If you're looking for an easy and budget-friendly bathroom upgrade, think paint! Like your kitchen, your bathroom's color palette can dramatically influence your day-to-day mood. A fresh coat of paint can revitalize a mundane space. And you can always add complementary fixtures (now or later), to create your very own theme - relaxing or ebullient, whatever you prefer.
The key to this simple bathroom upgrade
But hold on! Before you paint your walls, you should know that a bathroom paint job poses a few special challenges. Whether you're planning an entire bathroom remodeling project or a simple D.I.Y. bathroom upgrade, don't let the challenges stop you in your tracks.
Read below for a few simple tips that will prevent any unnecessary hassles - and ensure a successful bathroom upgrade!
1. Examine Your Light and Space
Did you ever notice that you look great in certain bathrooms, and only so-so in other bathrooms? It's all about the color and lighting. Remember, your mirror reflects your bathroom colors in your face - so try to choose colors that flatter your complexion. Need inspiration? Look at your wardrobe. If you know how to dress, you'll likely have a good template for your bathroom colors. Your wardrobe's colors can offer clues to what paint colors will best flatter you.
In any case, before choosing colors for your bathroom upgrade, closely examine your available space and light exposure. Do you have a small bathroom layout that you wish to enlarge? Well, certain colors like cream and icy blue offer the illusion of a larger space. Does your bathroom feel dim? The precise placement of mirrors and lights can add depth, nuance, and much-needed light to an otherwise small, drab room.
2. Choose a Bathroom-Ready Paint
Recently, paint manufacturers have produced "bathroom-specific" paint that is made to resist moisture and mold. The bathroom remodeling industry has yet to fully embrace these new types of paint. As a consumer, your best bet is to first learn what types of traditional paints work best in the bathroom. If you're bathroom upgrade includes a new shower and/or bath, then should choose paint that is well-suited for moisture. Semi-gloss paint offers a good sheen, and repels moisture. High-gloss is typically used for trim and cabinetry, but its supreme moisture-resistance makes it a good choice for bathroom walls, too. Flat and eggshell paint typically absorb moisture, and are best suited for powder rooms, or low-traffic bathrooms.
3. Inspect the Walls for Potential Problems
The bathroom is like its own weather zone, complete with water and humidity. All that extra moisture increases the possibility of water leaks and peeling paint. If you're not careful, your bathroom wall can become a breeding ground for bacteria and mildew. Thankfully, a bathroom upgrade offers the perfect opportunity to fix these problems. And the solution is simple: before applying any new paint, chip off any old, peeling paint; clean the wall; patch any holes; and cover your existing water stains with a primer made specifically for the job.
4. Wash Your Walls
After you're done inspecting for problems, make sure you give your walls a thorough cleaning. This might seem like an obvious tip, when you're talking about a bathroom upgrade, a clean wall is essential. Why? A clean wall provides a smooth surface for a fresh application of paint. And you want to rid the surface of dirt, mildew, and... beauty products!
That's right, certain beauty products, like hairspray, contain silicone - a water repellant. At Master Kitchen & Bathroom Design, we've had a good number of bathroom remodeling clients whose previous D.I.Y. paint job failed because the paint separated on the wall. This problem is especially prevalent with Latex-based paints. If you use silicon-based beauty products, make sure you clean the wall thoroughly, or you might find yourself with a botched bathroom makeover!
