Considering painting your bathroom tile? See how our bathroom tile paint has held up over the years…
Our bathroom tile paint project is one that we get questions about from time to time, so I wanted to check in with an update about that DIY project and let you know how the tile paint has been holding up for the past three years…especially if you’ve been considering giving the project a try in your own home!
Back in 2015, we renovated our upstairs hallways bathroom, which is used by our three kids. We did the whole thing for less than $2k, and it’s still one of my favorite bathroom renovation projects we’ve ever tackled.
One of the things that kept the cost down on that project SIGNIFICANTLY was using a Rustoleum product to paint the tub and shower surround, rather than ripping it out and buying new. For less than $100, we took the old tub and shower surround from a dated, dingy almond color (seen below) to bright white.
We wrote a post about the process, with some tips we learned as we went through the project. We also linked to some friends who have done the project in their homes, as well, if you’re looking for even more details.
If you decide to tackle the bathroom tile paint project…
Grab a free copy of this one-page printable supply list and our best tips & tricks to make your project go smoothly. Click here or on the image below. I’ll send your PDF right now⤵️
Supplies Needed for Painting Tile
- Rustoleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kit
- A touch-up kit is also available and discussed in this post
- rubber or plastic gloves
- GOOD quality respirator/mask
- fans/open windows/as much ventilation as possible
- high/fine-grit sandpaper
- paintbrush angled 2.5-3″ or so (not a super expensive one…you’ll have to throw it out after this)
- painter’s tape
- paint roller (and tray) with foam nap
- cleaning supplies (as indicated on Rust-Oleum box)
Get your free printable cheat sheet for this project! The PDF supply list and tips/tricks will help make this tile painting project as easy as possible! Click here or on the picture below. I’ll send your copy now⤵️!
So now, let me show you how the bathroom tile paint has fared over the past couple of years in a bathroom that sees some heavy use! FIRST, I’ll show you the GOOD. THEN, I’ll show you the not-so-good.
The following are all images I took THIS WEEK, almost exactly 3 years following the initial application of the tile paint:
Bathroom tile paint 3 years later
bathroom tile paint update shot #1
Pretty awesome, right? It looks great!
bathroom tile paint update shot #2
The exterior of the tub and all of the vertical tile surround for the shower/tub combo still looks AMAZING.
bathroom tile paint update shot #3
Feel free to look back at the shots I took of this project right after it was completed. They live on this post.
Here’s another shot of how the bathroom tile paint looks now…
bathroom tile paint update shot #4
NOW, for the not-so-good part. The tile paint in the bottom of the tub looked GREAT…until…
We decided to place an anti-slip mat in the tub. Our youngest was at the point where he wanted to shower instead of taking a bath, and we were nervous that a tub without a mat would be too slippery.
We made a BIG mistake and put in an anti-skid mat that had suction cups on the bottom. Welp, that pretty much DESTROYED the finish…
bathroom tile paint update shot #5
Truthfully, even with the skid mat in place, the finish was doing fine because when I cleaned the tub, I was just leaving the mat in place. BUT then I got all fancy and hired a maid service…and they decided that in order to REALLY clean the tub, they needed to remove the mat. Fair enough.
It’s really my own fault since I didn’t even think to tell them to just leave the mat alone. Nonetheless, when that mat was removed, the bathroom tile paint was removed along with it.
There you have it. The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
bathroom tile paint update shot #6
Would you recommend bathroom tile paint?
Would you do this DIY project again?
And knowing what I do now if you were to ask me whether or not I’d recommend this project, I’d say “HELL YES” I’d do it again!
In fact, once we knock some other items off the DIY to-do list, I will probably spend $25 on another kit, and red0 just the tub portion. This time, I’ll just forgo putting an anti-slip mat with suction cups back in.
Is this bathroom tile paint solution perfect? Well, no. But many of us don’t have $6k (or more) to spend on completely demolishing and putting in a whole new tub and shower. So if you fall into that tight-budget crowd with us, I’d definitely recommend this! It’s a whole lot of bathroom bang for the buck.
bathroom tile paint update shot #7
On the hunt for more budget-friendly home improvement, and DIY home decorating ideas? Definitely check out these articles, too!
Pin this post for later! And if you try tile paint, leave a comment (or better yet, a photo) on the pin! That helps others know whether they want to try this project, too!
Pssst…before you go, I sure would love to hang out with you again really soon! Sign up now and get a no-cost copy of “Builder-Grade To Beautiful: 10 Totally Transformative Home Decorating Solutions, All Under $100!” Click here to enter your email or on the image below. Your copy will be emailed right away!
MJ says
We’re considering the same treatment for our almond tub. I’m nervous about bathing the kids in it afterwards. Have you found any info relating to how safe it is to bathe in?
Heather says
Hi Michelle! It’s been a while since we’ve done ours…I don’t think I’m the best person to give you advice on product safety. I felt comfortable using it in our home, but I think your concerns are good to have, and I’d definitely reach out to the company with specific questions or concerns.
Colleen says
I use Dawn dishwashing liquid for our repainted shower. Cleans as well as any bathroom cleaning product, will not damage surface or my skin, and is alot cheaper.
Donna says
I had someone come in and spray mine. Looks wonderful but not sure how to clean it. What do you use? Says not to use harsh chemicals but not what to actually use!
Heather says
Honestly, I think it’s less about the chemicals, and more about abrasive sponges and brushes. Don’t use anything abrasive to scrub. I haven’t tried any bathroom cleaners that did it any harm.
Sally says
Hi there!
Would you also recommend the same kit for ugly FLOOR tile?
Thank you in advance.
Heather says
Hi Sally – I’m not sure I would. I don’t think this would hold up amazingly well to foot traffic over an extended period of time. Now, that said, there are LOTS of people who have successfully painted floor tiles, but NOT using a kit like this. Check out this post I wrote about cool painted floor ideas: https://heatherednest.com/painted-floor-ideas/
Cathy says
So we just bought a house built in 1973. The hall bathroom has olive drab ceramic tiles not just around the tub but around the whole room, including across the top of the vanity. I really want to gut the bathroom and start again but that will have to wait until we win the lottery. The green isn’t terrible, but I hate being married to that color scheme. Would you recommend this Rustolem product to paint the tiles all over this bathroom?
Heather says
Hi Cathy! It sounds to me like it would be a good fit for you! But definitely read up on it and make sure you know the pros AND cons. It will take several coats, it’s VERY stinky (so you won’t want to sleep close by for at least a night or two) and it is not a DIY that will buy you 20 years of additional life for the tile, you know what I mean? It’s a great stop-gap measure, I’d say. And they make chip repair kits for little nicks and dings. Ours still looks great EXCEPT for where we put down the suction cup floor mat for the kids non-slip pad. Let us know what you decide!
Kelli Miller says
I’m wanting to paint some UGLY porcelain tile on a bathroom floor. I’m looking at roughly 90sf.
1. Do you feel that the product covered as much sf as advertised on the box?
2. This floor is in a really old house that because of the geographical area, shifts and moves constantly! Will we have problems with the paint cracking?
3. How well does the product hold up on the floor? It doesn’t get a lot of traffic, one teenage girl. We live in a rural area, on city water, however there is a high content of sulfur in our water…. I’m just curious how that might affect the finish?
Thank you in advance!
Heather says
Hi Kelli, hmmmm…I’m not honestly sure that this is the right product for you. This is not specific for flooring. It’s a tub and shower surround paint…so tile in the tub, yes. Tile on the floor? No. I don’t think it would stand up great to foot traffic. Now that said, there are lots of great ways to paint tile using other products. I did a post about beautiful painted floors recently, so check here for some inspiration: https://heatherednest.com/painted-floor-ideas/ And I’m actually putting together another post in the beginning of the year about painted tile, specifically. Hope that helps, and sorry it’s not the most fun answer for you!
Melissa says
Does paint work on shower/tub inserts?
Heather says
Hi Melissa! I would definitely read the fine print on the box. Our tub is the standard, inexpensive acrylic material that many of those inserts are also made of, but I would definitely NOT want to misinform you! If you read the label and still aren’t sure, definitely reach out to Rust-Oleum directly. They’re very helpful, in my experience.
Nicole says
I do know that another bathtub paint kit (Bathworks, I think?) sells an anti-skid additive. Maybe try their kit? I think the only issue you’d have is possible mismatch of paint colors (not everyone’s white is the same unfortunately).
You can always contact Rustoleum and see if they recommend a certain anti-skid additive to their kit!
Anyway, glad to see this is holding up well after 3 years! I will be doing one whole bathtub/shower surround and have been scouring the web for previous experiences… mostly to detail the prep work and then how well it holds up. Thanks for posting!
Jessie says
Any idea if the suction cups were the issue or maybe the cleaner that was used when maids moved it? Just curious since I’m thinking about trying this and we have little ones who need a antislip mat too.
Heather says
DEFINITELY the suction cups. And I’d steer clear of any abrasive cleansers, too.
E says
Glad to see it held up well. Might try this. In your original post you mentioned painting the bath fixtures- did you try that/ it work out? Cant tell if these are the same.
Heather says
I did paint the fixtures, actually. And they did well for a while…until the faucet had some type of issue…can’t recall what it was, but we ended up just replacing the faucet probably a year after it had been painted. But it worked great for at least a year 🙂
liz says
yay this is great news I am thinking about doing this to my shower!