Update Your Tile Shower Surround Without Removing It!
You can paint your ugly shower tile with amazing results. With just a few supplies, you can easily paint a shower tile surround in your bathroom, or just about any tile surface!
Today, friends, you get to see one of the projects from my Modern Coastal Bathroom makeover!
And, we are going to look at what used to be the ugliest thing in My Wee Abode.
The tile shower surround… (please excuse the images, as I’m still learning to take photos in my wee bathroom).
Now, I’m not sure why anyone would choose this color for a tile shower surround in a tiny loft apartment… I don’t care what year it is!
But look at it now!
The whole project took a total of 2 days with cleaning/prepping, letting the primer dry overnight, and then allowing the enamel paint to dry in between coats... but, it was SO easy!
Let's see just HOW easy!
Painting a tile shower surround (this is the area that frames my shower... it's not inside the shower) costs less than $75 for EVERYTHING.
Materials include TSP for cleaning, premium primer (don't skip this step), my favorite go-to paintbrushes, a 4-inch synthetic paint roller, and my favorite semi-gloss enamel paint (that you can have custom tinted)!
Remember to clean the surface of the tile with TSP or a similar product (follow the box directions) first. If your tile is glossy you may, also, want to sand with 400-grit sandpaper and wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Then tape off the areas you want to protect.
Use a round-brush to paint the grout lines, and then a 4-inch smooth synthetic roller to paint the tile surface.
This is after one coat of premium primer. I think one more coat will do the trick, don't you?
The round-brush makes painting the grout easy and fun!
It took two coats of primer and about 3-4 coats of enamel paint to achieve this finish!
Such a super easy project, and the results of a painted shower tile surround are amazing, don't you think?
Is a painted tile shower or tub surround in your future?
For a detailed list of materials and a full tutorial, visit My Wee Abode.
Resources for this project:
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Comments
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Beautiful ❤
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I wonder how this will wear with house paint. Was it oil based or water based latex?
It's stinky but epoxy is used in tub and tile paint. I have used that on sinks and tub. It has lasted over 15 year. I have used epoxy appliance spray paint to faux marble counters and touch up sinks.
Frequently asked questions
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Great job! What can you recommend for a bathroom floor? Would this project work or can it not withstand foot traffic? Just my husband and I at home and never ever little ones of any age...so not much foot traffic. The same large square tile is in the bathrooms (2) and the kitchen. Thanks...be safe
How do you clean it?
Looks so much better! question, why did you use interior semi-gloss trim paint instead of exterior? I do know that exterior paint has more protection from the elements such as water. Are you sure this will last?