Painting tips for your bathroom

ARTICLE courtesy of Dulux

Whether you’re looking to sell your home, or just want to update the look of your  bathroom area, one of the best places to start is with paint. “Painting your bathroom is one the cheapest, easiest and most effective ways of transforming the look of one of the most popular and used rooms in a home,” says Dulux colour expert, Gretchen Flynn, who has compiled some tips, tricks and colour advice to help get your bathroom renovation project off to a great start.

1. Liven up white with a splash of colour

White is a popular colour choice for bathrooms as it gives a fresh, ultra modern look, but you need to be careful about how much you use of it.

Too much white can make a space look sterile and cold – something you definitely don’t want in areas of the home where you and your family spend a large amount of time.

To brighten up and add interest to an all white bathroom, add splashes of hues such as charcoal, red, lime green or hot pink in the form of accessories, appliances or accents such as splashbacks or feature walls.

2. Create some contrast

Using contrasting colours is another great way to add interest to the look of your bathroom. For a timeless look that will never go out of style, try teaming black granite bench tops with crisp white walls.

3. Be bold and get colouring.

If you’ve always loved colour but have been afraid to use it in your home, you’re in luck. Bathrooms are ideal areas to experiment with colour and try bolder tones, as they tend to have minimal wall space and a splash of colour serves to liven up rather than overpower the room. And the great thing is, because the area you are painting is likely to be small, if you really don’t like the colour you’ve chosen or feel like a bit of a change, you can easily repaint it at a minimal cost.

4. Go muted

Not quite ready to make such a bold colour commitment? Using colour doesn’t mean you have to go bright. Soft muted shades of greens, greys and blues look great in bathrooms, especially when paired with a beautiful crisp white. To transform your bathroom into a serene haven, go for a soft green such as Dulux White Island.

5. Choose a colour to suit your mood

Never underestimate the impact colour can have on your mood. If you tend to get stressed easily and want to create a relaxed, calming atmosphere in your bathroom, opt for a blue such as Dulux Ruakaka or a lilac such as Dulux Lake Aviemore. If you want to create a space that makes you feel energised and alert, go for yellows, reds, oranges or a zesty citrus green such as Dulux Cuba Street or Dulux Te Puke.

6. Let there be light

If your bathroom is dark, go for a paint with a slight sheen. It will reflect the room’s light, so the space won't appear as dark as it really is.

7. Create the illusion of space

If you’ve got a high ceiling in your bathroom, paint it a softer colour than the walls. This helps emphasise the height of a room, making it a feature. Do the opposite if you have a low ceiling, and paint the ceiling the same colour as the walls.By having no definition between the walls and ceiling, this makes the space appear larger.

8. Choose the right paint for the job

When choosing a paint for your bathroom, it’s important to select one that will deliver moisture resistance and superior durability. Dulux Wash & Wear Kitchen & Bathroom has been designed specifically to tackle just about anything a bathroom or kitchen can throw at it. Not only does it deliver superior durability (allowing you to wash the walls regularly without harming the surface), but it is also scuff, mould and bacteria resistant so is perfect for those wet and damp kitchen and bathroom areas.

You might be interested in reading: Painting Q&A: preparation and removal.

Get in touch with Refresh to discuss your home renovation project

If you would like to discuss paint colour options for your home renovation project, please use the enquiry form on this page to provide us with your contact details. We will get in touch with you at a time that suits you to discuss your project. If you would like to provide us with more information about your project, we have a more comprehensive enquiry form on our "Get in touch" page too.
*All information is believed to be true at time of publishing and is subject to change.