When your kitchen tiles start to lose their appeal, but you don’t have the budget for a complete makeover, what’s the solution? Do you wait until you take on a full kitchen renovation? Or do you look for a smart short-term solution?
Painting your kitchen tiles will definitely give them a lift and elevate the surrounding areas, but how long will it last? The question is, is it worth the time and effort? Here, the pros reveal if it's a good idea, the benefits it can bring and how to do it if you decide to go ahead.
Is painting kitchen tiles a good idea?
There isn’t a simple answer to this question; there are positives and negatives, so you need to be aware of what lies ahead. Steve Larkin, kitchen expert at Kitchen Door Hub, explains the obvious benefit: “Painting kitchen tiles is budget-friendly.” He adds, “Buying paint and primer is much cheaper than completely retiling your kitchen walls or flooring.”
Another benefit, Larkin shares, is that “Painting allows you to add a personal touch to your space, as you can customise the colour of the tiles or even add a pattern.”
However, a coat of paint doesn’t have the durability of kitchen tiles. Michael Rolland, MD at The Paint Shed, explains what works and what doesn’t. “Painting tiles is not advisable as tiles are made from very different materials, and it becomes dependent on the type of tile you’re working with.”
He adds. “Some tiles, like ceramic, can be painted with a special primer and topcoat. But paint on tiles won’t work everywhere," shares Rolland, “Tiles that get wet, such as splashbacks, or more porous tiles, are very hard to paint successfully.” He adds, “For a long-lasting, flawless finish, we’d usually recommend replacing the tiles rather than painting them.”
The same principles apply to floor tiles, shares Rolland, “Painting floor tiles is generally not a good idea. Foot traffic and the variety of tile types make it difficult to achieve a durable finish, so replacing them is usually the safer option.” He finishes by saying, “Paint is great for a lot of projects, but we find that tiles and paint don’t tend to go hand in hand.”
Steve Larkin is the co-founder and CEO of Kitchen Door Hub with years of experience in kitchen design, carpentry and fitting. Kitchen Door Hub are passionate about helping homeowners craft their dream spaces and are with them for every step of their renovation journey.
Michael Rolland, painting expert and MD of The Paint Shed. With The Paint Shed having evolved from painting contractors to retailers, Michael has years of experience in the painting industry, drawing on this expertise to guide his DIY projects with the best possible tools and materials.
Try these to help paint kitchen tiles
A multi-purpose, all-round, water-based primer and sealer that will provide a solid base for all paint on almost any surface. It is touch-dry in 30 minutes; ready to recoat in one hour.
One of the quickest and best ways to apply kitchen tile paint is with a mini roller. To ensure that you get a smooth tile-like finish a short pile sleeve is a good option.
This Rust-Oleum Kitchen Tile Paint will add a velvety satin finish to ceramic and stone tiles. It is water and mould-resistant and available in 15 colours. Touch dry in one hour and fully cured (hardened) in seven days.
How long will painted kitchen tiles last?
Well-prepared and painted kitchen tiles will last longer than poorly prepared tiles, but painted tiles still don’t have a long shelf life. Larkins says, “Painted wall tiles can potentially last for up to 5 or 6 years, but this will be reliant on the paint quality.” He adds, “Walls near sinks may not last as long as dry walls, so they may begin to show signs of wear faster."
Floor tiles are a different proposition, continues Larkins, “Painted floor tiles can last up to 2 years, but this will depend on the amount of foot traffic and maintenance the tiles receive, as kitchen floor tiles will need to be sealed and touched up regularly.”
Methods for painting kitchen tiles
If you decide to paint your kitchen tiles, you need to choose a method. Here we look at the quick and easy to the more realistic and time-consuming.
1. Paint everything
The straightforward option is to paint all. Larkin says, “You can paint the tiles and the grout all the same colour to save yourself time.” This is the quick, easy option, but it lacks any finesse.
2. Get the traditional look
While painting over grout lines gives a uniform look, the wall or floor won’t appear tiled. To help redefine the tiles, Larkin suggests, “Go back in with a grout pen to redefine the grout lines after painting for a traditional look.” This is very much a temporary solution that will look good for months, not years.
3. Regrout
If you are looking for a realistic makeover, Larkins suggests removing the grout before painting. He says, “Use a specialist grout removal tool or blade to scrape the grout out from between the tiles, but work carefully and make light passes to avoid damaging the tiles.” He adds, “After this, scrub the joints between the tiles to ensure that all remaining grout is removed before painting, and vacuum the area to remove dust.”
To finish paint the tiles and leave them to dry for at least 24 hours. Check out our How to grout tiles guide to complete the job.
4. Add tile decals
Adding tile decals can elevate painted tiles to new heights. However, you can’t apply straight away, says Larkin. “You should wait a few weeks after painting to allow the paint to fully cure.” He adds, “Decals will adhere best to smooth surfaces, so tiles that have a rough or matte finish may need to be lightly sanded with a fine-grit sandpaper.”
How to prep kitchen tiles for painting
Good preparation is key to a successful paint project. The first thing to do is clean the kitchen tiles and grout to ensure they are free of dirt, dust, and grease. Larkin says start by scrubbing the grout, “Scrub the grout between tiles using a toothbrush and gentle cleaner.” Sugar soap is a popular and cost-effective choice. Mix up the sugar soap accordingly and ‘Scrub the tiles with a scouring sponge,” adds Larkins.
To improve adhesion on smooth tiles, sand first, says Larkins, “A fine grit sandpaper grade is best for this (between 120 and 220 grit), and then vacuum the area to remove dust.”
How to paint kitchen tiles
To start, you need a high-quality primer to provide a stable base coat. Nick Parsons, technical manager at Harris, tells you how, “Apply a quality tile primer and topcoat with an angled brush, such as this Harris Seriously Good Walls & Ceilings Angled Paint Brush from Amazon." He adds, “For the main areas, use a mini roller with a low‑pile sleeve to achieve a smooth, professional finish."
If you are painting floor tiles, thoroughly clean the floor before applying primer. Parsons says, “Use an all-purpose paintbrush to work primer into grout lines and edges.” He adds, “For the main floor, a roller (like this Harris Seriously Good Walls & Ceilings Twin Medium Pile Paint Roller Set from Amazon) with a medium or long‑pile sleeve on an extension pole will provide even coverage and help you build a smooth, durable finish suitable for everyday interior use.”
Just remember to start opposite a doorway so you don’t paint yourself into a corner.
Nick began his time with Harris in 1988, and throughout the decades has worked in various departments. His experience and product understanding inform the evolution of all Harris products, from benchmarking to insight, research and development.
Alternatives to painting kitchen tiles
As already mentioned, painting kitchen tiles isn’t a long-term solution. Other options will provide a better solution. Kitchen wall panels (such as B&Q's Pattern Concrete: Decorative Ceiling and Wall Panels) can quickly cover large areas of wall space, are budget-friendly, and easy to fit.
Another viable alternative is to tile over tiles, Larkin says, “You can try tiling over tiles instead of painting them, but the current tiles must provide a solid, stable surface for this to work effectively.”
He adds, “You will also need to check that there will be sufficient clearance for the additional tile thickness around doors and windows, and check that your walls will be capable of handling the additional weight.”
If you decide not to paint your kitchen floor tiles, explore our kitchen floor ideas and modern kitchen tiling ideas for inspiration. When you decide what you want, save money by installing the kitchen floor tiles yourself.
