How To Paint A Bathtub Easily & Inexpensively

1 Material
$40
4 Hours
Easy

I am so excited to bring this post to you! This is going to change bathroom makeovers all over! We are in the end stages of our first flip house and are working on the bathroom makeover.



The bathroom was going to need a lot of work and the yellow bathtub was going to have to go. We put the bathroom on hold while we worked on the rest of the house. When it was time to make decisions about the bathroom, we were more aware of where the rehab budget was going to be and what our options really were. There was nothing wrong with the original cast iron bathtub, but it was yellow. Not exactly what I wanted in the makeover.

We started demoing the bathroom and decided to paint the bathtub. Yes!!! Paint it! We had nothing to lose. We didn't have it in the budget to rip out the tub and get a new so painting it was the next option. If it didn't work out, we would just have to make a bigger dent in the budget and rip out the tub, but we had to try it first.

We bought the {aff} Rustoleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit. We read the instructions a few times and went to work.

We cleaned the bathtub like a boss with the products suggested on the back of the box. Then, we sanded the tub with 400 grit sandpaper. After the tub was wiped out after the sanding it was time for paint.

We mixed the paint and started applying it. We used a roller in the beginning, but the paint brush was easier to control. The paint is thin and runs easily so working in smaller batches was better. *THE SMELL IS STRONG! You need the room well ventilated and you also need to wear a mask and gloves. You can read more about the smell and my thoughts about it in my blog post: http://mycreativedays.porch.com/how-to-paint-a-bathtub/

After the first coat dried, it was time to put on the second coat. We weren't so sure about the look of the paint as we were painting the tub. We decided to give it a day and see how it turned out .

Look at the yellow tub now! It is amazing! It looked so much better the next day. I am so glad we decided to paint it. It saved us to much time, money and work and it looks brand new. To find specific details on the process and materials used, head over to my blog post: http://mycreativedays.porch.com/how-to-paint-a-bathtub/

Suggested materials:
  • Tub & Tile Restoration Kit   (Menards/Amazon/Lowes)
Lindsay Eidahl
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
3 of 38 questions
  • Gladys Gladys on Feb 18, 2019

    Oilers paint for tile

  • Kristen Kristen on Mar 17, 2020

    Do you have to put any type of finish or clear coat on top for longer lasting results?

  • Jessie Fyfe Jessie Fyfe on May 16, 2020

    My tub is plastic. Would this technique work on it, do you think?

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6 of 101 comments
  • Marki Johnson Marki Johnson on Feb 12, 2019

    I insist on dying my hair...in the shower . I was thinking maybe when I get my new place, painting the tub black and of course, doing the wall tiles in a darker color mix, that won't show the specks of dye easily. Does anyone know if a black tub paint job would work? LOL. I don't think I have ever seen a black tub in a normal home...

    • See 2 previous
    • Susan Gallicchio Susan Gallicchio on Feb 10, 2021

      I would never use black anywhere in a bathroom. I had a friend who had a black bathroom,walls,tub,toilet,sinks

      etc. It was impossible to clean.

      I have the same issues when I rinse my hair dyed too. Pour bleach on the stains. Works for me. Make sure your not going to b in the room for awhile.

  • Christa Christa on Sep 18, 2020

    We had a professional come in and and do this for us in a couple of rental properties. They turned out beautiful but within a year or so we had a couple of tenants complain

    about paint chips on their butts after bathing. It is not a permanent fix.

    • Donna Donna on Jan 01, 2024

      I know your comment was left some time back. But would you mind telling me if you used a paint specifically meant for tubs and sinks? If so, do you mind telling me the brand if you remember it. I’m going to do one of our tubs, and I don’t want a fiasco. Thank you for any help at all.

      ps- I’ve heard Rustoleum is decent. NO?

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