How to paint a bathroom sink for under $5
***Big thanks to Walmart for sponsoring this post! I have been monetarily compensated for my work, but all thoughts and opinions are my own. We only share what we love here, and as always, thank you for your support!***
You guys! I painted my bathroom sink! With spray paint!
I painted the ceramic tile floors too! You can check that out in this post.
When we moved into our home I had a long list of DIY projects. I’ve made a lot of progress in areas like our guest bedroom, boys shared bedroom, and master bathroom, but that list is still SLOWLY getting checked off.
Inspired by some Instagram friends who recently did a #2days200dollars challenge, I decided it was time to tackle our guest bathroom before the holidays arrive.
I love a clean and organized home, BUT my DIY and crafting supplies straight up brings me JOY (sorry Marie Kondo, it stays).
Armed with a plethora of leftover paint and supplies I dove into phase one of the guest bathroom makeover. The vanity.
The before was your standard builder grade cabinet base with cultured marble top. My goals here were simple.
- Paint the cabinet base
- Paint the countertop pure white
- Change out the hardware
- Paint the faucet
I draw so much of my inspiration from fellow DIY-ers on Instagram and this project was no exception. Allie from @prvbsthirtyonegrl is one of my favorite DIY-ers to follow for budget-friendly upgrades.
When I saw that she had used Rustoleum’s Appliance Epoxy spray (affiliate) on her bathroom vanity I knew I had to try it. Her end result was a smooth pure white surface with the durability of epoxy.
Here’s the process I used to spray paint my guest bathroom countertop using Rustoleum’s Appliance Epoxy Spray (affiliate).
Step 1: Tape off your area
I chose to use the spray form of the product since the area was so small and the spray is a fourth of the cost of the paint. But beware, the overspray and smell is INTENSE.
You will want to make sure you have thoroughly taped off and covered any areas that you don’t want overspray on, including your walls, vanity cabinet and faucet hardware.
Step 2: Ventilation
Spray paint fumes are intense. Make sure you open any windows, use a fan, and wear a respirator or mask.
Step 3: Clean the surface
I used this pre-paint cleaner (link) that I had on hand from a previous project, and made sure to dry and wipe with a lint-free cloth before spraying to remove any dust.
I did not sand the surface, but you might benefit from using a fine grit sandpaper to rough it up a little.
Step 3: Prep your Can
Be sure to shake the can for a full minute or more to properly mix.
Step 4: Spray your counter
In a sweeping motion with overlap on each pass, spray a thin coat of paint on your surfaces. You will need multiple coats ( I used 4). I sprayed a coat, waited 2-3 minutes and sprayed again.
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!!! You MUST complete all of your coats within a 30-minute timeframe. If you spray additional coats on the surface after 30 minutes the paint will bubble. If you need to apply additional coats or touch-ups after 30 minutes you must wait a full week to recoat.
Step 5: Remove tape and Wait
If your tape is touching any of the actual counter surface carefully pull it off while the spray paint is still slightly wet.
Instructions on the can say the surface is dry to touch within 2-3 hours and ready for use between 5-9 hours, fully cured at 24. My surface still felt tacky to me at the 9-hour mark, which may have been due to humidity or the fact that I put on 4 coats. Regardless, I stayed completely away for 24 hours and the surface now appears to be fully cured and durable.
I used the same process of prep to spray the faucet as well.
Time will tell how well this holds up, so I’ll be sure to come back and provide an update. For now, here are some tips I’ve picked up from other DIY-ers that have used this product for the same purpose.
- Nail polish remover will take off the surface, use caution.
- If you have leaky faucet or drip some users have had trouble with bubbling.
Definitely not a forever fix, but I’m loving the results from a $4 can of spray paint! If you tackle this project in your own home I’d love to see! Tag me on social or send me a message!
Use what you have, to do what you can & embrace progress over perfection my friends! If you have any questions I’d love to chat in the comments below!
Hi! I’m curious how the spray painted sink has held up to water especially around the drain where water tend to sit? Your makeover looks beautiful!
Thanks!
Hi Terri!
Full disclosure, this is the guest bathroom in our basement so it doesn’t see repeated daily use like most bathrooms. However, it’s used mutliple times a week by my young children who aren’t careful to wipe anything out and it seems to be holding up well! It’s been a couple of months now, and so far so good.
You were so brave to even considering the thought of painting your bathroom sink. It looks absolutely wonderful and I love it.
And the cost was just great!! Thank you for sharing your talent.
Sandy LeBlanc
Thank you so much for you nice words! I was inspired by a fellow blogger so it definitely made it easier to dive in to. I think it’s a fantastic option for a temporary fix.
Do you think this paint technique would work on a laminate countertop?
Hi there! I think it would, but there are some other options available as well. Rustoleum makes an actual countertop paint. There is also a company called Giani that makes countertop transformation kits in various styles. I’m getting ready to try a faux marble on my laminate countertops.
Do you think it can be done on marble
Curious on the painting cupboard area under sink. Anthing special other than cleaning surface? like sanding? Did you roll on or spray?
Would this work on a shower also
If you wanted to recoat a shower I would suggest using the Rustoleum Tub and Tile paint instead. My understanding is that it’s more appropriate for withstanding water.
I can’t wait to try it!! Thanks for posting!
Of course! Thanks for checking it out!
You’re welcome! Let me know how it went if you tried it out! : )
How soon did you wait to start using the faucet?
About 48 hours just to be safe.
How’s it holding up? Curious! Taping around areas seems tricky! I feel like I would spend as much money on tape/plastic as the paint can! Also, you think this product would cover rust/hard water stains?
Hi Lindsey! It’s been about 6 months since I did this project. Full disclosure, this bathroom doesn’t see a TON of traffic, but with all 3 of my kids at home the past couple of months it’s definitely getting more use than normal AND they’re not good about wiping up water after hand washing. I’m very impressed with how it’s holding up. The only places that I see issues with are right around the faucet, but that’s because I did a crap job of taping around it from the get go. If I had to do it over again in a main bathroom I would probably try to remove the faucet and re-install. I’m not 100% sure about rust. Could you get a good rust cleaner and maybe lightly sand it first? They also make this paint in black, but I know black countertops would show everything. : /
Hi Jessica! This is genius! How many cans did you use for the counter?
Thank you so much! I was inspired by a fellow blogger on Instagram! This particular vanity took less than 1 can to paint. I sprayed two coats.
Hi Jackie! Thank you so much! I was inspired by a fellow blogger who had great success with spraying her own first. This particular counter took me less than 1 can, and I sprayed 3 light coats.
I did this and the paint bubbled everywhere, little and some big bubbles. Looks awful. Not sure what to do except strip it off and start over.
I hate that you had a bad experience. This stuff works really well, but yes, the instructions and application process are VERY time sensitive. I would suggest smoothing it out with a find grit sanding block and trying again. Just make sure you wait at least one week after the initial application or it will likely bubble again.
Hi..
What color are your walls and what color is the bottom of the sink? Thanks!
Hey there! The wall color is Sherwin Williams Repose Grey, and the vanity was painted with a Rustoleum Furniture transformations kit. I believe the color was called modern grey.
Hi Rita! Prior to painting, the walls were Repose Grey. The vanity was painted with a Rustoleum Furniture transformations kit in Modern Grey.
Hi,
I’m just curious how many cans of the spray paint you used?
Thanks,
Carleigh
Hi Carleigh! This particular countertop took less than 1 can. ; )
Is the surface smooth?
Hi Missy! It definitely turns out pretty smooth. I will say, anything that is on the surface when you spray it will be there for good so it’s important to make sure that ANY specks of dust or dirt are completely wiped off. I wiped mine really well with a microfiber cloth before spraying and waited to turn on the fans until right after I had sprayed as not to stir up any dust.
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Could this work for a heavily trafficked countertop? My kitchen counters and backsplash are an awful yellow, but I am NOT the type to install new counters and a backsplash myself!
Hey Colby! So I can’t speak from experience there, because this guest bathroom honestly doesn’t doesn’t get a TON of traffic. Dedpending on your counter material, you might want to look into Rustoleum Tub & tile. I used it on a tile backsplash in my kitchen, and it’s held up SO well. They also make this particular appliance paint in a roll on, as well as a different countertop paint. Feel free to DM me on Instagram or e-mail too with questions. I’m not always as quick to respond here. : )
Hi Jessica. I’m curious how the final product feels? Is it smooth like the cultered marble or gritty at all?
Thanks!
Hi Leslie! It definitely turns out pretty smooth. I will say, anything that is on the surface when you spray it will be there for good so it’s important to make sure that ANY specks of dust or dirt are completely wiped off. I wiped mine really well with a microfiber cloth before spraying and waited to turn on the fans until right after I had sprayed as not to stir up any dust.
Hello! I was wondering how you prevented the drain from getting the epoxy on it. Did you tape it?
I am going to give this a try My vanity needs to be refreshed! I have used the paint to do faucets and they held up really well
Oh wow – so, I was inspired by this post and just tried it in our downstairs bath (the one most used) – you weren’t kidding that the fumes and overspray are intense! Boy howdy! But, I’m so impressed with how it looks – and you certainly can’t beat the price! I can’t wait to see how it all looks once I’ve repainted the vanity and such. Thanks for posting this and sharing!
Hi!
I am very disappointed with this spray. The instructions are not detailed enough when it comes to applying the coats. It says wait 24-48 hours to apply another coat, now the paint chipped in some areas!!
How do yo correct this problem? I tried sanding the area but it leaves the color of the sand paper.
How can I re- do this vanity?
Help!!!! 😭😭😖😖
Hi, Looks great! Have you had any issues with the faucet sticking after spray painting it?
It worked great for me. Thanks for sharing. It was the perfect way to complete the look of our bathroom after we refinished the wood flooring in there.