How To Paint That Bathroom

In this economic climate, people are putting off major renovations and tackling small home improvement projects by themselves. A perfect place to start is your bathroom. If you're sick of the drab color painted on your bathroom wall by the previous tenants, you can brighten things up and add some life for a very small outlay of cash. Professional painters may charge $200 or more for getting the job done, but you can do it yourself for less money and forgo having a bunch of annoying strangers in your home getting in your way. Save your money and maintain your privacy by doing the job yourself. Your investment will be a gallon of paint plus some basic painting equipment.

The bathroom is often the smallest room in a home. While that means you won't need to buy too much paint, it will be harder to navigate the painting job. There are also immovable objects that you'll want to protect from paint (shower stall, tub, mirrors, cabinetry, and toilets) and many more corners. Having the right tools for the job and preparation are key.

Gloss Finish

Start by investing in high quality paint. You don't need much, so it's not a big deal to shoot for the best quality you can buy. The better brands include Pittsburgh, Porter, and Sherwin-Williams. Because the bathroom is considered to be a high-moisture area, you want to use paint with a semi-gloss or glossy finish.

Next on the list comes the purchase of a paint brush. Don't stint here, either. Use a 2 or 2 1/2" angled sash brush for cutting in the corners. Other desirable tools include a painter's 5 in 1 tool, putty knife, caulking gun, plus a standard as well as a Phillips screwdriver. A small 4" roller is also a boon for painting spaces in which a standard roller can't fit. Of course, you'll also need to buy a regular roller for the most professional-looking finish.

Get some happy music going and start prepping your room. Remove all light fixtures, ceiling fans, switch plates, towel racks, shower curtain and rod, toilet seat covers, and pictures. If you want to paint the door, take off the door knob. If the mirror can be removed with ease, take that down, too. Place all removable objects in a different room.

Good Scrub

Fill up the sink with hot soapy water and give the walls a good scrubbing. Pay particular attention to the areas around and behind the toilet. A thorough cleaning will ensure that your paint will stick as it should.

Next check all the seal around the shower stall, bathtub, and counter tops. Use the 5 in 1 tool to dig out the bad stuff and use your caulking gun with silicone caulking material that is formulated for the bathroom and can be painted over.

Spackle the nail holes, wait about 20 minutes and sand the excess away.

Mask Off

Next is masking all places you don't want to paint. Use drop cloths for the floor, counter top and bathtub. Use painter's tape to mask off edges of cabinets, mirrors, and anything else you couldn't remove and don't want to paint.

Start by painting the trim if it's getting a different color, and then cut in the corners with your angled brush and small roller. The rest goes fast and easy with your 9" roller.