Do Bathroom Paints Need to Be Glossy?

Paint Finishes

• Paint companies use several words to describe the finish on the paint. This is the texture that the painted wall will have. With a flat or matte finish, the paint is non-reflective and smooth and covers imperfections very well. The next level up is a satin or eggshell finish, which has a little bit of a sheen to it, but is still very close to a matte finish. A semi-gloss paint appears shiny, but it also is difficult to apply completely smooth and thus might show marks from the brushes or rollers. The last type of paint finish is high-gloss, which is very shiny and very durable.

Bathroom Paint Type

• In general, you should not use a flat or matte paint for the bathroom. These types of paints are not waterproof and will absorb moisture. In addition, they are difficult to wipe clean. Eggshell and satin paints are a little better than flat paint, but they will still encourage moisture retention in the walls. However, they might be appropriate for a powder room or a guest bathroom that is rarely used. In most cases, you will want to use a semi-gloss or high-gloss paint in the bathroom because it is easy to clean and inhibits moisture retention.

Special Features

• Some types of paint have added ingredients that make the paint more resistant to mold and mildew. These can be helpful, especially if your bathroom is used very frequently or has been prone to mold and mildew problems in the past. These types of paints are often labeled as bathroom paint or kitchen and bathroom paint. They are more expensive than regular paint, but the investment could be worth it.

Other Considerations

• Interior paints are classified as oil paints or latex paints. You should use latex paints in the bathroom because they have greater built-in mildew resistance. Plus, they are easier to clean up while you are painting because you do not need to use paint thinner to clean the brushes or rollers. When selecting a paint color for the bathroom, keep in mind that a dark color tends to make a room look smaller, whereas a light color makes it look bigger.