Latex with a glaze wash.
Painted bathroom walls, ceiling and trim take a beating. Whatever kind of paint you choose, it has to withstand high humidity, and unless your ventilation is excellent, bathroom paint should be mildew resistant. You can choose between special bathroom paint, oil-based paint, water-based paints--all in a range of sheens from flat to high gloss. Some flat paints can even be used in bathrooms.
Oil or Latex Paint?
In most cases, a high-quality latex (water-based) interior paint is suitable for all paintable surfaces in your bathroom. Latex paints are easier to use, have low odor and dry quickly. A good paint is moisture-resistant and washable once it has dried. If you are painting directly over existing latex paint, no primer is necessary as long as the surfaces are clean, sanded and dry.
If the existing paint is alkyd (oil-based) you may choose to use alkyd paint in the bathroom. Alkyd is harder and more durable than latex, but each coat will take a full day to dry. It also has a stronger odor and requires mineral spirits for clean-up.
Both latex and alkyd paints are available in sheens including flat or matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss and high gloss. The higher the sheen, the harder the finish. However, very glossy paints cause glare from lights and every imperfection on the walls will show up in high definition. Some paint companies now manufacture scrubbable flat (often called matte) paints that are suitable for use in bathrooms and kitchens.
Assess Your Needs
If the bathroom is used by multiple splashing children every day, water-resistance and washability should be your main criteria. Choose a satin or semi-gloss paint. Lighter colors are less likely to show water spots.
A half-bath without a shower, or a tranquil master bathroom that's used only by adults, can be painted with a wider range of paints. For a subtle, low-luster finish on the walls, a matte or eggshell sheen will work as well as shinier paints. For more impact, consider a simple faux finish using water-based glaze.
Trim and woodwork tend to get more abuse, so using a higher-gloss paint on the trim not only contrasts nicely with the walls, it makes these surfaces more washable.
Mildew and Special Bathroom Paint
Some paint companies sell paint specifically for bathroom use. There is little difference between these formulas and other interior paints, except the bathroom paint contains mildewcide to retard mildew and mold growth. However, mildewcide can be purchased at most paint and hardware stores and added to any paint. Special bathroom paints are a good choice, but it's not necessary to use them.
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