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Paint sheen for bathrooms


What’s The Best Type of Paint for Bathrooms? – Forbes Home

Small local shops and big-box home improvement stores have a variety of paints for everything from sink faucets to bathroom walls. This guide will save you from feeling overwhelmed in the paint aisle while you collect supplies for your bathroom remodel or update.

The best type of paint for bathrooms is a satin, semi-gloss, or glossy finish with a mildew-resistant additive. Ideally, your chosen paint should last a while. However, if you’re set on a flat or matte finish, there are options for you too. Don’t forget to clean and prime walls before painting for the best results.

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Important Factors

Humidity is a threat to the look and performance of paint. Moisture, like steam from your shower, can seep between the wall and coat of paint, creating unwanted texture, bubbling and peeling.

Paints with a glossy finish are moisture-resistant because once cured, satin and gloss finishes form a hard coat that blocks out water, allowing it to drip to the floor rather than seep through to the drywall or wood. High-gloss and enamel paints look, feel and act more like glass or a dry-erase board. Low-sheen paints like flat or eggshell finishes are softer and absorb moisture.

Avoid products made for external use only, like masonry paint. While paints intended for basements and exterior walls are more waterproof, they may contain hazardous amounts of mildewcide or other additives that can cause respiratory problems. When in doubt, hire a professional painter to quickly, safely and effectively paint your bathroom.

Best Bathroom Primers

Use a primer to bond the paint to the wall and prevent peeling. Sticky primers with mildewcide additives will protect your walls for years to come. Here are labels to look for in the primer aisle:

A good primer is especially important if you want a low-sheen or no-gloss paint in the bathroom.

Matte, Flat and Eggshell

Professional painters generally steer people away from flat, matte and eggshell finishes for bathroom projects because soft paints are prone to mildew in high humidity. They also aren’t as easy to clean, an important feature for bathroom walls.

However, matte walls add a soft dimension to an otherwise smooth and glossy room, giving it a luxurious, designer appeal.

Thankfully, paint technology has come a long way in recent years. There are matte, flat and eggshell bathroom paints made to resist mildew and make cleaning easier. Look for these labels if you’re set on a low-sheen color:

Once these low-sheen paints have cured, you can clean your bathroom walls with soap, water and a smooth cloth.

Pros

Cons

Eggshell, while sometimes used synonymously with satin, is slightly less suitable for bathrooms than satin due to its texture and shares many of the same qualities as flat and matte paints.

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Satin

Satin sits between eggshell and gloss paints. It develops a slight protective coating making it a little easier to clean than no-sheen paints. Satin is a good choice for your bathroom if you want a softer-than-gloss texture with many benefits of a gloss finish. Look for these labels in the paint aisle:

Pros

Cons

Semi-Gloss

Semi-gloss is one of the most versatile paint finishes because it is easy to clean and water-resistant, making it a great choice for your bathroom walls and trim. You have plenty of options when it comes to semi-gloss bathroom paints, such as:

You can also use semi-gloss on your bathroom cabinets. Look for products like BEHR Premium’s Semi-Gloss Enamel Interior Cabinet and Trim Paint.

Pros

Cons

Glossy and Full-Gloss

Glossy paints offer the most protection from moisture. Glossy finishes are the easiest to clean, making them perfect for bathroom cabinets and trim. Here are some great gloss paint options for your bathroom project:

For an editorial, metallic or almost wet look in your bathroom, choose a full-gloss paint, such as:

Pros

Cons

Bathroom Hardware

If you’re repainting bathroom fixtures and hardware, look for rust-resistant paints. Metallic finishes may provide slightly more protection than matte finishes. Use a lacquer top-coat to help it last. Here are some labels to look for in the spray paint aisle:

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Colors

For the most natural reflection, choose a neutral color like white for bathroom walls. This will show stains easily, but it is one of the most popular choices for many reasons. Soft neutrals and pinks cast natural ambient light around the space and give you a healthy glow in the mirror.

Leave bold colors for painted cabinets. Select a desaturated color, like a foggy gray or sage green for a modern-looking bathroom.

What's the Best Paint Sheen for Bathrooms?

Time for a bathroom wall refresh! You’ve carefully selected the color, and now it’s time to buy some paint. But what’s the best paint sheen for bathrooms — and does it really matter?

I’m here to tell you that choosing the best paint type for your bathroom is pretty important. Because it’s a high moisture space, mold and mildew love to make themselves at home in the bathroom. (Not to mention those ugly, brown drip stains that seem to come out of nowhere.)

This is why you need a paint finish that’s EASY TO CLEAN, resists mildew, and doesn’t start peeling when there’s lots of moisture. Which is why we’re going to be talking paint sheens and product recommendations in this article.

Also, I want to make sure that you clean up any existing mold or mildew first (rather than painting over it), so I’m going to share a few pointers to help out with that. Because if you paint right over that nastiness, you’ll end up with so many more problems than you already have.

Oh, and just for kicks and giggles, I’ll share a few awesome bathroom paint color suggestions as well.

Ya know… just in case you’re still undecided. 😉

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What’s the Best Paint Sheen for Bathrooms?

Satin is the best paint sheen for bathrooms, along with semi-gloss and gloss, depending on the level of shine you want. Keep in mind that, the higher the sheen, the more durable the paint.

However, you might not want super glossy walls (and I wouldn’t blame you a bit). I personally prefer satin paint for the walls. I would definitely use semi-gloss or gloss for any trim, though.

Satin is a little shinier than eggshell and, thus, a better choice for a high moisture room like the bathroom. Avoid using a flat or matte finish in this space.

In the next section, I’m going to give you a brief overview of the different types of paint sheens, and then I’ll share some of my paint brand recommendations for the bathroom.

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Types of Paint Sheens

Most paint brands offer at least a few different finish options.

The most common sheens:

Bathroom Paint Recommendations

Each pick is rated by price, $ being on the lower end of the price range and $$$ being on the higher end.

1. Regal Select by Benjamin Moore ($$$)

2. Valspar Signature ($)

3. Behr Premium Plus Low VOC ($)

4. Aura by Benjamin Moore ($$$)

5. Marquee by Behr ($$)

6. Ben by Benjamin Moore ($$)

7. Glidden Essentials Interior Paint ($)

8. The Spruce Best Home by KILZ Interior Paint & Primer in One ($)

9: Clare Paint ($$)

10. Zinsser Perma-White ($)

Let’s talk more about these top rated interior paint brands here.

Popular Bathroom Paint Colors

What’s the best paint color for a bathroom? Obviously, there are so many different options that there’s really no “one size fits all” answer.

BUT…

For bathrooms, people are typically drawn either to colors that brighten them up or to soothing, spa-like hues. Here are a few great recommendations.

Pro Tip: If you’re buying paint from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Farrow&Ball, or PPG, then you can have peel-and-stick samples (made with two coats of real paint) of any color you like sent right to your doorstep. Click here to shop Samplize.

Best Paint for a Steamy Bathroom Ceiling

In the bathroom, avoid flat white ceiling paint and use paint that has a minimum of a satin sheen to ensure cleanability, durability, and stain resistance.

(No, it doesn’t necessarily have to be marketed as “ceiling paint”, so don’t worry about that.)

In fact, whichever paint brand you choose for the walls and trim should also work for the ceiling, as long as it comes in a satin (or shinier) finish. And since we already established that you should always use a minimum of a satin sheen in the bathroom, that shouldn’t be a problem. 🙂

What’s Next?

Now that we’ve covered the best paint sheen for bathrooms and what type of ceiling paint to use, you’re *almost* ready to get started painting. But first… What about the mold?

First of all, you’ll want to understand WHY your bathroom walls have mold or mildew. Then, you’ll need to do a thorough cleaning before you start painting. Finally, once it’s painted, what can you do to prevent mold on the bathroom walls or ceiling?

We’ll cover all of that in the next few sections….

Pro Tip: To get the best paint finish, and to avoid future problems, you’ll want to clean all of the walls in the bathroom — whether they have mold or not. Read more about washing your walls with vinegar before painting.

Why are My Bathroom Walls Molding?

The most common causes of bathroom mold: moisture and warmth. This is the ideal environment for mold spores to begin growing.

So, every time you take a shower or bath, wash your hand, or clean your face, you’re creating a nice little home for these mold spores to multiply in. And then the other tiny organisms and dust that reside in your bathroom feed the mold, helping it to multiply even more rapidly (source).

If that’s not motivation to clean the bathroom regularly, I don’t know what is!

In the bathroom, lingering moisture is often a contributing factor when there’s a mold problem. Common causes of lingering moisture:

Now that we’ve established the WHY, are you ready to move on to HOW? Next, we’re discussing how to clean mold off bathroom walls, plus how to prevent it from coming back.

How to Clean Mold Off Walls in Bathroom

First of all, if you have black mold or mold covering more than a few square feet, then you’re going to need to take some safety precautions:

If the moldy area is relatively small, then you could try scrubbing it down with undiluted vinegar. If you need a little more scrubbing power, you could try combining two tablespoons of borax, 1/4 cup white vinegar, and two cups of hot water.

If it doesn’t come off right away, spray the above solution onto the moldy area and let sit for a few minutes before scrubbing it again.

How to Prevent Mold on Bathroom Walls

Because moisture is the most common cause of mold and mildew, the best way to prevent a recurrence is to control humidity in the bathroom.

A few solutions:

And there we have it! We’ve discussed the best type of paint for bathrooms, paint brand recommendations (including ceiling paint), and even a few color recommendations.

You also know that it’s crucial to remove mold and mildew rather than painting over it, how to do so, and even some ways to prevent it in the future.

Soooo. Are you ready to get started? Or do you want to read more?

You might also enjoy:

Interior Painting Supply Checklist: What Supplies Do I Need To Paint A Room?

Painting Walls for Beginners: How to Paint a Wall Yourself

Best Paint Colors for a Small Bathroom Without Windows

How to Choose a Wall Color That You Won’t Instantly Regret

Bathroom Colors

The choice of paint colors for wall coverings in a small space like a bathroom must be taken seriously and responsibly.

Color can affect your mood and how you feel when you enter a room. The very process of choosing a paint color should not be complicated or tedious.

We have put together a few tips for you to help you choose the right color for your bathroom.

Walls: Early Frost CSP-590, Ceiling: Decorator’s White CC-20

So how do you choose a bathroom paint color?

There are a few things to consider before heading to the shop for paint selection.

The bathroom is more than just a place where you can take a shower in between sleep and work. In our opinion, this is the place where you want, first of all, to feel peace and tranquility, rest and comfort.

Bathroom idea: Serenity

Create a spa-like ambience with warm gray Metropolitan AF-690 (Color of the Year 2019) and soft pastels like Palladian Blue HC-144 and Italian Ice Green 2035-70.

In order to make all the rooms of your apartment seem like a single whole, we advise you to choose shades for the bathroom that are similar in warmth to the colors of neighboring rooms.

Walls: Italian Ice Green 2035-70, Chair: Teal Ocean 2049-thirty

Small bathroom - big potential

Modest in size spaces, always inviting to play with color. Bathrooms are no exception. The rich, clean hues are great for smaller rooms, such as the bathroom in Old Claret 2083-30. The combination of deep hues and the right lighting will help create a pleasant atmosphere in a small space.

Experiment: try painting the ceiling in an unexpected color such as Fruit Shake 2088-60, Windmill Wings 2067-60 or Tomato Tango CSP-1145. Paint towel rails or other bathroom accessories in Black Ink 2127-20 and Deep Space 2125-20. Thus, dark shades will create a bright contrast against the background of light colors of tiles and walls.

Walls: Old Claret 2083-30

Wall: Stoneware CSP-245, Ceiling: Tomato Tango CSP-1145,
Finish: Andes Summit CSP-600

Soft, fresh matte wall feel

Benjamin Moore Aura®Bath&Spa matt finish has special performance characteristics, unique color reproduction and mildew resistance in wet rooms. As a rule, the bathroom space is filled with many high-shine items: tiles, mirrors or metal. Therefore, the matte surface of the walls will bring a little softness and tranquility to the bathroom space.

Walls: Opal Essence 680, skirting boards: Ice Mist OC-67, ceiling: Ice Mist OC-67, back wall: White Ice OC-58

We have also selected the best, in our opinion, color combinations for bathroom walls that will resonate with your soul.

Meanwhile, we note that when choosing the color of the most private and secluded space of your home, you must be guided, first of all, by your personal feelings, which will help you choose a unique and truly original shade.

Best bathroom combinations

Subtle neutrals are always a great choice. Here are a trio of favorites: Chantilly Lace OC-65, Simply White OC-117 and Ballet White OC-9.

Soft pink, slightly blush shades like - First Light 2102-70 (Color of the Year 2020), Cream Puff 2174-70 and Foggy Morning 2106-70 are great alternatives to neutrals.

Green tends to create a soothing atmosphere in the bathroom, such as Van Alen Green HC-120. However, we advise you, by all means, to test the color, because. some shades of green may seem overly saturated.

Yellow - e.g. Marblehead Gold HC-11, Ylang Ylang AF-305. While soft yellow makes a great companion for natural materials such as marble or wood, some shades can be quite bright in a small bathroom space.

The blue hues of bring a sense of calm to any space. For example, the soothing silvery blue of November Skies 2128-50.

And, most importantly, always check (test) the color options in your space, as it is the lighting that affects how a particular shade will play in your room.

Our Color Samples will help you with this.

The best colors for bathrooms

Bathroom paint

Bathroom paint is always on sale in Kaluga. Only many people do not even know what qualities it must have in order to provide comfort and durability. Today you can use a few of our tips, which will turn into a solution to many problems. Experts have prepared detailed explanations that allow you to quickly understand all the features and draw the right conclusions.

Bathroom paint features

Bathroom paint needs to be special. You can’t just take the first jar that comes across and use it in repairs. It is not easy to get the ideal result, because this will require a certain paintwork material. This is a real problem for inexperienced people who are used to standards. First, it is better to study a couple of subtleties, and then proceed to the order.

Wet resistance is a must when choosing the right material. Finishing the bathroom has always created difficulties that could not be avoided. Now an online store catalog has been created for this, where all the mandatory requirements are indicated in the filter. After applying such a composition to the walls, a reliable surface is formed that perfectly withstands constant exposure to moisture. This is worth thinking about if you don’t want to face repairs again literally next year.

Bathroom paint with different features. One of them is brilliance, which greatly affects the design of the surrounding space. If it seems to someone that there is nothing important in this, he is catastrophically mistaken. In reality, you need to think seriously, because sometimes a matte surface is much more interesting and attractive. In the online store, this parameter is also indicated, which means that there is the possibility of an unlimited choice of suitable material. Professionals remind you of this when you don’t want to be disappointed with the result of the repair.

Textured bathroom paint

Tired of gloss and smooth surfaces? Do you want to get away from Soviet enamel standards? Textured bathroom paint will come to the rescue. This is a new solution that we offer to everyone. It is not so easy to find it in ordinary stores, but in the catalog on the website you can order it at any time with courier delivery around the city. Because of this, repairs will no longer be long in coming due to the lack of one or another material.

Textured surface creates an unsurpassed color. After such a finish, you don’t want to choose anything else, which is easily convinced by professionals. Today, the easiest way is to spend a little time and choose the perfect composition. Often there is not enough visual volume, emphasizing the originality of the interior.

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