How to Paint a Sink, a DIY Bathroom Project Your Budget Will Love!

Recently I shared on Facebook that we were doing a makeover on our powder room, aka the “World’s Smallest Bathroom”. The project I was most excited about was the sink. I had wondered how to paint a sink so I did a little research and found what type of paint would work.

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Supplies Needed to Paint a Sink

I ended up using the Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit that I ordered from Amazon. This is a high-quality paint made just for this purpose.

Since the paint kit was only around $25 (at that time), we decided to try it. Then if it didn’t work we’d just rip out the sink and put in a new sink.

• Rust-Oleum Tub and Tile Refinishing Kit in the desired color
• 4″ paint roller
• 1″ paint brush orsponge brush
• painters tape
• plastic sheeting or drop cloth to protect the floor
• scraper to remove caulk
• Comet with Bleach or other scrubbing powder cleanser
• Lime-Away
• scouring pad
• sponges and plenty of paper towels!
• 400-600 wet/dry fine-grit sandpaper or sanding sponge
• tack cloth or microfiber towel
• bucket

Protective Gear

• eye protection
• respirator mask
• gloves

Here’s a little video I took of what my nasty old bathroom sink looked like BEFORE the countertop makeover.

How to Paint a Sink

I think the one-piece sink, countertop, bathroom vanity, and handle were all original to our townhouse, built in the mid-1970s!

Note: This was an old one-piece bathroom countertop and sink combination.

Remove the Hardware

Removed the plumbing hardware: faucet, handles, and drain. Make sure the water is turned off before you do this! Bikeman did this for me.

Honestly, I don’t know what this was made of. It felt like a plastic sink.

Here’s another close-up of the nastiness! I was NOT feeling good about painting at this point.

If there are any cracks, they will need to be repaired. The good news is that ours was still in good condition and there was no water damage to the cabinet even though it had been there a long time!

Cleaning and Preparing the Sink

Proper preparation is the most important thing about painting a sink’s surface! The painting was actually pretty easy but these steps take time. I think I spent about 1 1/2 hours cleaning before I even started painting.

First, remove all the old caulk. Remove debris.

Place a bucket under the sink drain to catch anything that falls through from the top of the sink.

Using an abrasive sponge, scrub with Comet with bleach to remove all the dirt, grease, grime, and soap scum. Rinse off the residue with clean water. Clean with Lime-Away or TSP. Rinse off with hot water.

Then sand, sand, sand until you have a smooth surface. Rinse and wipe off the sanding dust with a tack cloth or a damp cloth. This step will remove the shiny finish and allow the new paint to adhere better.

I also used painter’s tape to cover the walls and surrounding area so I wouldn’t get paint on them. And I also used masking tape to tape down a drop cloth so I wouldn’t accidentally get any paint on the floor.

The Painting Process

Now the scary part. Good ventilation is KEY here.

BEFORE painting, make sure you open all your windows, turn on the exhaust fan, and aim a fan at you to get fresh air.

These paint fumes STINK!!!! I can’t emphasize that enough. Make SURE you have proper ventilation.

Don’t paint with kids or pets in the room. Seriously. It stinks. I mean it…

This was a new paint for me and I learned that there is no need for a primer.

First step, mix the 2 part epoxy paint together, following instructions. The instructions say it can be rolled, brushed, or sprayed. I chose a 4″ mini roller and a 1″ foam paintbrush to get the corners.

The paint is much thinner than I expected it to be. Aim for 2-3 THIN coats over the entire sink and be ready for it to look BAD after the first coat.

Here’s what my first coat of paint looked like after I covered the entire surface. It’s not even, and I could see brush marks, but it’s a self-leveling paint. It looked much better after it dried but definitely needed a second coat.  The drying time is about 1 hour between each fresh coat of paint.

See the difference?

The curved sink bowl was a little bit of a challenge but between the foam roller and foam brush, I managed to get it all covered.

Here it is after 3 thin coats of paint.

Next step, I allowed it to cure for three days before we installed the new faucet, handles, and drain and added our decor items.

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The Finished Painted Sink

And here it is all caulked and with a lovely smooth finish! What do you think? I’m glad I spent the time figuring out how to paint a sink!

How to Care for a Painted Sink

Do not use abrasive cleaners on your painted sink surface or vanity top. I used a regular spray cleaner and a soft, clean cloth

My Review

My review? I love it… so far. I want to reserve the right to change my opinion after I see how the bathtub paint kit wears. But I’ve heard good things from other users — IF you do the prep!!!

That, plus this is in our guest bathroom that doesn’t get daily use. I don’t know if I would do it on a kitchen sink or a sink that receives more regular use. I also haven’t tried it on a stainless steel sink or a porcelain sink.

Should you try painting your sink? Yes, I think it’s a good idea to try painting the surface of the sink before going through the extra cost of replacing your old sink. Especially if you’re on a budget.

UPDATE: This project was originally published on August 14, 2017. We sold our townhouse a little over two years later. I get questions all the time asking how this sink is holding up. When we moved out, it still looked great. It never scratched or peeled at all. And no chips. I was really happy with the finished product and would gladly do it again!

Extra Tips for Painting a Bathroom Sink

I believe painting is a great idea for a long-lasting finish. Especially if you use the following tips:

• Pick the right paint color. Most tub and sink paints come in white and several other different colors.
• Spend enough time on prep. The steps BEFORE painting are the most important! I know I’ve said that several times… I’ve just got to stress it!
• If you use the correct paint you do not need a coat of primer.
• Do not apply a thick layer of paint. Several thin layers are better than a couple of thick.
• Allow about an hour before adding the second coat of paint and any additional coats that are needed. In my case, I needed a third coat.
• What is the best way to clean a painted sink? Gently clean the painted surface with spray cleaner and/or soapy water and a soft cloth.
• I’ve read that a paint sprayer can be used. But I have had bad experiences spray painting inside so I didn’t go that route.
• For the best results, use the right paint and the right materials for the right job and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Types of Paint to Use on Sinks

I think I had such good success with this DIY home project because I used the right type of paint.

• 2-part epoxy-based paints such as Rustoleum Tub and Tile Paint — This paint did a great job!
• specialty tub and tile spray paint
• semi-gloss latex paint — I haven’t used this myself so I can’t tell you how long it lasts. You would probably need to use oil-based primers for best paint adhesion.
• Rustoleum Marine Topside Paint — Another one I haven’t used but it makes sense. If it works on boats it should work on a sink!
• appliance spray paint — I used this on my washer and dryer makeover but I haven’t tried it on a sink.
• EP-acrylic paint

More DIY Bathroom Projects

If you’d like to see the other DIY projects from this bathroom makeover, click on the links below:

• How to Paint Bathroom Cabinets — MUCH easier than painting a sink!
• Spray Paint Bathroom Accessories
• How to Frame a Bathroom Mirror
• Spray Paint Bathroom Light Fixtures
• $100 Powder Room Makeover Reveal — This includes all the DIY projects along with before and after photos of the entire makeover.

If you enjoyed this countertop makeover, you might also like these:

• How to Organize a Small Farmhouse Bathroom
• 17 Clever Ideas for Small Bathrooms
• 4 Quick and Easy DIY Bathroom Ideas
• How to Improve Bathroom Lighting

Another question I’ve been asked is, can you paint aluminum sinks? That I don’t know. Please let me know if you’ve ever tried! And let me know if you have any other questions about this or any of our other DIY home projects. We love learning to do all these little things in our home instead of depending on someone else to do all the work for us.

Closing

The Rustoleum kit that we used could also be used for a large bathtub project. But I’ll be honest with you and let you know that when we decided to sell the house we hired someone to come in and do the tub. I remembered the fumes for the little sink and didn’t think I wanted to deal with fumes for a project many times larger. Plus, the guy we hired came in and did the whole tub surround in one day! It would have taken me a week and I can’t go that long without my bathtub and shower! (We only had one full bathroom in this townhouse.)

But, don’t let my giving up keep you from trying this method on a bathtub… it can be done.

Another disclaimer: When we homeowners did this project in 2017, the tub and tile kit was $25. I checked on the price again in 2023 and it had gone up to $48! Just like everything else! But that’s still cheaper than buying a new sink.

Thanks for reading! Do you have any questions about how to paint a sink? Leave ’em in the comments.

‘Til the next project,

 Ann @ Duct Tape and Denim

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