Interior decoration of the bathroom requires a particularly careful approach in the selection of decorative coatings. Plastic panels do not always live up to their expectations. Decorative tile is not relevant for all design styles. Natural minerals and rocks in ordinary small-sized housing look too pompous and heavy. Almost all the best ideas today are based on the use of paint - a modern, forming a breathable coating with a smooth or rough texture.
What could be the design of a bathroom with painted walls? Interior options are striking in variety and give room for the application of creative ideas and solutions. A bathroom in a typical English style or a romantic room in the spirit of French Provence, minimalism, hi-tech, vintage ... The types of paint for each of these design decisions must be selected individually, taking into account all the features of the room, its area, color scheme.
Advantages and disadvantages
What are the benefits of using painted walls in the bathroom? Among the obvious advantages are the following.
- Modern design solution. The painted walls, thanks to the tinting capabilities, allow you to implement almost any ideas in the design of the room. You can paint the walls using stencils, create a clear graphic ornament, or perform a spectacular monophonic coating.
- Profitability. The costs of paint, even in the most expensive version, are not comparable with those that await the homeowner when purchasing tiles or other decor options.But this is true only for finishing already smooth walls. Alignment will require additional financial investments.
- Convenience of combination. Paint can be combined with tiles, PVC panels, mosaics, natural stone, porcelain tiles, complement it with various decorative panels. When using coloring in combination with special wallpaper, there will be even more design options.
- Variety of textures. You can get a matte finish that almost does not reflect light, or an impeccable glossy gloss, to recreate a silk or satin texture.
- Increased moisture resistance. The material is not afraid of direct contact with moisture, with the right choice of paint - based on acrylic or latex - the coating can be washed and cleaned with mild agents without risk of damage.
Deficiencies are also present. You need to prepare the walls for painting very carefully - any irregularities, seams, joints here will be visible. With poor ventilation, wall decoration can suffer from fungus or mold, especially for non-moisture resistant compounds. Besides, painted surfaces are not recommended to be cleaned with hard abrasive substances.
Overview of types of paint
The variety of paints offered for wall decoration in rooms with high humidity, amazes even experienced craftsmen. All compositions can be divided into 2 large groups: by the type of base and by the texture of the material. They differ in different levels of moisture resistance and decorative properties of the coating.
The texture of the paint is divided into such types.
- Glossy. A widespread option, often used in small bathrooms. The glossy coating reflects light, allows you to visually expand the room, to make it more spacious. At the same time, such paint emphasizes even the slightest flaws, height differences on the walls.
Align surfaces for coating to be especially careful.
- Matt The most popular option in modern design. Matte coatings practically do not reflect light, give the interior a respectable, noble appearance. The painted wall acquires a texture similar to fabric, but is much inferior to other options in moisture resistance. Matte paints require good lighting, harmoniously combined with tiles and other textured materials.
- Textured. These are specialized paints that allow you to simulate various coatings or create three-dimensional patterns. The originality of such a finish does not require additional accents, but it will be noticeable only in a well-lit room. It is recommended to apply textured paints in spacious bathrooms with French windows, in country houses or studio apartments.
The type of paint base also matters. It affects such characteristics as moisture resistance, texture of the composition, its uniformity, drying speed and the presence of a sharp chemical smell.
Most modern paints have a water-soluble base, does not require the use of combustible components. The presence of antifungal additives is a great advantage and makes it possible not to be afraid of the appearance of black plaque on the walls.
According to the type of base, the following varieties of paints are distinguished.
- Water emulsion. This type of paint is a breathable, quick-drying material, most often used as a finish for ceiling surfaces and walls that do not directly come in contact with drops or splashes of water. Among the advantages of water emulsion dyes are hygroscopicity, the absence of a pungent odor, and ease of application. But when in contact with water, wall decoration can seriously suffer, become covered with drips.
- Acrylic and latex. The most modern, resistant to damage and moisture compounds. They have no unpleasant odor, withstand dry and wet cleaning. They form an aesthetic coating on the surface that can withstand temperature changes, humidity changes, contact with steam.Acrylic and latex paints have the widest range of colors and shades, they can be tinted in almost any tone.
- Chlorinated rubber. Paints on this basis are quite expensive, they are produced mainly in European countries. They are flexible, resistant to mechanical damage, were originally designed for swimming pools.
- Butter. Long-drying paints requiring solvents with a strong chemical odor. Work with such compounds in the bathroom can only be carried out in a respirator. The composition of oil paint determines the density of its texture, such a coating is difficult to make perfectly even. Of the advantages, one can note mechanical strength, affordable cost.
Designers most often recommend the use of matte water-based paints for ceilings. This allows you to visually make the space more respectable, does not require significant physical effort.
It is customary to apply paints on walls on an acrylic or latex basis, textured, matte or glossy, depending on the choice of decorative solution.
Best colors
Design of a bathroom with painted walls requires careful selection of colors. It can be a background application of bright colors - blue, cyan, green, turquoise. This finish is suitable for small and spacious rooms. You can accent only one wall or several adjacent surfaces at once. Bright colors can be combined with neutral white or light gray.
Snow shade walls are not the best choice for a bathroom; here a milky or creamy tone looks more noble. You can “dilute” such an interior with bright, contrasting accessories. Red, black, wine, brown color should be used with caution, with their help you can make a graphic pattern or highlight one wall.
If you want brightness, it is better to choose lavender, coral, lemon yellow or mango shades, orange, fuchsia. Beige and milky tones are well suited for a combined bathroom, look great in a spacious room.
Ways of painting
Among the methods of painting walls in the bathroom, one can distinguish popular design solutions that allow you to get quite spectacular results. In the technique of watercolor several shades of paint are used, a container of water and a foam sponge for application. A tool dipped in paint is dipped in water and then touches the wall with light, short movements.
Zigzag and chevron print also very popular and easy to apply. The walls in this case are first covered with background paint - white, beige, black, gray. Contrast lines are applied on top - masking tape is used as a stencil to create them. A narrow roller or brush of the desired width moves along it.
Today's fashionable prints in the style of pop art, lettering, silhouettes are also easy to create yourself. It is enough to use prepared paper stencils and a sponge for applying paint.
Wall decoration options in different styles
Depending on the stylistic decision, the choice of color and texture of the coating changes.
- Classic style. The walls are painted in a calm, pastel color scheme, the “wet” areas are finished with matching tiles.
- High tech. Here, wall painting can be created using a monochrome color scheme in black and white-gray tones or performed in other colors of the cold spectrum. Glossy textures are used, complemented by glass, mirror details.
- Provence. This style looks matte textured paint, patinated, aged, shabby. The color scheme is light, light, in pistachio, pink, blue, lemon tones. Acceptable and the use of floral ornaments made using stencils.
- Pop Art. Bright, defiant, catchy style allows you to create unthinkable combinations of rich and calm tones, use comic-style inserts, fantasy art, frescoes. Such walls look interesting in a laconic matte design, with original accessories and architectural elements - ledges, arches, niches.
- Modern. Plain wall painting in deep, noble tones with a matte texture - this is a characteristic feature of this style. Art Nouveau is suitable for spacious bathrooms, allows the use of wine, coral, blue, malachite or grassy green tones.
Beautiful examples of interior design
We picked up a few ideas for your inspiration.
Wall painting in a modern manner. A vertical lavender-white strip favorably complements the rich, deep colors of the bath bowl.
Matte paint in light pastel colors harmonizes perfectly with the classic-style bathroom. A light purple hue makes the space light, airy.
Creative marine wall decor in good harmony with the watercolor painting techniquesmoothes out minor repair roughnesses.
Next, watch a video with a story about the pros and cons of painted walls in the bathroom.