Tips for Painting a Bathroom Vanity {& Our Playroom Bathroom}

I’m on a roll with budget bathroom makeovers these days, so I’ve moved my efforts upstairs to the playroom bathroom. I knew I wanted to paint it gray since I love the way our downstairs vanity turned out, and it’s a nice neutral, but I wasn’t sure what shade exactly. I decided to kill two birds with one stone and choose a color and finish that I could use on the vanity and on the interior of our front door. (So stay tuned for that!) With that in mind, I opted for BEHR® MARQUEE Interior Paint & Primer in a satin finish. While I typically use a semi-gloss finish on cabinets and trim, I didn’t want anything too glossy this time. Since this bathroom doesn’t get a ton of use, the satin finish should work out fine. It had originally been painted white and was scuffed and scratched in some places and needed a new paint job. Here it is before:

Now that I’ve done it a few times (between this house and our first one), I thought I would share some tips for painting a bathroom vanity.

1. Take your time choosing a color.

No one wants to spend time painting only to hate the color later on. Take your time when choosing a color, as it will save you the extra work of repainting it later. (Check out Behr color palettes here.) I scoured the internet and trolled Pinterest searching for the perfect shade of gray, and I was so inspired by this shade that I spotted over on Life on Virginia Street. It’s Elephant Skin by Behr, and it’s the perfect medium shade — not too light and not too dark. When choosing a paint brand and formula, BEHR fit the bill perfectly, and their MARQUEE Interior Paint & Primer was the perfect choice.

2. Don’t skimp on quality

This tip could apply to any paint job. I’m a self-professed paint snob, and I’ll only use a good quality paint. Why? Because it saves me time and money in the long run when the paint provides better coverage and requires fewer coats. I was a little bit nervous trying a new brand and paint formula for the first time, but Behr knocked it out of the park with this paint and I can confidently say that I’ll be using it again.

3. Thoroughly clean the vanity.

Use mild soap and water and give the entire vanity a good scrub to get any residue, dirt or grime off. Paint won’t adhere to the grimy areas, so it’s worth spending a few minutes getting it nice and clean.

4. Lightly sand.

Use fine grit sandpaper or a sanding block to rough up the surface enough for your paint to adhere well to the surface.

5. Use primer or paint with primer included.

This is where Behr Marquee Interior Paint & Primer comes in handy. It saves you a step! As a busy mom, I’m all about saving time.

6. Use a combination of a brush and small roller.

I use an angled paint brush to get into the nooks and crannies, and then I use a small roller to smooth the paint on. Foam rollers are great for semi-gloss and gloss finishes. Be sure to buy the proper roller for the job, which is usually indicated on the packaging.

I’m really happy with how the vanity turned out, and I can’t wait to get some paint on the walls soon too so I can show you the whole makeover! I ordered a cute shower curtain and I just need to find some nice towels and a little rug.

One and a half bathrooms down, two and a half to go! Next on the hit list is our upstairs hall bathroom. Have you ever painted a vanity? What are your tips? Let me know!

This post is brought to you by BEHR. Color that’s True to Hue. If you feel it you can find it. Visit True To Hue.

BEHR® sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine.

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