Making your bathroom look good is important to many people, because bathrooms that look shabby are often associated with dirt and lack of care. You might be in the middle of redecorating when you glance at your toilet and realize it just doesn’t match… but changing the toilet could be expensive, and you might not want to do this if you don’t have to.
That leaves you looking at options for redecorating it, and you might then be wondering whether it’s possible to paint a toilet seat. It’s important to find out before you plunge ahead with this, or you might wind up with a seat that looks worse, rather than better.
Can you paint a toilet seat? You can paint many kinds of toilet seats, including wooden ones, plastic ones, and ceramic ones. However, you will need to make sure you are using the right kind of paint, and you’ll need to take a careful approach to applying it. If you have a soft toilet seat, you won’t be able to paint it at all.
Is It Possible to Paint a Toilet Seat?
You can paint most kinds of toilet seats if you use thin layers of an appropriate paint. You will need to be patient, though, because multiple coats will be necessary. You will also need sandpaper and a brush. With all of these things, though, you can restore your toilet to its former glory, or make it match a new bathroom scheme without replacing it.
The first thing to do is check that your toilet seat will take paint. It should do so if it is made of a solid material, such as wood, ceramic, or plastic. Soft toilet seats, which often have a vinyl covering, will not take paint; when the fabric flexes, the paint will simply chip off. Do not try to put paint on a vinyl toilet seat.
How Do You Paint a Toilet Seat?
The first thing you’ll need to do is clean the surface thoroughly. Nothing will stick otherwise. Once you have removed all of the dirt, you should remove the toilet seat from the toilet by unscrewing the bolts. Clean again, and then mask off any areas that you don’t want to paint. Next, you need to sand, and then you can paint.
You will usually only need to sand your toilet seat lightly. The idea is just to improve the grip of your paint, providing a key so that the paint can flow into the holes and create a good, solid layer. This is particularly important when you have a very smooth surface, such as plastic. Take some fine-grit sandpaper, and gently rub down the whole area.
Next, wipe the toilet seat down with a damp rag, and let it fully dry. Take a brush and begin priming the surface with a suitable primer. It’s important not to skip the priming process, as this will give your paint a better surface to adhere to.
Once the primer has dried, you can lightly sand it, and then it’s finally time to start painting! Dip the brush into the paint and start coating the toilet seat, keeping the layers of paint as thin as possible. It doesn’t matter if you can see some gaps in the initial coat; these will be covered up with later coats.
Allow the first coat to completely dry, and then add a second coat, again as thinly as possible. Do not put a thick layer on, just because you can see through the paint to start with. Thin coats will adhere much better, and will minimize the chances of the paint chipping off. You can also sand in between coats to improve the adherence.
Keep coating the toilet seat, allowing each layer to completely dry before you add the next one. When you are satisfied with the coverage and appearance of the seat, let it dry, and then screw it back into place on the toilet.
What Kind of Paint Do You Need For a Toilet Seat?
This completely depends on what your toilet seat is made of. It’s best to choose your paint according to this material. If you have a wooden toilet seat, select a paint that specifically says it is suitable for wood – and do the same for a ceramic or a plastic toilet seat. The paint should tell you if it will work on the surface you are working with.
You should do the same with your primer, making sure you are using something that is suitable both for the surface of the toilet seat and the paint you have purchased. This will give you the best chance of a good, tough finish that will last for years. If you don’t prime the surface, you may find that your paint chips off too easily.
A lot of people opt for spray paint for their toilet seats, as this will give you a beautiful finish with no visible brush strokes. It can also be quicker. Remember that you will need a well-ventilated area if you are going to be working with spray paint, and you’ll also need protective cloths so you don’t damage any other surface.
Even with spray paint, you will need at least 2 coats to achieve good coverage of the toilet seat. Make sure you are giving the paint enough drying time in between coats, so that you don’t end up with any bubbling or peeling.
Epoxy is another option, and is often the most durable kind of paint you can choose. It usually comes in 2 parts, so you will need to mix them and the paint immediately afterward. You can apply epoxy with a brush or a spray, depending on what suits you best.
Final Thoughts
Painting a toilet seat can be a great way to make it look clean and fresh again, and can also help to ensure it matches your bathroom decor. This is a fairly straightforward DIY job that shouldn’t take too long, and it allows you to get creative and make your toilet look exactly as you want it to.
