The 6 Best Paint For Bathrooms

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This wiki has been updated 24 times since it was first published in December of 2018. While you can, technically, use any kind of paint in your bathroom, if your family takes multiple showers per day, humidity is going to be a problem. For high-traffic areas, you're going to want to do everything you can to stop the development of mildew. Our selection of specialized paints and finishes includes choices to help prevent this issue, plus one solution designed to tackle existing mold. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.

1. Kilz Tribute Eggshell

2. Zinsser Perma-White

3. Glidden One Coat

Editor's Notes

September 28, 2020:

When choosing the right paint for a bathroom, products with excellent mold and mildew resistance should be a number one priority for this often humid space. One option for sealing out moisture is to use a semi-gloss finish, which is not as commonly used on walls. The upside of this solution is that you have hundreds of colors to choose from, as you do with the Glidden One Coat.

If a less-shiny eggshell finish is important, you can find specialty formulas that aren't so glossy. For this update we added the Zinsser Perma-White, which, along with Kilz Tribute Eggshell seals out mold as well as the shinier finishes of regular brands, and both offer a good number of color choices. Kilz Tribute Eggshell takes the top spot because they even have a mold-resistant matte option as well.

January 11, 2019:

When choosing the right kind of paint for a bathroom, the primary concern will be resistance to mold and mildew as this tends to be the most humid room of the house. The Kilz eggshell finish took the top spot because it looks great on walls that aren't perfect while still being easy to clean, and it offers a lot of color options.

Special Honors

Duration Home Sherwin-Williams offers a mold and mildew resistant line that also actively blocks existing stains from bleeding through. Both the matte and satin finishes are just as washable as the glossy finishes, while excellently hiding imperfections. sherwin-williams.com

Aura Bath & Spa Aura, Benjamin Moore's premier line of paints, features a formula ideal for humid environments. It is thick and rich, providing excellent coverage often with one coat. Their proprietary color-lock technology means the color you choose will stay true over time, even with repeated washings. benjaminmoore.com

4. Kilz Restoration

5. Zinsser Mold Killing Primer

6. Montage Signature


Tina Morna Freitas
Last updated by Tina Morna Freitas

Tina Morna Freitas is a writer who lives in Chicago with her family and three cats. She has a B.A. in anthropology with a minor in English, and has built a freelance career over the years in writing and digital marketing. Her passions for cooking, decorating and home improvement contribute to her extensive knowledge of all things kitchen and home goods. In addition, her 20 years as a parent inform her expertise in the endless stream of toys and equipment that inevitably takes over the homes of most parents. She also enjoys gardening, making and sipping margaritas, and aspires to be a crazy cat lady once all the children are grown.


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