When we purchased our 1941 home a few years ago, I knew that it was going to need a little love. It had all the character I was looking for in a house…wood floors, crown molding, tons of built ins, but with character often comes outdated finishes that need a little love. A new coat of paint solved a lot of my design dilemmas, but there was one space that I assumed was a lost cause: The Pink Bathroom.
The Dilemma
That’s right, pink. More of a peachy pink really. The main floor bathroom had wall to wall pink tile on the floor, the walls and in the shower. Not to mention gold fixtures (not the pretty kind) the original sink and zero storage. We did a quick update when we moved in with a new vanity, toilet, lighting and medicine cabinet, but the pink tile just kept staring at me every single day. At some point, someone had replaced the original floor tile with…NEW pink tile! My updates just couldn’t neutralize the peach hue and I needed to change it. Let’s take a peek at the history.
Before We Moved In
Photo from the original MLS listing. Outdated fixtures, original sink/toilet..everything screams, update me please!
RIGHT after we moved in…
We immediately replaced the toilet, vanity, medicine cabinet and shower fixtures and painted the walls gray like the rest of the home.
But the pink was still there…
I had always played with the idea of painting the tile walls, but I wasn’t sure if there was a product on the market that would allow me to do this. With a quick Google search, I discovered Rust-Oleum had a line of products, and not only could I paint the wall tile, I could refinish the shower tile and tub AND paint my floors! And it was easier than I ever could have imagined. For the floors, I ordered this stencil from Amazon and used two different colors (Ultra White and Oyster Shell) of Rust-Oleum HOME Floor Coating to create my design. Ready for the reveal?? Here it is! No demo, no dust…just paint.
Ready to do this yourself? Let’s get started!
How to Paint your Tile Walls
NOTE: If you are painting a tile surround in a shower, you need to use the Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit. This is an epoxy acrylic based paint that will stand up to water. You cannot use the HOME Floor Coating inside the shower area.
If you are painting floor tile that it outside the shower area, the Rust-Oleum HOME Floor Coating and Rust-Oleum HOME Top Coat will work perfectly. Remember, you absolutely need the top coat!
Before you begin, make sure you open your windows, have a fan running and wear a respirator mask if you have one.
Step 1: Prep your space. Remove old caulking and clean your tile and tub with Rust-Oleum Krud Kutter. Spray liberally all over the surfaces you are painting and wipe clean. Repeat if necessary. I did this two times knowing my tile was incredibly old and I wanted to get it as squeaky clean as possible! love this non toxic cleaner. It removed all the residue to give me a clean work surface. Tape around shower fixtures (or remove) to prevent drips.
Step 2: Mix the two parts of the Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit (Parts A and B) together and stir with a paint stick. You must use this within 6 hours of mixing. Using a paint roller specifically for tile and smooth surfaces, start painting! Make sure you are rolling in various directions to get the best coverage. It’s OKAY to go over the grout…it’s meant to adhere to the surface and it will look cohesive when you’re finished. Wait an hour in between coats. The coverage of this paint is amazing! It covered my pink tiles incredibly well and made my tub look like new!
Step 3: Allow the coating to set for 3 days before using water and reapplying new caulk around the tub.
How to Paint your Floors
Step 1: Clean your floors with the Krud Kutter. Make sure your surface is completely dry before painting.
Step 2: Apply the Rust-Oleum Floor Coating with a roller. I used Ultra White as my base. Wait at least 6 hours before applying the second coat.
Step 3: If you are using a stencil for the floors, wait 6 hours after the last coat of coating is applied. I waited overnight just to be sure. Do NOT apply the top coat until you have finished the stencil coat. Use a light adhesive to keep your stencil flat while using a mini foam roller to stencil your design with a contrasting color. I used Rust-Oleum HOME Oyster Shell as my contrasting color and I love the subtle splash of color.
Carefully remove your stencil quickly after you paint. Wiping off the stencil in between uses ensures a crisp design each time.
Step 4: Apply the top coat 1-2 hours after you have finished your floor coating. Allow 24 hours after applying the top coat to walk on your beautiful new floors! It’s best to wait a few days before putting back any furniture type items (such as a vanity) to make sure the paint is completely set.
Add a splash of color
My entire house has gray or white walls. Every single room. I really wanted to add a bold color in the bathroom, but as we all know, choosing the perfect shade of blue can be really stressful! Rust-Oleum made the decision simple and easy with their line of premixed, ready to use wall paints. I love the variety of colors available and I couldn’t have been happier with my decision. I chose Rust-Oleum HOME Interior Wall Paint in North Shore. (perfect for my Minnesota home!) It’s the most PERFECT shade of blue. I loved how easy the paint was to work with and what a difference it made in my space!
How to Paint Your Walls
Step 1: Remove pictures, switch plates, nails and patch any areas that need repair.
Step 2: Tape off any areas that you don’t want to accidentally get paint on. Around windows, light fixtures, or my newly painted tile in this case.
Step 3: Using a high quality edging brush, paint the areas around the fixtures, windows, doors and corners of the walls. Essentially, any area that would be difficult to reach with a roller. This will ensure a smooth transition of paint from the edges of these areas to the main surface of the walls.
Step 4: After you have completed your edging, use a paint roller to apply paint to the walls. Make sure you roll in a “W” pattern, overlapping each stroke for even coverage. Recoat after 4 hours. I needed two coats due to the deep color of the paint.
The entire project took me 3 days. But I also had children interrupting me every 5 minutes for snacks 🙂 This is the most budget friendly way to update your bathroom, creating a space that you will love and be proud of…because you can do this yourself!
Thank you so much to Rust-Oleum for partnering with me on this project. As always, all opinions are my own.
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