Painting over tile may seem like an improbable success story, but rest assured, if you follow the proper prep and finishing procedures your decorative paint job will be a sensation. The best thing about painting over kitchen tiles is that you get a whole new kitchen look, with practically unlimited design options, for the cost of a couple of cans of paint. You can paint over the whole tiled area, or just add decorative borders, a mural or feature wall; the choice is yours.
1 Vacuum the entire area you want to paint. Pay particular attention to floors and corners. Clean the area with abrasive tile cleaner (an abrasive bathroom cleaning agent will do) and a sponge or scourer. The cleaner the surface the better the paint will adhere. Rinse thoroughly with water and let dry.
2 Sketch your design on the paper while the tiles are drying. If you just want to paint over in a uniform color, then a sketch is not necessary. If you want you can use stencils to make a decorative border; mark out straight lines with painter's tape for a simple but effective straight border.
3 Paint the tiles with the oil-based paint; water-based tends to peel easier than oil based, according to Ask The Builder expert Tim Carter. If you use a roller go slowly, as the paint can bubble with fast rolling action. Once you are happy with the design let the paint dry overnight.
4 Apply two coats of the urethane over the paint job; following the instructions on the urethane can for timing between coats. Oil-based urethane tends to yellow over time, so should be avoided.
