There are various factors you need to consider when choosing the best bathroom paint for your home. Your paint needs to be waterproof, but you may also need to combat mould growth and condensation.
I have been in the decorating industry for just over 20 years. In this blog, I’m going to take you through the different types of paint you may consider buying when decorating your bathroom. I’ll then recommend the best product(s) for each type of paint. Feel free to skim ahead if you already know what finish you want.
I hope you find it useful.
The Different Type of Bathroom Paint
Retail Kitchen and Bathroom Paint
Most paint brands, including Dulux, Johnstone’s and Crown, all manufacture different paint products for different markets. Retail kitchen and bathroom paint (the type you might find on the shelves in DIY outlets) is cheap, but is of lesser quality than trade paint.
As a Decorator, my advice is to avoid retail paint, and go for trade (look for the word “trade” on the tin). You may pay slightly more, but the opacity, durability and overall appearance is better.
Durable Matt Emulsion
Durable matt emulsion is suitable for most bathrooms. The paint itself has a similar make-up and finish to vinyl matt, but it contains more polymer binders, making it waterproof.
This makes your cured paint able to stand-up to the condensation in a lot of bathrooms. That said, if you have extreme condensation issues, or problems with mould growth, then you should look at one of the options further down this list.
Acrylic Eggshell
Unlike Durable matt emulsion paint, acrylic eggshell has a high sheen level (around 20% – 30%). Paints like this were very popular at one point, but less desirable in modern-day homes.
However, eggshell does have one advantage; The finish isn’t pitted like matt emulsion is. Using eggshell is like coating your bathroom walls in a film, which water will run down without marking. This makes it suitable for bathrooms that suffer heavy condensation issues.
Anti-Mould Paint
Bathrooms with bad ventilation, cold walls, or particularly bad condensation issues can be the perfect conditions for mould. Mould is just a fungus, but some paints contain additives which kill the spores before they can grow.
The Best Durable Matt Emulsion to Use in a Bathroom
A matt finish is by far the most popular in any room of the house, including bathrooms. However, there is a vast difference in quality of finish from one brand of durable matt emulsion to another. This is because most are made using acrylic, which can cause defects like flashing or picture framing.
I’ve used just about every trade durable matt emulsion on the market, and two stand out as the best options.
Crown Trade Clean Extreme Scrabbable Matt
Crown Clean Extreme Matt is one of the best bathroom paints on the market, simply because it’s more durable than most of the comparable products. This means it’s more likely to withstand adverse conditions like steam and condensation.
It’s an absolute joy to use too, and flows easily from your brush and roller. Opacity is good, as is overall finish. You’ll find Clean Extreme reasonably priced too, and if you buy it online, you can have it matched into any colour from any other brand.
Dulux Trade Diamond Matt
I used to hate Dulux Diamond Matt until they changed the formula recently. Now it’s a fantastic drop of paint! You’ll find it more expensive than Crown Clean Extreme, and not quite as durable. But the finish is unrivalled!
It leaves you with a luxurious low-sheen finish and a great depth of colour. Opacity is fantastic in tinted bases, but white often needs an extra coat. I’ve just finished painting my kitchen with this one, and I think it is absolutely awesome. So easy to use, no defects, just fantastic quality!
The Best Eggshell Paint for a Bathroom
Acrylic eggshell may not be as desirable as a matt finish, especially in large bathrooms, but it’s still one of the best bathroom paints to use. If the condensation in your room is so excessive that water runs down the walls, then eggshell is the way to go.
A lot of acrylic eggshell paints are very similar. Some can leave you with a cheap plastic-type finish and highlight defects. I’m going to recommend two paint products here. The first is a reasonably priced option. The other is probably the best available.
Armstead Trade Acrylic Durable Eggshell
I love Armstead as a brand. It’s manufactured by AkzoNobel (who also make Dulux), but Armstead is more reasonably priced. It’s still great quality though.
The opacity of Armstead Acrylic Eggshell is good in colours, but poor in white. You’ll find it easy to use, leaves a nice finish, and will stand up well to conditions in a bathroom. This is a paint I use regularly, and I stand by.
Crown Trade Clean Extreme Durable Acrylic Eggshell
Crown Clean Extreme may be more expensive than Armstead, but they make a brilliant eggshell! This is a very durable bathroom paint and will stay looking clean and fresh for years.
This is another paint with good opacity, is easy to use, and has a great finish. It’s the durability that makes it stand out as one of the best bathroom paint products. You can’t go wrong with this paint.
The Best Mould Resistant Paint for a Bathroom
Bathrooms with bad ventilation, cold walls, or particularly bad condensation issues can be the perfect conditions for mould. Mould is just a fungus, but some paints contain additives which kill the spores before they can grow.
Zinsser Perma White
There are a few mould resistant paints you can choose, but the industry recognises Zinsser Perma White as the best around.
One thing I would say is the opacity of Perma White in white with isn’t very good, so expect to apply additional coats when painting a ceiling or wall. Tinted colours are fine, and the overall finish looks spectacular. It works too! I used this product in a pool changing room about 10 years ago. Before then it had suffered bad mould and needed to be painted every 6 months. This was 10 years ago, and it still looks great now!
FAQs
Which paint is best for a bathroom ceiling?
This is a little bit of a trade-off. Matt emulsion will always look best on a ceiling because it avoids defects like flashing and picture framing, however a lot of matt paints don’t stand up well to moisture. My advice would be to choose either Zinsser Perma White or Dulux Diamond Matt.
Is silk or matt emulsion better for bathrooms?
Avoid silk when decorating. It looks horrendous and can cause problems further down the line. Durable matt is much better for bathrooms, or use acrylic eggshell if your bathroom suffers from particularly high levels of steam and condensation.
Is Dulux Easycare OK for bathrooms?
Dulux Easycare is ok for bathrooms because it’s durable, however it’s a retail product. If you choose a trade product from this blog, you will achieve much better results, and your paintwork will last longer.
Can you paint over bathroom paint?
You can paint over bathroom paint like you would any other emulsion.
What is the difference between bathroom paint and regular paint?
Mostly the amount and type of polymer binder. Bathroom paint needs to be waterproof so it can withstand its environment. Some of the best bathroom paints also contain antimould additives.
What Paint do Other Decorators Recommend?
I’ve always used McPhersons durable Matt and it’s never let me down, also clean Extreme in various finishes. I just think any think with a stain resistance does the job in bathrooms.
Bath & Spa paint from Benjamin Moore for me every time. I know it’s expensive, but it’s the best available.
I always preferred eggshell in kitchens and bathrooms.
Tikkurila luja 7 great to use and has anti mould properties in it. I used this in a swimming pool area 2 years ago and it looks as if I finished it yesterday now. It’s designed for hard wearing also, so it’s also scrubbable. Personally, wouldn’t use anything else if I could help it. I think it’s better to spend a little extra money to get the best paint for a bathroom, rather than scrimping and the room needing to be redecorated again after a few months.
Johnstone’s water-based eggshell. It goes on an absolute dream and stands up to bathroom conditions.
Zinsser Perma White, although it’s a great product and does exactly what it says, its opacity in white is absolutely dreadful. I think it is a great bathroom paint if you use Zinsser 123 as a primer like the tin suggests. Tinted colours are fantastic.
I’ve used Dulux Diamond eggshell in the past and it’s same as Perma White regarding opacity, but it does perform well regarding steam and condensation. Unfortunately, it does have quite a sheen to it.
For steamy bathrooms & ensuites I use Little Greene Intelligent Eggshell. It’s a great product.
I often use Architects Matt by Paint and Paper Library. Wonderful paint with a great depth of colour and fantastic for a bathroom. Or Tikkurila Luja 7, which is insanely good!
I normally use Valspar Bathroom Paint and found it to be great. It’s got a high vinyl content, so it’s not as runny as some. You always need 2 coats with it. It’s mould and stain resistant and brilliant for high humidity areas. It’s good enough for my house, so good enough for a Customer 👍
I personally would use Zinsser Perma White. It’s the best bathroom paint by far.
Crown Clean extreme eggshell for me.
Johnstone’s water-based eggshell is good in a bathroom. It goes on well and is easy to use.
I would always use Zinsser Perma White in bathrooms that have evidence of frequent high humidity. And also on jobs where I’m certain showering will commence the very next morning – it seems to cure quick enough to cope with that
I’ve always used perma white satin in bathrooms. I usually can get it tinted to most light colours, but I’m tempted to try Crown Clean Extreme Eggshell as I’ve used it in kitchens to great effect.
I’d always recommend bathroom paint, usually Dulux or MacPherson. The reason is because its mould proof etc. Plus, the steam off the bath/showers it shouldn’t peel the paint. They’re great products to use too.
Tikkurila Luja is the best bathroom paint.
I’ve used Johnstone’s oil-based eggshell for last 15 years on my own bathroom. It’s been so hard wearing, so I’d never change to anything else. It’s never discoloured never flaked & lasts at least 5/6 years before I get bored & change colour.
Dulux Diamond Eggshell if the client is willing to pay for it. If not, MacPherson acrylic eggshell. I’m not a big fan of the Armstead eggshell, and wouldn’t have confidence in Leyland. Crown is not bad, but I’m not a fan of clean extreme.
Johnstone’s durable Matt is my preference in a bathroom, with the added mould resistant formulation. It’s a great paint.
I usually use Dulux bathroom paint for ceilings, as I have never had any issues no mould, peeling etc. I’m trying Good Homes bathroom paint for ceiling today for first time as I rate their other products.
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