How to paint a bathroom: choosing the right paint and colours

A bathroom should be more than just a practical space. With the right paint colour and finish, it can become a relaxing retreat or a room full of personality.

Whether you’re refreshing a small bathroom, decorating a family bathroom or introducing colour through painted panelling, choosing the right paint is essential for achieving a beautiful, lasting finish.

From selecting the most suitable paint finish to finding colours that complement your tiles and fittings, here’s our guide to painting a bathroom.

What is the best paint for bathroom walls and ceilings?

Bathrooms are exposed to moisture, steam and changes in temperature, so choosing the right paint finish is particularly important.

Our Natural Emulsion offers a soft, chalky matt finish with depth of colour from earth and mineral pigments. It can be used on bathroom walls and ceilings where ventilation is very good, such as bathrooms with effective extraction or a window that is opened during use.

For bathrooms with limited ventilation, or surfaces regularly exposed to splashes and condensation, our Water-Based Eggshell is the recommended alternative. Its durable satin finish is better suited to these more demanding conditions.

As a general guide:

• Well-ventilated bathrooms: Natural Emulsion can be used on walls and ceilings.
• Bathrooms with limited ventilation: Consider Water-Based Eggshell.
• Surfaces exposed to splashes or condensation: Water-Based Eggshell is generally the more suitable option.

Neither finish should be treated as a substitute for adequate ventilation or waterproofing in areas subject to direct, frequent water exposure, such as inside a shower enclosure.

How to paint a bathroom: step by step

Good preparation is essential when painting a bathroom, particularly where surfaces may have been exposed to moisture.

1. Prepare the surfaces

Clean walls and ceilings thoroughly, removing dirt, soap residue and any loose or flaking paint. Fill and sand imperfections, ensuring the surface is smooth, sound and completely dry before decorating.

If there is existing mould or damp, address the underlying moisture problem before painting rather than simply covering it.

2. Prime where necessary

Fresh plaster, absorbent surfaces and repaired areas may require a suitable primer, such as our Ultimate 2-in-1 Primer.

Always check the product instructions and ensure the primer is appropriate for the surface and chosen paint finish.

3. Apply the first coat

Stir the paint thoroughly before application. Use a brush to cut in around edges, corners and fittings, then a roller for larger areas.

Work in manageable sections, maintaining a wet edge to achieve an even finish.

4. Apply the second coat

Allow the first coat to dry according to the recommended drying times before applying a second coat.

Most colours achieve excellent coverage in two coats, although coverage will depend on the colour, surface and previous decoration.

Keep the bathroom well ventilated during application and drying, and allow the paint to cure in accordance with the product guidance before exposing it to regular moisture and condensation.

What paint colours work best in a bathroom?

Bathrooms offer a wonderful opportunity to experiment with colour. Whether you prefer a light, restful space or something more expressive, the right shade can completely transform the room.

Soft pink bathroom paint colours

Cuisse de Nymphe Emue is a beautiful pink-based neutral that introduces warmth without feeling overly sweet.

Soft pinks can work particularly well alongside marble, natural stone and traditional bathroom fittings, creating a gentle backdrop for both contemporary and period interiors.

Green bathroom paint colours

Eau de Nile is a pale green with a soft grey character and underlying warmth, making it a lovely choice for bathrooms.

Green works particularly well alongside timber, painted panelling and natural materials, creating a connection with the colours of the outdoors.

Blue bathroom paint colours

Duck Egg offers a soft, delicate blue that can bring freshness and colour to a bathroom without feeling overpowering.

Blue is a natural companion to white sanitaryware and traditional bathroom fittings, while deeper shades can create a stronger contrast.

Warm white bathroom paint colours

For a light, understated scheme, Milk White is a warm white that feels softer than a conventional brilliant white.

It works beautifully with natural stone, timber and simple bathroom fittings, particularly where you want the materials and architectural details to take centre stage.

Bold bathroom paint colours

Bathrooms can also be wonderful places to embrace stronger colour.

Pompadour and Nicaragua offer two distinctive approaches to creating a more expressive interior, whether used across the walls or introduced through painted panelling and woodwork.

Don’t feel that smaller bathrooms must always be painted in pale colours. A deeper shade can create an enveloping effect, particularly when used consistently across several surfaces.

Bathroom panelling ideas: adding colour and character

Tongue-and-groove panelling is a lovely way to introduce texture and architectural interest into a bathroom, whether you’re decorating a traditional country house or a contemporary home.

One approach is to install panelling up to dado height, using a contrasting or complementary colour on the wall above. Soft greens, blues and warm neutrals work beautifully for a gentler scheme, while richer colours can give the panelling greater prominence.

Alternatively, painting the panelling and walls in the same colour creates a more continuous effect, allowing the texture and detail of the woodwork to stand out.

Wallpaper can also be used above painted panelling to introduce pattern and colour, provided it is suitable for the bathroom’s moisture levels and ventilation.

For painted timber panelling, choose a finish appropriate to the conditions in your bathroom, particularly where surfaces may be exposed to splashes.

How to choose bathroom paint colours for your space

Before settling on a colour, consider the natural light, size of the room and materials already in place.

Bathrooms often contain large areas of tile, stone, porcelain and metal, all of which can influence how a paint colour appears. A shade that looks warm on a colour card may feel quite different beside cool marble or bright white sanitaryware.

Natural light is equally important. Bathrooms with small windows or limited daylight may benefit from a colour chosen specifically for those conditions, while brighter rooms can accommodate a wide range of shades.

Consider the atmosphere you want to create rather than assuming a bathroom must always feel light or neutral.

Test your bathroom paint colours before decorating

We always recommend testing your chosen colours at home before making a final decision.

Our A5 colour swatches make it easy to compare shades alongside tiles, flooring, sanitaryware and fittings. Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, sample pots allow you to test the colour over a larger area.

Look at your samples in both natural and artificial light, particularly if your bathroom is used most often in the morning or evening.

Find your perfect bathroom paint colour

Whether you’re drawn to gentle greens, warm whites or something altogether bolder, the right colour can make your bathroom feel personal and inviting.

Explore our bathroom inspiration gallery for ideas from real interiors, discover our natural paint colours, or speak to our Colour Consultants for advice on choosing a scheme that works with your space.