Can you use regular paint in a bathroom?

[Locut0s]

It's a moot point as the paint is already up but I would have chosen paint specifically mixed for a really humid environment. Something oil based and perhaps slightly shinny. The paint that was used was mold resistant though. But this bathroom doesn't have much in the way of ventilation (no fan) and gets extra steamy so it's going to be interesting to see if the paint peels. Oh well I offered to renovate the whole bathroom myself but the parents didn't want to let me (probably a good idea as I would be learning as I went) so I don't really care what happens

 

[Ronstang]

I have used normal latex wall paint in many bathrooms without any issue over the years. Once the stuff is dry it is not water soluble any more so there really isn't anything to worry about.

 

[0roo0roo]

latex works fine.
semigloss that is. flat is probably more prone to mold or whatever.
for a bathroom without vents, i would have definitely used mold resistant paint.

 

[SunSamurai]

As a painter of 15 years experience; Yes you can. Water based is fine. As Oroo said, you wont want flat. You will want at least semigloss for easier cleaning and better lighting. You can also get kinds better resistant to mold and mildew, but that's usually has nothing to do with it being flat/gloss. In most paint stores you can just tell the person that the paint will be in a watery area and they will point you to a good type. Also there are different sheens, but thats a bit more options that people want to deal with.

Edit: By the way, you will want to sand all the walls with 250-400 grit sandpaper before you paint. If there is alot of steam and no ventilation you will get paint bubbling off the walls no matter how dry the paint was before you started the water. The paint needs something to grip onto. This usually only applies to water based going onto of semigloss and especially oil based paints (pain in the ass without a special primer or alot of gooy sanding or outright striping, and not the fun kind)

 

[Locut0s]

As a painter of 15 years experience; Yes you can. Water based is fine. As Oroo said, you wont want flat. You will want at least semigloss for easier cleaning and better lighting. You can also get kinds better resistant to mold and mildew, but that's usually has nothing to do with it being flat/gloss. In most paint stores you can just tell the person that the paint will be in a watery area and they will point you to a good type. Also there are different sheens, but thats a bit more options that people want to deal with.

Edit: By the way, you will want to sand all the walls with 250-400 grit sandpaper before you paint. If there is alot of steam and no ventilation you will get paint bubbling off the walls no matter how dry the paint was before you started the water. The paint needs something to grip onto. This usually only applies to water based going onto of semigloss and especially oil based paints (pain in the ass without a special primer or alot of gooy sanding or outright striping, and not the fun kind)

Yeah we gave the walls a fairly good sanding. Time will tell how this holds up. As I said in the OP it is mold resistant but it is a mat finish.

 

[fulltilt39]

are you going to draw pictures on the wall with your urine??

 

[Locut0s]

are you going to draw pictures on the wall with your urine??

wat?

 

[Zebo]

I always used an eggshell/satin so you can wipe kids sprinkles off the wall.

 

[Kelemvor]

We use latex paint that has the mildew blocker in it. Works great.