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When we bought our house, it came with an outdated pink bathtub. I knew immediately that I wanted to paint it. This tutorial is all about how to paint a bathtub and shower tiles with 2 refinishing kits costing $50. It’s a complete bathroom transformation!
Can You Paint A Bathtub?
The answer is YES.
Painting a bathtub isn’t something most people think to do. In fact, when I started telling people my plan was to paint my pink tub, they either asked how or thought it wouldn’t work. Well, I’m here to tell everyone who doubted me that it indeed worked and looks like a million bucks!
I knew it was going to look good but it really surprised me just how good it looks! I’m blown away every time I look at it and can’t believe it was pink before. If you know me at all, you know I’m not a fan of pink, or red, or orange really. I love my whites, blues, and greens. So a pink bathtub was never going to work out. Plus it was stained and looked disgusting.
With a little bit of cleaning, a whole lot of love, and two refinishing kits, the tub now looks brand new. It’s crazy to think it’s the same one!
We have a funky wood wall on one side of our shower that I had previously painted with semi-gloss paint but I went over it with the epoxy so it would all match and it’s held up great. I also painted the soap shelf and was sure to get in-between the tiles and paint over the grout. Don’t forget that part!
Be warned that the Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit has a very strong odor. You really want to ventilate your bathroom well, keep a window open, and wear a good quality mask to protect yourself! It helps to do it at night too so that it’s not as hot in the room and so that you sleep during most of the strong smells and it isn’t as bothersome. Turning the air conditioning off is key if you don’t want the entire house to smell like epoxy. The smell sticks around for about a day or less which isn’t too bad. I was worried about my dogs inhaling the fumes so I kept them on the patio while I did the project, which they loved because they love being outside.
So let’s get into how to do this painted bathtub and tile project! First, admire this before photo of my pink bathtub, floral printed tiles, and wood wall. It’s a sight to see…
How To Paint A Bathtub
Painting a bathtub can be a bit tricky so it helps to have the right supplies and enough of them! Here is a list of everything I used to paint our bathtub. If you have a similar sized area, this is the amount of supplies you will likely need.
Supplies
- 2 Rust-Oleum Tub & Tile Refinishing Kits
- 15 foam rollers (they sell these at Home Depot in packs of 5)
- 1 paint roller and pan (they have these at Lowe’s for $5)
- Paint stick
- Plastic drop cloth
- Painter’s tape
- Respirator mask
- Lint free cloth
Most people have some extra painter’s tape and rollers as well as drop cloth, at least I did, so I didn’t include those costs in the $50. The only things I had to buy were the epoxy kits and the foam rollers so I spent around $77. If you are just doing a bathtub and not any tile, only one kit is probably enough. You could always buy another kit if you run out since you have to wait between coats anyways. I know the post says how to paint a bathtub and shower for $50 (not $77) but you might already have all the other supplies so I just put the cost of the kits, don’t hate me!
Painted Bathtub & Shower Tutorial
- Lay the drop cloth down around the tub on the floor and tape it off. Tape around the tub on the walls and around the tub drain, faucet, and remove any faceplates. Don’t forget about the ceiling if you’re doing your shower too!
- Open a window if you have one and get a portable fan to air out the room. Please wear a mask, the fumes will make you light-headed!
- Clean the tub well and then wipe it with water after using any cleaning solutions. Make sure the tub is completely dry before starting and free of any lint. Using a lint free cloth is key. I also used my Dyson vacuum to pick up any excess debris.
- Follow the instructions on the box of the refinishing kit. Once it’s mixed together, pour it into a paint pan.
- Using a foam roller, start to paint the areas that are hard to reach first. I started at the top and worked my way down. Follow the curves of the tub as best as you can. It can be tricky getting a completely even coat around the curves of a tub but it’s not impossible.
- Squeeze the foam roller into the grout lines, corners, and any tight places then roll it out evenly. Don’t forget the soap dish too! You could use a paintbrush for corners but you might get brush stokes so keep that in mind. Plus, the epoxy ruins brushes. I used a brush for one corner and it didn’t work out well for me so I stuck with the foam.
- Once the first coat is on, let it dry according to the instructions and then do a second coat. You may need to do a third but I found a second coat was enough. If you had dark shower tiles you wanted to cover, a third coat would probably be necessary.
- Take the tape off right away after you finish the final coat since the epoxy will harden and you’ll have to cut the tape off if you don’t remove it right away. It’s also easy to touch up any spots while you still have the epoxy out.
I used foam rollers because foam rollers are what I know and love. I painted my cabinets and countertops with foam rollers and I know they work to get a sleek, even surface without any strokes.
The problem with foam rollers and epoxy is that the epoxy disintegrates the foam and it starts to fall apart after a bit. It happens somewhat fast so that’s why you need around 15 of them. When one foam roller starts to fall apart, switch to a new one or else you will get little pieces of foam stuck in your tub.
That’s pretty much it for painting a bathtub and shower, it’s simple and easy to do. You could refinish a tub in a weekend!
After just one coat.
The side of the tub after one coat.
Before and after two coats.
The first coat won’t look even but don’t worry, the second coat is when it really comes to life! The bottom of my tub was stained and looked dirty. I scrubbed that puppy hard but it didn’t do much. A little epoxy paint and it’s no longer!
How good does that white look?! It looks brand stinking new and all in all it only cost me $77 and the kits were only $50! To finish off the look, I purchased new hardware and faceplates for the tub since the old ones were disgusting. I also did a peel and stick scalloped tile accent wall to add in some color and bring my mermaid dreams to life. If you were to just do a tub, you could get away with just one epoxy refinishing kit so this project could cost you $25!
To see my full bathroom makeover, go to this post. I did the entire thing for $500!
So now I must ask you, would you paint your bathtub?
Where did you get the pretty paper that you covered your shower wall with? I couldn’t find it in your supply list.
Thank you!
It’s from Wallpops, it’s the Shell Peel & Stick Backsplash.
How long do you wait in between coats and what did you do with the paint between coats?
I followed the instructions on the package. I think it said to wait an hour in between coats but I can’t remember exactly. I only poured a little bit at a time in my paint pail and kept the lid on the rest. I ended up needing to buy a second kit so by the time it came in, it had been a few days.
How long ago did you do this? I am wondering how often we would need to recover it?
It’s been about 4 years now and it’s been chipping a lot recently. Going to sand it and do a new coat soon and I will update this post when I do that!
Ladies I discovered putting bleach into my disgruntled tub creates stains it may be bringing up rust under neath or the nasty grout. But guess what removes the rust stains PEROXIDE
Hi. We are now thinking about doing the samewoth our pink bath tub. But we also saw a couple of videos after 3 months with the paint already gone. How is yours looking now? Thanks!
Mine looks the same but we never use the shower/bath so I can’t really report on how well it holds up. In my opinion, I’d rather do touch ups than keep the pink if it starts to come off so I think it’s worth it regardless. It’s a lot cheaper than a complete remodel!
I would love a tutorial on your framed mirror! You mentioned you were going to do one, but I can’t find it. How did you get that wood paint look, and what colors did you use?
It’s not up yet but I plan to have it done this week! To get the wood paint look, I used a dry brush technique. I put a little paint on a dry paintbrush and wiped it across the frame until the paint was off the brush. I used a gray and white that I had around the house. I’ll have to look and see the names but it will be in the post!
Hey my framed mirror tutorial is up! https://sweetteal.com/2020/05/how-to-frame-a-bathroom-mirror-remove-one/
Does this work on a plastic tub/shower all in one unit?
I’m not positive but I’m sure you could try!
hi, did you try it on the plastic? if yes, How did it go, is it holding up
Looks great! How is the backsplash holding up with the water? Thanks!
We haven’t used the shower or tub in this bathroom so I can’t report yet!
Hi! Looks great! What color was used for the paint on the cabinet? Thanks!
Thanks! I used Valspar Retro Chic.
This is super helpful. We are finishing up our major kitchen remodel and plan to do some smaller upgrades in the guest bathroom, like painting the tub. Thanks for the post!
Thanks for reading! I hope your remodel goes well!!
Anyone wondering if you can do this on a one-piece unit, yes. Prep the same as with just a tub. Epoxy resin is less a paint and more a glue so if anything will stick, this is the key. Honestly you should have better results on plastic than anything.
It worked like a charm for me! We refinished the cabinets in our bathroom just last summer, and we knew something was missing. Turns out we just needed to update the bathtub! Thank you so much for sharing.
Beautiful! I’ve read other blogs mentioning sanding/prepping beforehand. Did you have to do any of that?
I did not. I don’t think it’s entirely necessary but if you are worried about it sticking, I would sand beforehand! You could always do a test area and see what works best.
Wow what a picture you made of it!
Did you just hang over the existing tiles? Don’t you keep seeing the joints through the wallpaper?
Yep, I hung it over the existing tiles. The peel and stick backsplash is thick enough to where you don’t see the grout lines or joints!
Hi! Love this and waiting to do mine! I’m worried about my dog also. You said you left yours on the deck, were they okay after you were done painting to come in?
If we take my dog upstairs, is that far enough away from the fumes if painting downstairs bathroom? Thanks!
Yes, they were okay! I did leave the window in the bathroom open all night long and I think that helped air it out a lot! I don’t know for sure your situation but I would leave as many windows open as possible both downstairs and upstairs.
Now that it’s been a while, hows the backsplash holding up?
Still looks just like it did when I put it up! We use the bathtub more now that we have a child and haven’t had any issues.
Was this a cast iron tub or porcelain?
I think it’s a cast iron tub.
I just love the sweater. Its so stylish and i am going to but this soon. Thanks for this post.
Hi there! I know this post was awhile ago but I was wondering if you could tell me how the paint job held up as well as the peel and stick tile. I am wanting to do something similar but I’m not sure if the peel and stick would do well in such a wet area. Most I see are for a backsplash so can have some water but not direct heavy water contact.
So far so good! The epoxy has held up with minimal chips (like a couple centimeters have chipped off in maybe 4 spots). The peel and stick tile is still up. We do not use the shower that often, probably just a few times a year. We do use the tub a couple times a week though. So I can’t say how it would hold up with everyday water contact.
With every day water contact the paint eventually peels. I’ve done the paint on the tiles and use the shower every day. The water causes the pain to peel over time. Every three to six months I have to repaint a small area where it chipped from the painted tile wall. It’s just white so no big deal. I would assume the painted tub would fair worse over time with water in it daily for bathing. This is a great project for a guest bathroom but not really for the main one.
Good to know! Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree and would not paint a tub you use daily for bathing but yes, a guest bathroom is great! I’m about to do my first touchups to my tub which has chipped in a few spots. My shower has not had any peeling but we also don’t use it often.
Great tips and very useful!
The thing about being a “do it yourself ” person is that you MUST be willing to have patience and to do it right, not rushing through the project or the outcome will be less than what you had hoped for, which is not only a waste of money but of your precious time as well. We CAN do these projects and we CAN get spectacular professional results!
The transformation looks very nice and fresh. As I understand from the replies to the comment, you don’t use the tub very often, so it still looks good. I’m wondering now that a lot of time has passed, is there no need to repeat the bathtub painting procedure?
I have been thinking of repainting my pink tub too. My question is when you say you bought 2 complete kits, did you do the 2 step base/activator ,let it dry and then do it a second time?
Yes, let it dry in-between coats!
Oh Jenny! I have the world’s ugliest bathroom.
I worked for a guy who had a “remodeling ” business. We painted tubs all the time. What I discovered was the tubs got scrubbed with a lacquer thinner (weird) and painted with auto paint using a pint sized wall type sprayer and compressor.
With everyday use, those tubs peeled and chipped within a couple months!!! I quit because he was so deceitful.
Anyway, I have never even noticed epoxy paint. Now that I know, it makes sense to give it a try. Yours is so pretty and bright, I’m inspired! And seriously. No matter how it turns out, it sure can’t be worse. Thanks for the pics and instructions!