Bathrooms are exposed to the most moisture, so choose the paint that will last.
You want to choose abathroom paintthat is best suited for a room with higher humidity.
The best sheens or finishes for bathrooms usually include eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss.
The Spruce / Sarah Crowley
However, these specially labeled paints usually have other benefits like mildew resistance, water resistance, and washability.
Moisture affects your bathroom walls in two ways.
Damp air from steamy baths and showers collects on the walls.
Illustration: The Spruce / Michela Buttignol
Then, water directly from the shower, bath, or sink gets splashed onto the walls.
Moisture can damage paint when it penetrates the paint layer and contacts the drywall or plaster surface underneath.
This can lead to peeling paint and mold growth.
The less porous the paint coating, the less moisture gets through.
The higher the gloss, the better the paint finish performs in bathrooms.
In older bathrooms, you will often find high-gloss finishes on all surfaces.
Tip
Latex paint is best for bathrooms due to its ability to resist moisture.
Mildew-resistant primer is also a great start to a good paint job in a bathroom.
Sherwin-Williams' line of Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex Paint contains anti-microbial properties on par with Sherwin-Williams Bath Paint.
It is anideal paint choice for trim, walls, or ceilings.
Flat
Flat or matte is usually considered the worst option.
“Glossy finishes, by contrast, practically ‘bead water.'”
The rule of thumb is to avoid flat or matte and go more glossy in bathrooms.
But high-end paint manufacturers are breaking some of the rules.
Eggshell paint is similar; it has a slight sheen, much like a chicken egg.
It is more washable and resists water better than flat paint; however, moisture will eventually permeate it.
It’s best used in a low-moisture bathroom.
Perma-White can be tinted to off-white, pastel, and medium colors.
It comes in eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss finishes.
Satin
Satin and eggshell are sometimes interchangeable, depending on the paint manufacturer.
It usually has a bit of a gloss, somewhat more than an eggshell.
It is another good option for a low-moisture bathroom.
It’s best used on wall trim, baseboards, andbathroom cabinets.
Valspar Ultra High-Gloss Ultra White/Base A Enamel Tintable Interior Paint is a good choice for glossy paint.
The good news is you’ll get high-quality paint designed to last in the bathroom.
And fortunately,small bathroomsusually take less than a gallon for two coats.
