Kitchen Tile Painting: Transform your kitchen on a budget!

Wooden cutting boards and a blue-patterned bowl on a black countertop. Yellow and white geometric tiles create a lively kitchen backdrop.

If you're reading this, then you're probably staring at your dated tiles wondering if painting them is the answer! Well, let me tell you... it is! I'll walk you through my process step by step on how I transformed my kitchen by painting my tiles DIY!

But first, let me give you the back story as to why I took on this project... When we moved into our 1930s home in 2021, the kitchen was… let’s just say, a blast from the past. Think 90's style cabinets, outdated countertops, and yes – hedgehog tiles. Cute? Maybe, if you love Mrs Tiggywinkle staring at you while you cook. Stylish? Not so much.

White tiled wall with hedgehog illustrations and text "Say Hello To Mrs Tiggywinkle." Warm lighting, kitchen setting.

I wasn’t ready (or able) to rip everything out and start fresh, so a budget makeover was what it needed. I had already tackled the kitchen Cabinets and painted them a gorgeous green (another blog for another day) When scrolling through Pinterest I saw gorgeous yellow geometric style tiles and thought to myself... I could totally do that! I have this thing where I think anything is possible, so here I was throwing myself into yet another project with zero experience in painting tiles. I mean what’s the worst that could happen? My absolute go-to for Tile paint (as I haven’t used any product so can’t comment) is Rust-Oleum Kitchen Tile Paint! At around £25 for a tin you can’t go wrong, (they also do other versions specific for bathrooms and floors)

White 90's style kitchen cabinets with black knobs and a black countertop. Open glass door leads to a garden. Bright, sunny day. — Before

So, Let’s get onto the good stuff…First, here is a list of all the products you’ll need for the project:

Rust-Oleum Kitchen Tile Paint: I used Hessian & Dijon Matt Finish
Sealant remover: For around the work surface if needed)
Sealant: for sealing the worksurfaces once you’re done.
Scraper: Removing sealant isn’t fun!
Yellow Frog tape: to protect the work surfaces and for making shapes
Degreaser/Sugar soap: I used Elbow Grease
Foam Sanding Block - Fine
Microfibre cloth
Paint Brushes
Foam Roller & Tray
Grout pen (optional)

I've listed everything you need on my Amazon Storefront - Link to products

Kitchen Tile painting in 6 steps!

Step 1: Prepping the Tiles (It’s All in the Prep!)

No skipping this step, trust me! I gave the tiles a good scrub using Sugar Soap, removing grime and any kitchen splatters. After they dried, I lightly buffed the tiles with my foam sanding block to create a key for the paint to grip onto, this paint is self-priming, so no primer is needed! Yay! I then gave them another good clean and wipe down, making sure to remove any dust and hairs before painting, a Microfibre Cloth is great for this!

Pro Tip: Make sure there’s no soap, dust or grime residue left behind – it’ll mess with your paint finish

Step 2: Removing Sealant (Optional)

If your sealant is cracked or looking a bit old—like mine was—you’ll want to remove it. Sealant is super important because it seals the gap between the work surface and the tiles, keeping water from sneaking behind your countertops.

Now, if your sealant is in decent shape, then congratulations! You’ve just saved yourself from a horrible job.

Removing sealant can be a bit tricky, and If it was anything like mine then a scraper is not enough. I used a sealant remover and a scrapper to remove it, and it came up a treat! Just be sure to wear and follow the instructions on the bottle!

Pro Tip: Paint doesn’t adhere to sealant! So, if you were thinking about skipping the removal and painting right over it, you might want to reconsider. Trust me, I’ve tried it more times than I can count!

Step 3: Taping & Protecting

I used Frog Tape to mask off the edges and protect my countertops. It’s not the most exciting job, but it saves so much hassle later on. You’re going to need the masking tape for the shapes later.

Step 4: Time to Paint!

So, for the paint, I chose two colours, one for the base and another for the painted geometric shapes, I was happy with the overall colour of the tiles (just not the hedgehogs) so I wanted a base in a similar shade. For my base colour, I used Rust-Oleum: Hessian and for the shapes I used Rust-Oleum: Dijon. I opted for both paints in a matt finish (you can pick from so many colours and finishes to suit your style).

Person painting kitchen tiles with a roller. Green cabinets above feature two round vases. Paint can on counter.

I started by painting the grout lines in my base coat and then painted the tiles with a small foam roller (some recommend a mole hair roller, but foam rollers are my preference), I applied thin, even coats over the tiles. It took me two coats to get solid, streak-free coverage.

Pro Tip: Don’t overload your roller – thin coats dry better and look smoother.

Let it dry! Patience isn’t my strongest virtue, but I let the paint fully dry between coats. After the final coat, I resisted the urge to touch them for at least 24 hours so the paint could properly cure.

Step 5: Making Shapes

Once the paint was fully cured, I used Frog tape to tape my outlines for my geometric pattern. Yellow Frog Tape was my go-to for this (I tried others it wasn’t as good)

Before I painted I planned out my shapes and how I wanted them to look, I followed this on the first wall then went rouge on the next!

Yellow tape on white kitchen tiles forms geometric patterns near green cabinets. A paint can and switch are visible on the black countertop.

Pro Tip: For clean shapes and lines, paint the tape with the base colour first, this will prevent the paint from bleeding through the masking tape!

Hands peeling yellow tape on a tiled wall with a painted pattern. A black power outlet is visible below.

Step 6: Sealant (if needed)

Reseal the work surfaces and tiles with sealant. This helps protect against water getting behind the countertops. Sealant comes in a variety of colours; I chose black, but if I were choosing again, I would go for clear.

Just a reminder of the Before...

White kitchen cabinets with black countertop and paint samples on the side. A rag lies on the counter. Door opens to a green garden.

The Result? A Whole New Kitchen Vibe!

Kitchen with green cabinets, yellow and cream geometric tiles, black countertop, wooden cutting boards, and a woven basket. Warm ambiance.

The difference is honestly night and day. The hedgehogs are officially gone, and my kitchen feels so much brighter and more me. Tile paint is a fantastic budget-friendly solution if you want to transform your space without a major renovation.

Would I Recommend Tile Paint? 100% Yes!

If you’re considering painting your tiles, go for it. I painted these tiles in 2023, and they are still going strong now! It’s an easy project with such a big payoff. Plus, it’s perfect for experimenting with colour and style before committing to a full renovation.

Got questions about tile paint? Drop them below, and I’ll do my best to help. And if you want to see more of my DIY projects and transformations, make sure you’re subscribing to my blog!

Happy painting!

Lorna x