Bathrooms are the most demanding room to paint in any home — and in London’s older flats, they’re often the smallest and the most challenging. Steam, condensation and poor ventilation can ruin a paint job in months if you use the wrong products or skip the preparation. As a decorator working across SE17 and South London, I’ve painted everything from Victorian conversions in Walworth to modern flats near Elephant & Castle — and the same rules apply everywhere.
Why Bathrooms Need Different Paint
Standard wall paint isn’t designed for moisture. In a bathroom, warm steam condenses on walls, seeps into the paint film and eventually causes bubbling, peeling and — worst of all — black mould. The fix is simple: choose a paint formulated for high-moisture areas. Look for labels that say “mould-resistant” or “washable” and check the finish. A soft sheen or eggshell finish handles wiping and steam far better than a flat matt, which stays damp and gives mould a foothold. For ceilings above showers, a dedicated bathroom ceiling paint with built-in mould protection is worth the extra few pounds.
Preparing the Bathroom Properly
Prep matters more in a bathroom than anywhere else. Start by cleaning every surface with a fungicidal wash to kill any existing mould spores — scrubbing with bleach alone won’t stop them returning. Sand any flaking paint back to a sound surface and fill cracks with a flexible filler, because bathrooms expand and contract with heat and steam. Prime bare plaster or repaired patches before painting, and check the silicone sealant around the bath, basin and shower. If it’s cracked or discoloured, remove and replace it before you paint — painting over old sealant never looks right and lets water get behind your new paintwork.
Painting the Walls and Ceiling
The technique is the same as any room, but the details matter. Cut in around the ceiling, corners and fixtures first, then lay off the walls with a medium-pile roller in a W pattern, working in sections you can keep a wet edge on. Two coats are non-negotiable — one coat of bathroom paint simply won’t build enough film to resist steam. Open the window or run the extractor fan while you paint, and leave extra drying time between coats; high humidity slows paint cure and can leave you with patchy colour. Finally, paint the ceiling before the walls so any drips can be rolled over rather than ruining finished walls.
How Long Should a Bathroom Paint Job Last?
With the right paint and proper preparation, a bathroom should look good for four to six years. The things that shorten that life are always the same: no mould treatment before painting, flat matt paint on walls, and no extractor fan or window used after showers. In rental conversions and shared flats — common across Camberwell and Peckham — bathrooms get far more wear, so a tougher, scrubbable finish pays for itself quickly.
DIY or Hire a Professional?
A small bathroom is one of the more achievable DIY jobs, especially if you’re comfortable with a brush and roller. But it’s also a room where mistakes show: patchy coverage around pipes, mould returning within months, or paint bleeding under old silicone. If the room has awkward pipework, a low ceiling or a history of damp, a professional decorator will have the experience and the right moisture-resistant products to get it right first time. And because a bathroom repaint can usually be finished in a day or two, the disruption is minimal either way.
Ready to Refresh Your Bathroom?
If your bathroom is looking tired — or the mould keeps coming back no matter what you try — I’d be happy to help. I cover SE17, Walworth, Kennington, Camberwell, Peckham, Brixton, Bermondsey and Elephant & Castle, with free quotes and honest advice on what will actually last in your flat. Contact Paolo today to arrange a visit.