The unfortunate answer is that it probably won't work great. Bathrooms tend to be moist places, and flat or matte paint will begin to grow mold or mildew much faster than other paint sheens. Also, it doesn't resist stains very well, and it is somewhat hard to clean.
Generally, the shinier the paint sheen, the easier it is to clean and the better it resists moisture. Many people recommend using a semi-gloss in bathrooms since it virtually repels moisture. Eggshell and satin sheens are recommended for a bathroom doesn't get too much use — like a powder room or guest bathroom.
Satin is more durable and shinier than eggshell and is ideal for a bathroom. It's also easy to clean. Use it for the walls, ceiling, and even the trim, because many satin finishes are tougher than they once were. Semi-gloss is even tougher and a cinch to clean.
Flat finishes should be avoided in a bathroom because they absorb moisture and are difficult to wipe. When using flat, stick to out-of-the-way areas of your home that rarely need to be wiped.
The best paint for bathroom ceilings is one that will resist moisture and mildew. Avoid regular flat white paint and pick a satin or semi-gloss paint finish for a bathroom ceiling. A satin finish is fine for a powder room ceiling because the space may have low moisture and humidity.
The mistake, then, is choosing a flat finish for your bathroom walls. In terms of the actual paint finishes, Consumer Reports recommends using either satin or semi-gloss. They argue, "Satin is more durable and shinier than eggshell and is ideal for a bathroom. It's also easy to clean.
Due to the high levels of humidity and condensation that both kitchens and bathrooms are subjected to, they become prone to paint cracking, peeling and mildew. In order to avoid these problems, painting with a satin or semi-gloss paint is recommended.
If your wall has imperfections like uneven texture, patches or joints, flat paint will absorb light and make them less noticeable. However, flat finishes are not very durable and need to be carefully cleaned. Scrubbing flat paint could wear down the finish and cause sheen to appear in patchy spots.
Flat paint is not well suited to bathrooms or other high-moisture areas. It doesn't resist moisture, mold, or mildew well, so you're likely to end up with problems down the road. Instead, choose a high-quality eggshell or satin. You can even use semi-gloss if you want a shiny look.
Flat and Matte finish paints are ideal for covering walls that have flaws or blemishes. Even larger imperfections, such as extensive scuffs and nail pops can get covered and camouflaged since Flat Paints are effective at absorbing light, in essence, “hiding” the bumps and lines that exist on every wall.
In most cases, you do not need to buy specialty mold/mildew inhibiting bathroom paint. Just remember to keep your bathroom well-ventilated. A modern formulated paint like an acrylic eggshell or satin finish paint is fine for most bathrooms.
You might think that this is different from ordinary interior house paint; that is, paint designed for bathrooms only. In reality, there really is no such thing as bathroom paint, but there are paints formulated for better performance in the moist environment of bathrooms.
According to a 2021 Zillow analysis, home buyers love blue bathrooms and reported that they would pay 1.6 percent more for bathrooms with soothing, light blue walls. Other popular choices include neutral colors like gray, off-white, or light yellow.
1. Semi-Gloss Paint Finish. With its ability to repel moisture, withstand humidity, and resist mildew, semi-gloss is the best paint finish for bathroom walls. It offers some sheen, which reflects light and allows the room to shine without becoming overly reflective.
Paintbrush: Use a paintbrush to paint around the trim and doorway in your bathroom. A sash brush is the best option for this type of painting. 2. Paint roller: Use a paint roller for the majority of the paint job.
When should I be using flat paint? You should be using flat paint on walls and areas that have a lot of bumps, scratches, or holes. Since it can conceal these blemishes easily, it'll be the one paint finish you'll want to be using.
Flat paint will always be better for builders and painters. It costs less, downplays flaws in drywall, and can be touched up easily without showing roller marks. In new builds, it is almost always used by builders and painters. Painters often paint rooms that require modifications after initial painting.
You can't really go wrong with eggshell finish on your walls. Sometimes called satin finish, eggshell has slightly more luster than a flat finish, but you won't be left with shiny walls. It also resists stains better than flat and can be wiped with a wet rag.
Find the Perfect Paint Finish
Flat, eggshell and satin paint are best for interior walls, whereas semi-gloss and gloss paint are best for trim and woodwork. An eggshell finish has a subtler shine to it, so it's a great choice if you're not ready for satin.
Painting Tip: It is important to avoid using flat paints or alkyd paints in humid or outdoor spaces because these paint finishes are more prone to damage, discoloration, and wrinkling, which can lead to new mildew growth.
It depends on the surface you are painting. For interior walls in high-traffic spaces like a mudroom, satin or eggshell finishes work best. Flat or matte finishes work best for most ceilings and semi-gloss is recommended for interior trim and doors.
Even if paint is not actually scraped away or scratched off, the color can be harmed by abrasion, especially on low-sheen finishes such as flat and matte. The problem is that low-sheen finishes contain microscopic hairs which stand on end and absorb light so that the surface does not reflect.
Eggshell Paint:
Not only is eggshell paint durable but it is good for bathroom walls and suits the walls that are bumpy, damaged, or warped. As the eggshell paint provides your bathroom surface with a smoother texture and low sheen, this will hide imperfections very easily.
Rust-Oleum Zinsser PermaWhite
The Rust-Oleum Zinsser PermaWhite is an affordable and simple kit that provides your walls with advanced protection against mold and mildew build-up.
Perfect for DIYers, water-based epoxy paint, like Rust-Oleum Specialty Tub and Tile Spray Paint, is a heavy-duty water-resistant product for use on shower stalls and bath surrounds. Each can of Tub and Tile covers 15-square feet in one step, leaving behind a shiny, durable and hard finish.