Paint your bathroom in 10 easy steps

Use a dilute bleach solution or a fungicidal/mould cleaner to clean off any mould. We recommended doing this the day before you plan to paint – this will give the surface time to dry properly.

Take care when using chemicals – use eye and skin protection and follow the instructions on the product.

You’ll want to remove all items from the room, including any fixtures, such as towel rails or toilet roll holders. Keep any screws together in a sealed bag so you don’t lose them.

Remove any loose paint with a scraper, and fill cracks or holes with a water-resistant filler. When the surface is dry, sand it down to create a smooth surface.

Lightly sand any previously painted woodwork too, so that the new paint will adhere well. Vacuum up any dust.

Use sugar soap or a detergent solution to remove any grease, then rinse with cold water. This will also help to remove dust residue from the sanding and ensure the paint sticks well to your surfaces.

Cover the bathware and floor with dust sheets, and tape small plastic bags around your shower head and taps. If you’re not painting your tiles, you may want to stick some low-tack masking tape over the edge of tiles so you get paint on them.

We recommend you use a specialty bathroom paint, such as washable interior emulsion Supreme 3 in 1. This will help your surfaces repel mould and withstand the effects of water, steam and moisture.

You’ll need a roller to paint the walls and ceiling, and a small brush for touching up and cutting in.

When you’re ready to begin painting, start by painting the ceiling. That way, any paint drips will fall onto unpainted surfaces and you can easily wipe them off or paint over them later.

If you’re painting your walls and ceiling two different colours, you’ll need to ‘cut in’ the corners to achieve a flawless finish. Follow our step-by-step guide to cutting in.

Next, it’s time to paint the walls. A clever trick is to overlap the paint a few centimetres or so over the woodwork – this will create a nice clean line when it’s time for the next step.

If you’re painting any tiles, we recommend you use a specialty bathroom tile paint, such as washable interior emulsion Supreme 3 in 1. This will help to protect the surface against mould.

The trick is to start in the middle of the room and gradually work your way out, so you reduce the risk of brushing against newly painted surfaces. With this in mind, the best order to paint your woodwork is the window frame, windowsill, skirting boards and, finally, the doorframe.

Once you’ve given the paint plenty of time to dry (we recommend you follow the drying time instructions on the paint can), you can begin to move everything back into the room. Reattach your fixtures and you’re ready for a long soak in the tub!