What Is the Best Type of Paint for Bathrooms?

Imperial Painting
  • April 8th, 2025

Are you thinking about painting your bathroom? Learn more about what to look for in bathroom paint and tips for choosing finishes and colors.

A bathroom that's recently been painted

The bathroom is a unique space in the home; its walls face factors other rooms in the house don’t, which means you’ll have unique requirements to focus on when choosing the paint for it. No matter your taste or how you want the room to “feel,” the paint you buy must overcome the top challenge of bathrooms: humidity. 

What to Look for in Bathroom Paint

four different types of green paints

Bathrooms are naturally humid rooms. Even if you have a vent in the bathroom, moisture collects on the walls and gives rise to mold and mildew. Cleaning products can be very abrasive; you don’t want to wipe off the paint when washing the bathroom walls or have it bleed from moisture.

When selecting a paint, look for these essentials:

  • Anti-Microbial: This paint has additives to prevent mold, mildew, and other common bathroom fungi.
  • Mold & Mildew Resistant: Some paints have integrated inhibitors to prevent mold and mildew growth.
  • Washability/Durability: Bathroom paint must be able to withstand regular washing.
  • High Humidity Resistance: Even if there’s a bathroom window or vent, there is no escaping the high humidity.

Choosing a Finish

While flat and matte finishes may be the go-to for other rooms, you should avoid them for bathrooms because they are more susceptible to soaking up moisture. Instead of flat or matte, use:

  • Semi-Gloss or Gloss: Both are highly resistant to moisture, tough, and have high washability. The downside is that they highlight imperfections and have a high luster (shine).
  • Satin: A good choice without high shine, this finish resists moisture well and has good washability, although hard scrubbing can remove the luster. It does show imperfections more easily and can be difficult to touch up.

Choosing Your Color

A bathroom painted white

Color is a personal choice, but there are general design principles that can help you make the right decision for your bathroom:

  • Small bathrooms can feel bigger with lighter colors.
  • If your bathroom has natural light, you can play with a wider range of colors to play with.
  • Consider the type of lighting you have. Soft LED lights can make brighter colors more intense, warmer lighting naturally adds a yellowish or amber hue to many paint colors, and fluorescent lights tend to work better with cooler colors.
  • What mood do you want in your bathroom? Calm like a spa or chipper to wake you up?
  • Don’t forget your cabinets and fixtures. A wall color that clashes with your sink or tub isn’t ideal.

Get More Advice From Imperial Painting

Choosing the paint for your bathroom can be overwhelming, but there’s no shame in asking an expert for help.

Imperial Painting has over 30 years of experience helping homeowners in Shelby Township, MI, and surrounding areas through our comprehensive design consultations and interior painting services.
If you need to paint your bathroom, contact us today to get started with a free consultation.

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