Updated on 24 June 2026 · by Pepe, painter in Elche
The bathroom and kitchen are the rooms that suffer most: steam, splashes, temperature swings and poor ventilation. I'm Pepe, a painter in Elche working across the Costa Blanca, and here I'll explain what paint really holds up in these spots and how to stop the mould coming back.
Why any old paint won't do
Ordinary emulsion in a bathroom with no window ends up with black mould patches and gets grubby the moment you clean it. These spots need a paint made for damp: washable (stands up to wear and cleaning) and anti-mould (with additives that hold back the fungus).
Which paint to choose
For the walls and ceilings of a bathroom and kitchen, the usual pick is a good-quality washable anti-mould emulsion in a matt or satin finish. Satin cleans up better and copes a bit more with the damp. For tiles or units there are specific enamels.
- Washable anti-mould paint: bathroom and kitchen walls and ceilings.
- Satin finish: stands up to cleaning better than matt.
- Tile enamel: if you want to change the tiling with no building work.
- Water-based enamel: for kitchen units or doors.
How to stop the mould coming back
Anti-mould paint helps, but if there's already mould you have to treat it first: clean the area, apply an anti-mould product and let it dry; painting straight over it just covers it for a few weeks. And most important of all: ventilation. If the bathroom has no window or extractor fan, the condensation will keep feeding the mould no matter how good the paint is.
Can you paint over the tiles?
Yes. With a tile-specific primer and the right enamel you can paint the kitchen and bathroom tiles and change their look without knocking anything out. It's a cheap way to modernise, though it has to be done properly to last. I'll tell you whether it's worth it in your case.
Want the exact price for your project?
I will come and see it with no obligation and give you a fixed quote, free and the same day. You deal directly with me, no middlemen.
FAQ
- What's the best paint for a bathroom with no window?
- A washable anti-mould paint in a satin finish, and ideally fit or use an extractor fan: without ventilation, the condensation feeds mould even if the paint is good.
- Can I paint the kitchen tiles?
- Yes, with a tile primer and a specific enamel they can be painted. It's a cheap way to freshen up with no building work; it has to be applied carefully to hold up.
- Do you remove the mould before painting?
- Always. I clean and treat the mould with a specific product before painting; otherwise it comes back within a few weeks.