Don't paint the tiles in the shower; the mildew will ruin the paint.
According to decorator Meghan Carter, it's possible to paint tile and get good results. However, painting tile also presents a number of drawbacks. Painted tile won't work in places like the bathroom shower, because painted tile attracts mildew, which eats a paint job. Despite this, painting tiles offers you, the would-be decorator, a number of advantages, including the ability to cover less-than-perfect tile or the option to match the visuals on your tile with the rest of your decor.
Instructions
1. Decide on a focal point for your design. If you're painting tile with just a general design that will feature a repeating pattern, you don't need to worry about this, but if your designs also include pictorial elements, put them in a place that really draws the eye. For example, the tiled area on the back of the stove may feature a very large painted design. That would be a room focal point.
2. Draw out the visual motif you're trying to create. For example, if you want to feature black-and-white tile on the kitchen wall along with a tile or two that features red roosters, sketch this out on drawing paper. If you're good at free-hand drawing, then make the drawing of the roosters yourself. Otherwise look for work and time savers like rooster stencils.
3. Clean the tiles and dry them thoroughly.
4. Tape the sides of the wall that you're not painting with painter's tape. This might include the bottom of cupboards or the wood borders of the counter tops.
5. Add a coat of primer to the wall. Paint this on in even strokes and use an oil-based primer.
6. Allow the primer to dry according to the instructions on the can.
7. Paint the base layer of paint onto the tile, using an oil-based paint, which tends to last longer than latex paint.
8. Allow the paint to dry according to the instructions on the paint can.
9. Tape the stencils onto the area where you're going to paint your pictorial elements on the tiles. Use architect's tape instead of masking tape on the stencils, because architect's tape will stick without pulling the paint off.
10. Paint in the stencil and allow to dry.
11. Add paint to individual tiles as your plan dictates, using a small brush. For example, if your tiles have a geometric design that features diamonds and you want the diamonds painted a different color than the tiles around them, leave the tiles around the diamonds the base color. Paint the diamond tiles in the colors of your choice. Allow the paint to dry.
12. Finish the project with a protective coat of urethane and allow to dry. This will protect the paint from chipping and scratching.
