Bathroom paint buying guide

1. If the paint is worn and flaking off, you'll need to sand, wash and apply a suitable undercoat for the surface, or even better, a specialist undercoat.

2. If there are mould stains, clean everything with a specialist product for stained walls then apply a specialist bathroom undercoat and finally, apply your paint. It's important to identify the source of the damp because paint won't sort out the problem...

3. If it's an oil-based paint and you would like to repaint with water-based paint, sand, clean and apply a suitable undercoat, or wash down and apply a specialist primer that lets you apply water-based paint on top.

4. If the wall is in good condition and already coated in water-based paint, you will only have to clean it well then apply your specialist bathroom paint.

5. If the wall is new (plasterboard), then simply use a good quality undercoat for the plasterboard or a universal undercoat for wet rooms, then your paint.

Can't decide between acrylic or oil-based paint? Be aware that oil-based paints are more toxic and odourous than water-based ones, releasing more Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) than acrylic paints. As for water-based paint, it is odourless, dries faster and any tools you use with it can be cleaned with water.

Wondering whether conventional paint is suitable for the bathroom? Conventional paint, as opposed to specialist bathroom paint, has no moisture and condensation-resistant additives. They are therefore less durable, tend to develop mildew stains, or even worse, they might blister.

We recommend you use a washable acrylic paint designed for damp rooms.

Oil-based paints pollute more, give off an odour and require the use of white spirit to clean tools and dilute the paint. For these reasons, using oil-based paint is not recommended in 90% of cases. It is recommended to only use it for applying over old oil-based paint.

Matt paint isn't recommended for bathrooms. It can be used on the ceiling, as long as you use a specialist bathroom ceiling paint that is easy to wash and more resistant to steam and condensation than a conventional matt paint.

Remember that a matt finish covers up defects and any traces of being reworked with the paint roller. The bathroom often needs the walls to be cleaned with a sponge, which isn't suitable with this type of finish as it tends to be less washable.

A gloss finish can be used in the bathroom because it's highly washable, but only if the walls are perfectly finished themselves. Unlike matt finish paint, gloss finishes will reveal wall imperfections. However, the most suitable finish for damp rooms is satin-finish; on drying it forms a film that's highly resistant to condensation. Additionally, satin-finish paints are washable.

That's why we recommend specialist satin-finish paints to repaint the walls in the bathroom. In terms of colours, as with any room, it's important to understand how to match the colours and the furniture. For the ceiling, white reigns supreme, and is the colour that will best brighten up your bathroom and give it more luminosity.

To paint the interior of a tiled shower (such as a walk-in shower), there are paints that can be applied directly without an undercoat. These are normally comprised of a base to which you mix in an additive that makes the paint waterproof.

All you need to do is sand down your tiles with fine sandpaper, degrease with acetone (be careful, this needs several rinses and requires the use of protection: safety goggles, gloves and a mask are a must) and then apply two coats of paint with a short pile roller. This paint shouldn't be stretched too far or it will lose coverage and durability. Two generous coats left to properly dry and that's it!

Another option is resin-based paint that requires the same preparation as the former, although its application is slightly different. First, you apply a coat of whichever colour you've chosen, then apply a coat of transparent matt or gloss satin-finish resin, depending on your tastes.

With these two types of paint, typically made with resin or teflon, you can also paint your bathroom furniture (varnished, laminate, already painted... anything except for waxed furniture that will need to be stripped). With resin-based paint you can paint your basin, bath, shower tray etc.

Painting tools

You will also need to get yourself the right painting tools to paint with.

• a roller suitable for your wall;

• a round brush for cutting in called a sash brush

• a short pile roller for tiles and furniture;

• tarpaulins to cover your floor and furniture;

• a paint tray to pour your paint into and a paint grid to squeeze the roller;

• a mixer to ensure you get a properly mixed paint (to be attached to a drill);

• masking tape to mask off your doors, windows, furniture...

• decorator's overalls or old clothes.

5 tips before starting a bathroom painting project

1. Wet your roller before decorating to get rid of any fluff and fibre that might fall off.

2. Arm yourself with a telescopic pole for the ceiling and walls - this will let you stand further back from the wall and clearly see what you've already done.

3. Between coats, store your roller in a plastic bag to prevent it from drying out.

4. Avoid painting in very hot or cold weather. From 15 to 25°C is ideal to ensure the paint doesn't dry either too quickly or too slowly.

You can also get special single-use plastic sheets to put inside your paint tray so that you don't need to wash it every time.

• How to paint wall tiles

• Interior wall and ceiling paint buying guide

• How to paint a wall