How to Paint Ceramic Tiles

Are you desperate to spruce up your interiors? Thankfully, you don’t need to break the bank to keep your home looking fresh. Whether it’s the kitchen or bathroom, a lick of paint can totally transform a room – even just by focusing on your ceramic tiles.

As our brand ambassador Craig Phillips points out, the technique is pretty much the same for any material. Watch our step-by-step video guide or read on to find out more.

What you’ll need:

• Frenchic Al Fresco Paint - Craig uses Dusky Blush 
• Frenchic Sugar Soap
• Paintbrush/Roller
• Sanding Sponge
• Sponge
• Warm Water
• Clean Cloth

4 main steps for how to paint ceramic tiles

Step 1: Clean the tiles

Tiles are a relatively low-maintenance option for kitchens and bathrooms. But dirt, grime and grease can easily build-up over the years without you even realising it. Kitchen ceramics are particularly susceptible due to their proximity to substances such as food and oil.

Thankfully, cleaning ceramic tiles doesn’t require much effort. Take your sugar soap and mix one part sugar soap with ten parts of warm water. Once you have the solution, dip a sponge into the fluid and gently scrub until the dirt disappears, targeting the edges of the tiles.

Finish by rinsing off the sugar soap and drying the tiles with a dry towel to allow the paint to hold more easily.

Step 2: Sand them down

Muck isn’t the only thing that will prevent the paint from bonding to the tile. The shiny surface on most ceramic tiles makes it harder for the paint to stick to it, resulting in a less full finish. By sanding down the material, it creates “teeth” for the gloss to grab onto by scuffing the surface and making it rougher.

With a fine sanding sponge, you can quickly take the shine off the top of the ceramic. According to Craig, there’s no reason to be overly gentle. You should use about the same amount of pressure as you would if you were sanding a piece of furniture.

Lastly, take a clean cloth or towel and wipe down the tiles to remove any dust that might stick in-between the small, newly founded grooves or the grout. Now, your ceramic tiles are ready to paint.

Step 3: Painting with a brush

If you prefer to paint with a brush, simply take the Al Fresco paint – it's a smart choice because it’s suitable for indoor and outdoor use – and put a small amount on the brush before applying to the centre of the tile.

Using whichever technique you prefer – up and down or left to right – carefully spread the paint out until it has covered the entire surface area of the tile. Remember that there isn’t a set direction for painting when it comes to doing a tile, but we do recommend using the same method for all the tiles for consistency.

When you have applied the paint across every part of the tile, lightly feather the top of the layer of paint with your brush to ensure everything is evenly spread. Voila – that’s how to paint ceramic tiles using a paintbrush!

Step 4: Painting with a roller

A roller is ideal if you enjoy the faster and smoother finish it offers. After all, we don’t expect you to do every tile by hand as Craig does in the video. Start by covering your roller with paint and spreading the excess on the top of the tray so that the coverage is consistent and smooth.

Next, the fun bit. Once you start applying the paint, you’ll feel it grabbing the surface of the tile, covering it perfectly. Don’t forget the edges if you’re doing a full wall or a bigger block of tiles and the grout is set quite far back. 

That’s it. All that’s left is to let them dry.

What about a second coat of paint?

We recommend adding a second layer of paint to stop any bare tile from showing through. Plus, the extra coat will make the paint appear bolder and more luxurious. The key is to let the first layer dry for an hour or two while you’re cleaning your brush/roller, before using the same technique as above to add another coat.

Want to enhance your home on a budget?

Improving your home and adding value without overspending is the dream, but it doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. Whether you’re new to DIY or you’re a seasoned pro, you can subscribe to Frenchic TV’s YouTube channel for more incredible and easy-to-implement tips from our brand ambassador Craig Phillips.

As always, don’t forget to like and subscribe if you haven’t already!