Does tile paint always look a bit rubbish

[Jazzyjulia]

Really sorry, absolutely no intention to offend anyone who has painted tiles, but we have just bought a house with horrible multicolour tiles. The rest of the kitchen is fine and we can afford to do much to it, but I just cannot live with the tiles.
I've been looking into painting them but DH thinks it will look terrible- he stays in a lot of contractor digs and which have painted tiles, and apparently all the ones he’s seen look obvious and blotchy.
Is he right of has anyone managed to do it and make it look good? If so, would love some tips please. Thanks

It can look ok short term, depending on the initial colour and what colour you go for. But usually only if it's totally hideous initially so any alternative is better.

Yes

Depends how bad the tiles are. I painted our old ones which were square shades of brown to white. They held up well and looked fine, sold the house quickly for full market value and no queries about the tiles or kitchen.

It lasted well on the wall tiles but needed touching up a few times on the window sill where plant pots etc would lift the paint.

IMO it’s a great short term solution to brighten a space. It will never look as good as new tiles but it’ll look much better than naff old tiles.

I did mine years ago and they looked amazing and lasted really well. Preparation is key, making sure they are clean and grease free and white is a much easier colour to use due to the existing grout (assuming that’s white already)

I applied thin coats with a small radiator roller - the smooth one not the furrier one - to avoid brush strokes.

Areas like the cooker splashback will get more wear so need cleaning carefully but the tiles can be repainted if needed.

The final result is down to the skill of the painter and the care taken. Personally I hate painted grout and think it makes the whole job look bad - or at least shouts ‘painted tiles’

You can buy liquid ‘masking tape’ to use on the grout lines, once the tiles are painted you peel the masking fluid off.

You can use tile paint or alternatively Frenchic paint is suitable for use on kitchen tiles. Frenchic also do a finishing coat which adds a subtle sheen, or a Matt top coat, if you want an extra layer of protection.

Clean the old tiles really, really well. Use sugar soap. Lightly sand the surface to provide a key for the paint. Apply masking fluid to the grout lines. Use a roller - Two Fussy Blokes ones are really good - and apply the paint in thin even coats. Peel off the masking fluid and admire your new tiles.

Ive never had problems with painted tiles flaking or chipping, and these days there are specialist paints for the job. In my last house, my tiles had been painted for nearly ten years by the time I left and there were still no chips. You do need to do your prep, use the right paints, and give it time to really cure.

In terms of aesthetics, I think it looks better if you stencil/paint a design on top. For example, I painted my kitchen backsplash and off white/pale taupe with light blue harlequin diamonds on top. This distracts the eye from the grout issue.

If I was keeping the tiles plain, I might consider painting the grout just a couple of shades darker than the tile - enough to look like a coloured grout, but not enough to look stark and highlight every wobble.

As ever, its not what you do its the way that you do it. There's so many 'rules' in interior design - no short curtains, faux materials, laminate worktops, mixed metals etc - but all of these can be done beautifully if you have the vision. I think often people who decry painted tiles have seen where its been done badly, because of course when it's done well we don't notice it at all.

The main thing that stands out is the grout colour is the exact same colour as the tiles and also the same texture. I did paint tiles in my downstairs loo which was originally a mosaic splashback behind the sink so tiny and not much wear and tear. It looks alright.

Have a watch of this amazing chap who does lots of things like this and is incredibly knowledgeable with good tests of the products or things he does. You will see what I mean when you see it.

If this would be your first time painting tiles my advice is this. Go to B&Q or any tile shop, buy some cheap coloured tiles similar to yours. Hot glue them to a bit of ply or mdf and then paint them, practise your skills here to get good before tackling the kitchen ones. We do this with any project, we call it a sacrificial box or tiles or flooring, how well does it actually click together etc.

You can buy stick on tile sheets pretty cheaply. Try Amazon or your local DIY shop. Instant makeover