Bathroom Makeover – How to Paint Shower Tile (with VIDEO)

We’ve been working on our 1960’s Ranch for over a year now and the guest bathroom has not been my priority. The plan when we purchased the house was to fully gut it with the rest of the house and start from scratch with new tile and updated everything. The demo team came and found that the walls were concrete in the bathroom behind the tile. I didn’t want to pay extra and they didn’t want to demo concrete walls so we left the problem to be resolved later. One year later we found a solution for the creme and gold 60’s tile—Epoxy Paint.

One thing I did do in the renovated was replace the floor tile and the vanity which you can see below. The porcelain tub was in great shape so I was excited to be able to keep it! You can see the before’s and in progress below.

SCROLL DOWN FOR REVIEW ONE YEAR LATER & FAQs ANSWERED

BEFORE

I chose to use the Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing kit because I saw similar tile online being refinished with it! The reviews were great so I thought I’d give it a go even though I’m not typically a DIYer.

My goal was to find a solution that was:

  1. Cost Effective
  2. Easy
  3. Looked Great
  4. Durable

If you have an ugly shower to transform, here’s you solution!

MATERIALS NEEDED:

PREP

As I began to research for this project I realized prep is KEY. From other blogs to Amazon reviews, others who have taken this on shared the repercussions of not prepping and cleaning their space before starting. Since I didn’t want to take on this project more than once I took this step very seriously.  We scrubbed and by scrubbed like there was no tomorrow.  Use a product that will break down soap scum and other buildup that may be lingering around.  We used a sponge and comet.

After you’ve cleaned your shower tile thoroughly, sand the tiles with a 150 grit sandpaper. The sanding isn’t meant to take off layers of your tile, it’s just meant to scuff up the tile/tub to remove any remaining oils/grease, and to give the product something to adhere to.

Using blue painters tape, tape all along the bathtub where the grout meets the tub.  Also tape up the wall that meets the tile and grout and any bath fixtures.

PAINT

Now off to the fun part! The kit comes with two tubs to be mixed—Part A and B. Once mixed start painting. Let me warn you. This product has an extremely strong odor. Not just kind of strong, but REALLY STRONG and it lingers. You will want to wear a ventilation mask for sure. If you’re goofy like us grab a paint suit because they make you laugh and you don’t have to worry about getting paint on your clothes.

When painting we switched between a brush and a roller. We learned the hard way that some rollers shed. This product dries really fast so getting a roller that doesn’t shed is so important.

When you take on the first coat it might not look perfectly even or completely cover. Don’t freak out! Phase one looks a little scary, but let it dry for a minute and when coat two goes on you’ll be so excited on how great it looks.

I finished off by using bath and kitchen caulk, seal off the grout line that meets the tub. It creates a much cleaner look.

FINISHED PROJECT

I was able to be pretty thrifty with this bathroom refresh. The lights are from Amazon and were less than $40 each! The art over the toilet is actually a toilet patent from Patent Prints on Etsy. I love it because it has a sophisticated look, but just a little quirky. The other small business in this bathroom refresh was the bathroom hardware that is handcrafted by Forge Studio Hardware on Etsy. I love her hardware because it’s unique and cost effective. The gold went so well with the mirror and the lights that I had to have them!

I TOOK THIS PROJECT AGAIN HERE

BEFORE
AFTER

REVIEW ONE YEAR LATER & QUESTIONS ANSWERED

ORIGINAL VLOG

Would you ever consider painting your tile? Do you have any questions about the process? Leave them in the comments below.

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What better way to break in the bathroom after a design refresh than a bath for the pup?! All design projects much be pup approved! 😋

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20 Comments

  1. How has your tile paint held up? Especially in the shower area? Was one package of the rustoleum enough to cover your entire bathroom? It looks great! I have ivory/yellowish colored tiles in my bathroom and I need them gone! I’m looking into the painting route for the same reason!

    1. Hey Erin! We used two packages to cover the entire bathroom, but keep in mind all four walls are tiled in my bathroom. If it was just my shower I would only have needed one. I also did my bath to give it a little refresh.

      We were in the same boat. The yellowish color made it look so dirty. People do not believe me that it’s not new tile. We gutted the whole house and the painted tile fits right in.

      Make sure you send me a photo if you take on the project and let me know if you have any other questions.

  2. Hey! It looks great! We are considering doing this in one of our bathrooms, but the entire shower is tile — floors and all — so we are wondering if it’s an option to do this on the shower floor or if that’s too much moisture for it. Thanks for the input!

  3. I love watching your videos! So have you had any dealings with cedar panels in a house? I want to paint maybe.

  4. I just found your site as I was looking for information on just this. Thank you for sharing such a helpful tutorial/review. I am about to undertake this one one of our bathrooms of our 91 year old farmhouse.

    I have enjoyed looking through your blog and browsing your content. Such great content! As I was watching your video I kept wondering if you were from Texas based on your accent. Turns out we live in the same metro area. 🙂

  5. What do you do in a old house where the
    shower tile is missing some grout
    do you have to regrout first before painting the tile?

  6. I used oil based primer for a bathroom (plaster walls) in which I removed the wall paper. Can my second coat of of primer be a latex based primer?

  7. Hi, love your site. What about tiled counters? Can I use Rustoleum Tub and Tile paint on tiled Kitchen counters, since you said you can’t use the floor paint on them? I have the same 4" glossy square tiles on my kitchen and bath counters that I have on my shower wall. I am going to replace the bathroom counters, but not the kitchen. I would like to paint them…and stencil, if possible. I know the Tub and Tile only comes in a handful of colors, but it says that it can be tinted.

  8. Love your video! Can’t wait to paint the tile in our shower, however it covers ceiling, walls, and floor. Have you painted the floor of a shower and if so does it hold up well too? Should I use the Tub and Tile paint for the ceiling and walls and the Tile Floor paint for the floor in the shower? Thanks for your help!!

  9. Hi also wanted to know if one could paint a shower floor and which product would you use the tub and tile or the floor paint?

  10. Great – that is seriously impressive. I really appreciate all of the useful information

  11. This looks great! And you should wear a respirator any time you’re sanding tile in the future.

  12. In the flip house you said it didn’t have a shower head. I have that issue in my house. The wall that backs up to the wall with plumbing backs up to the master shower. It has the same situation. How did you add a shower head.

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