Choosing the best paint for bathrooms is about more than colour palettes and finish. Bathrooms are the most moisture prone area of your home, which means you also have to consider the durability of your paint.
Mould in the bathroom can be an issue in some homes. It’s not just unsightly, it can affect your health and damage your paintwork. If you have a mould prone bathroom, you should consider using an appropriate anti mould paint.
Natural and organic paint products are a highly effective solution in comparison to high VOC alternatives. They offer long lasting finish and natural mould resistance in moisture prone and humid areas of your home without harmful fumes.
Why Bathroom Paint Needs to Be Different
Bathrooms are high humidity environments. Steam from showers combined with poor air movement means the paint needs to be formulated to deal with high moisture levels. Using the wrong paint can cause painted surfaces to peel, flake, and encourage mould and mildew growth.
Standard paints, particularly those containing plastic based ingredients, can seal moisture into bathroom walls and ceilings. This causes condensation and mould growth. Many chemical based paints release VOCs which affect the air quality in your home, particularly in enclosed spaces like bathrooms.
Moisture resistance is not the sole consideration when choosing the best paint for bathrooms.
How Natural Paints Help with Mould & Moisture
Consider using breathable paint, or a natural mould resistant paint if you have existing issues with mould growth.
Natural paints formulated with lime, clay, or silicates are particularly suitable for bathrooms. The mineral base creates a high ph environment which naturally discourages mould growth. A breathable paint allows moisture to pass through the paint surface and evaporate.
What’s the Best Paint for Bathrooms?
The best paint for bathrooms needs to be long lasting and humidity resistant. When you chose the right paint product it will:-
- Not peel and flake when used in high humidity environments.
- Prevent moisture build up which can cause mould.
- Offer good air quality.
- Create a durable, washable finish suitable for high traffic areas.
- Offer natural mould resistance in problem areas.
See Also: What's the best mould resistant paint?
Recommended Natural Paints for Bathrooms
Here’s our recommendations for the best products in our range to meet the criteria above:-
For Walls & Ceilings:
Auro 555 - our top selling high quality emulsion paint, drying to a matt finish, wipeable and durable making it ideal for bathroom use. Vegan friendly too!
Auro 517 Eggshell - offers a tougher finish which dries to a light satin sheen. It's extremely durable and easy to clean. The white version of this paint will never yellow, offering a long lasting pristine white finish.
Graphenstone Grafclean Premium – Natural, durable and breathable. GrafClean dries to a hard wearing and washable matt finish. Excellent for painting bathroom walls and ceilings.
Graphenstone Grafclean Eggshell – Easy to apply, breathable, and hard wearing. Dries to a subtle eggshell sheen.
For Skirtings, Wood, Doors & Cupboards:
Use the eggshell versions (Auro 517 or Grafclean Eggshell) for a consistent, moisture-resistant finish on woodwork.
Primers
No primer is needed in most cases, just water thin your first coat by 10% and apply to a clean, keyed surface for excellent adhesion.
If your surface does need priming due to condition, use Auro 510 on walls and ceilings before applying Auro 517 and use Four 2 Four Primer for wood and trim before Grafclean Eggshell.
Best Anti Mould Paint for Bathrooms
For bathrooms that suffer from persistent condensation or black mould, choosing a paint with natural anti mould resistance is recommended. Our range of natural and organic paints can offer long term mould suppression without harmful ingredients.
Why natural anti mould paint works:
High Ph lime base inhibits mould growth due to natural fungicidal and algicidal properties.
Breathable formulation helps prevent trapped moisture, particularly in older houses.
No synthetic chemicals that pollute indoor air or break down over time. Chemical based anti mould paints often use active ingredients which reduce in effectiveness over time.
Prep the area with Auro 412 natural mould cleaner and follow up with with Auro 413 mould Stop to kill mould spores and prevent future growth.
Once your walls and ceilings are prepped, we recommend using Auro 327 or Auro 303, a more premium version of 327, to create a full system for long lasting protection from mould spores.
It’s also vital you understand and eliminate the underlying causes of mould in your bathroom before cleaning and decorating if you want your bathroom to remain spore free.
What Is the Best Colour to Paint a Bathroom?
Light colours are popular in bathrooms because they open up the space and reflect more light. Bathrooms are often limited on space, making light shades a great choice for bathrooms.
Popular shades:
Soft whites create a clean, classic look that enhance a sense of space.
Warm neutrals add warmth without making the room feel cramped.
Muted blue paint or calming shades of green for creating a tranqil, spa like feel.
Natural clay and lime paints provide a rich, mineral depth that enhances these shades beautifully.
Check out our paint colours page for inspiration, buy yourself a paint tester pot, paint colour swatches, or order paint colour charts for free!
Choosing The Right Bathroom Paint
Remember, the best paint for bathrooms is about much more than colour or finish. It needs to be able to withstand the conditions in your bathroom, or you’ll end up having to redecorate relatively quickly.
Our range of natural bathroom paints is durable, breathable, and will keep the air in your home healthy.
Further Reading: What's mould resistant paint & does it work? | How to apply anti fugal paint
