How to Decorate With Paint on Ceramic Tile

Question

Ordinary ceramic tile can be transformed by adding artwork with paint. You may wish to add a mural to your kitchen backsplash or a decorative border to tiles on your bathroom wall. With a bit of prep work and artistic skill, decorating ceramic tile with paint is a fairly simple task to accomplish.

Answer 1

1
Clean the ceramic tile with a mildly-abrasive bathroom cleaner to remove any residue like dirt, oil or grease.

2
Plan out your tile designs. It may be helpful to sketch out your plan on paper. For those who are not artistically inclined, using stencils provides a way to create shapes and patterns.

3
Paint the designs onto the tiles using high-gloss acrylic paint. Use fine-tipped brushes for small tiles and intricate details. If you're using a stencil, attach it to the tile beforehand using small pieces of painter's tape in each corner.

4
Wait two to three days for the paint to adequately dry. Avoid touching the paint in any way during this time.

5
Paint a coat of water-based urethane over the entire surface of the tile. Urethane finishes seal in the paint so the design holds up to wear and tear. Once the coat is dry, add a second one.