For many areas of the United States, it’s far too cold to do exterior renovations but it doesn’t mean you can’t paint! The winter is an excellent time to freshen up your bathroom with a new coat, and new color of paint. Winter is traditionally a slower month for painters so professionals may have flexibility in their schedules for new projects. If you would rather paint that bathroom yourself, and save some money for the holidays, here are a few things to remember to ensure your project goes smoothly:
Use glossy paint: Paints that have a glossy sheen are typically used in bathrooms due to their durability and stain resistance. Low-sheen, semi-gloss, and high-gloss are all great choices but remember, higher gloss means that any imperfections in the wall will be more noticeable. Be sure to patch up any holes and re-texture areas as needed while preparing the bathroom.
First trim, then paint ceiling and walls: Paint the trim, any baseboards or molding, in the bathroom first as it requires the most attention to detail to get clean lines on. Tape any areas that require a clean line and make sure to remove the tape before the paint dries. Next paint the ceiling and work your way down finishing with the walls. With any painting project, it’s important to try to maintain a “wet edge” throughout the entire process. You don’t want to let an area dry before adding more paint because you may end up with an uneven look with two coats instead of one in some areas.
Give the paint time to set: Before using the bathroom be absolutely sure that the paint is dry. Moisture is paints’ worst enemy. Read the dry time for your selected paint type and make sure to always abide by the dry-time before introducing moisture or steam into the bathroom.
Keep it light: Bathrooms tend to be smaller than most rooms in the home, so it is very difficult to make dark colors work. Light colors should open the room up and trimming the room in white is a great choice to give it a crisp look.
Top image credit: Signature Design Cabinetry
