with blue speckles in the bathroom. It looks wonderful in my opinion. I did not have them around the shower as we had put in a fiberglass surround. I have always said ceramic tiles were a 'rich mans disease'. You just never knew there was a problem until there was damage. Hope this helps!! It's all clean and fresh!

Vicky Johnson · Answer

Two quick pics! Anything else?

Andrea · Answer

There is special paint for this. The fumes are HORRIBLE!  Because my boyfriend has allergies and asthma problems, we ended up having it done professionally. They used the same stuff that we can get. We had  Wall tiles repainted. Unfortunately, we were covering darker colored tile so it took a couple of coats and several days.

Swinnen Lisette · Answer

If you are really short of money, you can take your time to paint only the grout of the floor and in the shower in white and do what I did (but then better) : fill the grout of the wall-tiles. Sand everything even and put on wallpaper of your choise ex. faux brick wall, baroque design, faux wood etc. If you could change the walls, it would look very different already.

Maria Igartua · Answer

With epoxy paint. But you need to open the windows, I even put a fan. Its been 2 years and it looks brand new.

Maria Igartua · Answer

Sorry I meant oil glossy paint.

Betsy.o · Answer

A friend of mine painted hers five years ago and looks great. I believe she got her paint and help from lowes on this. She lightly sanded the tiles first.
I like your bathroom and how it's arranged.

Lisa · Answer

I painted mine have t had to redo in 10 years. The key is in the preparation and thoroughly cleaning the tiles & grout. I used TSP for that then painted with melamine paint. Good luck!!

Nonna · Answer

Always degloss by sanding and use oil enamel or epoxy enamel. Mine still look good after 19 years

Kimberley Steele Giacobbe · Answer

Use gladden gripper primer  available at Home Depot and then paint over it. Works great

Alice · Answer

I haven't tried it in a bathroom but did do the backsplash tiles in my kitchen once. There is a ton of prep but was worth the hassle. I picked up the needed things at a Sherman Williams.

Rae5975230 · Answer

Yes. I used silver aluminum paint. It worked great.  I had 3 different tiles in this bathroom around the bathtub so I first painted them with a grey oil based primer . (Which is now obsolete) and over that I painted silver aluminum.  Walls were pale pink. Looked great.

Lizzy L · Answer

I painted the grout in my kitchen with Polyblend Grout Renew. Looks great.

Rms5476521 · Answer

Menard's has a kit in the paint department that is amazing. Its for tubs and tiles, my bathroom looks awesome , it was an ugly peach color now its white and I absolutely love it . The kit cost about 25$ and is well worth every dollar.

Michelle · Answer

I did the whole of my bathroom as I was in the same predicament as you, with very little money, so I just tried gloss paint. It worked like a dream, and is pretty cheap. I painted all the walls with white gloss, and picked out the odd tile and over painted those by stippling black onto them. Hope this helps

Cindi · Answer

You might want to think about decorating the tiles with decals, and give it a spanish or mediterranean look. It would brighten it up and be a whole lot easier. They sell them on Etsy.

Sus2783475 · Answer

Yes just buy tile paint and follow instructions. The paint isn't cheap but it's easy, looks great and doesn't come off. I would do it again in a heart beat. I love the result. Go for it.

Me · Answer

I am a professional painter, I have painted tile in bathrooms and kitchens, I use Zinsser Odorless oil primer & paint grout and tile Using a low nap mohair roller. Then I used Rustoleum gloss oil paint, it's for metal but leaves a great finish I use it on everything I want a tough finish on. Takes 15 hrs or so to dry & stinks to high heaven, but do 2 coats & it's worth the result . Never use Latex as it's waterbased and showering the paint will loosen and peel. I have also used this same paint on vinyl flooring, when a new floor is not quite attainable :)

Has anyone painted bathroom tiles successfully?

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