Before & After: A New Coat of Paint Makes this Windowless Bathroom Feel Fresh and Serene
There was nothing wrong with the guest bathroom in Dian and Tim’s cute Chicago condo, per se. But with white walls, a gray floor, and no windows, it just felt blah and dark — even with the couple’s contemporary, mid-century touches. And it certainly didn’t have the modern, airy charm of the rest of their home.
Dian knew she wanted to use color to inject some energy into the bathroom, but with so many possibilities, she wasn’t sure what direction to go in. Designer and visual artist Sara Weissler suggested painting the vanity wall in Jardin SW 6723, a bright yet soft green by Sherwin-Williams®.
“Jardin is a mix of tea, mint, and sage green, all of which are both soothing and energizing,” Sara says. “It adds light to the room and balances the utilitarian gray of the floor. Green and gray are a classic color combination.” Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Interior Acrylic Latex Paint is ideal for moisture-rich areas like the bathroom, since the formula resists water streaking and inhibits the growth of mold and mildew on the paint surface.
Painting a bathroom wall can be a little trickier than painting other rooms of the house, but not by much. And you get to play with painter’s tape! To paint a wall with obstacles like sinks and toilets, be extra diligent: Run a putty knife over the tape to get a good seal and peel the tape off before the paint fully dries, pulling at an angle for crisp edges.
Next tip: Paint the rest of the wall before you paint behind the toilet tank. Remove the lid, cover the tank, and use a 4-inch mini roller to squeeze into this tight spot. (If you can’t reach, a short extension pole attachment will help.)
Lastly, you also might find that you need to re-caulk your sink after painting: Wait until the paint is completely dry, tape above and below the caulk line to reduce mess, and remove the tape before the caulk dries.
Now, Dian’s guest bathroom is bright and beautiful. Those dull vibes are banished for good, replaced with a fresh and calm hue that accentuates the rest of the room’s style.
“The paint color Jardin by Sherwin-Williams looks so sharp against black and chrome accents,” she says. It’s a great lesson in experimenting and having fun with color: “I’m not sure I would have selected a green for the bathroom, but it really brightens up the space. If you’re stuck like I was, try to get past the fear and go for it! If you think a color is beautiful, you’ll probably like it on your walls, too.”
