Painting a Bathroom: An Overview

When painting the bathroom, you’ll need a smooth, clean surface so the fresh paint can adhere properly to avoid peeling, especially around the bathtub or shower where soap scum can build after years of use. Trisodium phosphate, which is often abbreviated TSP, is a good product for this job. Just follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for use, including any safety precautions.

If you have wallpaper, you’ll need to remove it and prepare the surface below for painting as well. See How to Prep for Paint for details.

Remove anything from the walls that would be difficult to paint around, such as towel racks, vent covers, mirrors and outlet plates. It’s also helpful to turn off the water and drain and remove the toilet tank. For help, see How to Install a Toilet. As for things you can’t remove, such as the bathtub surround, vanity, sink and flooring, cover them with a drop cloth and use painter’s tape as needed.

Apply paint to the walls, ceiling and trim using the correct technique. It’s best to do the edges first and then use a paint roller for the bulk of the work. To learn the best painting techniques, including which brush strokes to use, see our how-to. And if you need some extra instruction on how to paint a bathroom ceiling, we have a guide for that as well.

After the first coat of paint has dried according to the manufacturer’s instructions, you’ll need to apply a second coat to ensure proper coverage. Repeat the previous steps for the final coat.

After the second coat of paint has dried, you can remove the painters tape and any drop cloths or coverings. Reinstall any towel bars, vanity hardware, or faceplates and properly store or dispose of excess paint.