Non-Toxic (Zero-VOC) Bathroom Paints

The official recommendation for paint for bathroom walls, especially if you don’t have a good bathroom exhaust fan, is to use a satin or semi-gloss sheen acrylic paint so that the water will bead up on the surface and not soak into the paint and wallboard.

These higher sheens also make it easier to clean and wipe down. Water streaks on bathroom walls do leave marks that need to be cleaned.

You also want a primer that is less permeable is also used to protect the wallboard from water damage. Some painters use oil-based paint because of how moisture-resistant it is (though this is very high in VOCs).

There are some water-based options on this list that provide that moisture resistance.

Again, is most important if you don’t have a good bathroom exhaust fan.

If you have a good bathroom fan you can use a regular eggshell paint says building science expert Travis Brungardt.

Conventional paint formulas, if marketed for the bathroom, also contain added mildewcides to prevent mold, though this is not necessary in a bathroom with good humidity control.

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There are a few ways you could avoid mildewcides while using a flat finish and not have a risk of water infiltrating your walls (and possibly causing mold problems):

• Use a not-very-permeable primer and then use one of the eggshell paints on this list (this can work if your humidity is well under control).
• Use Benjamin Moore Aura Bath and Spa which is a matte finish paint formulated for the bathroom. (I would use this over one of the moisture-resistant primers, especially if you don’t have a good fan).
• Use Kerdi Board as your wallboard and then use plaster and paint over that. In this case, your wallboard is not permeable at all so you can use any of the more natural paints over this.

Of course, these recommendations are for a bathroom with a bathtub or shower. (In a powder room you can use any paint you like).

The amount of humidity will also affect your paint choice. If you have a high CFM bathroom fan, or you don’t take hot showers, you won’t need as much moisture resistance in your paint compared to a bathroom with no fan that gets steamy.

Using an eggshell finish has become the norm in bathrooms with a good fan.

What about ceilings? Use the same paint that you use on the walls on the ceiling as well.

Here are All the Best Bathroom Paint & Primer Options

Vapor Semi-Open

1. AFM Transitional Primer and Paint

AFM Transitional Primer is the ideal for most bathrooms because it’s not very permeable (while still not behaving as a vapor barrier paint).

It has only 9 g/l VOC which is extremely low.

You can paint over this with AFM Safecoat Paint in eggshell, which is higher gloss than their pearl (and higher gloss than eggshell in most other brands), perfect for a bathroom because this causes water to roll off the wall.

AFM Safecoat Paint is zero-VOC.

You could also paint over Transitional Primer with any other acrylic paint of your choice.

These formulas don’t have added mildewcide.

If you want to stick with one brand for both the primer and paint, this is the most ideal combo for both performance and VOC levels.

Though builds where a more permeable paint is specified may not be able to use this paint. We don’t have an official perm rating for this paint but it’s likely in the range that non-shellac stain blocking primers are in.

2. ECOS Paints (Acrylic paint)

ECOS Paints is a zero-VOC acrylic paint that is one of the favorites amongst the chemically sensitive.

It’s also one of only two paints that provide a Declare Label to show all of their ingredients.

It doesn’t come in satin unfortunately, but you can use semi-gloss or gloss in the bathroom. (Note full gloss can look weird on walls).

This does not have added mildewcides but if your humidity is well controlled and there isn’t hidden mold in your bathroom that will be just fine.

All of ECOS paints are 0-VOC (this is quite unique). 

You can use ECOS over a stain blocking primer. Don’t mix it with AFM and test compatibility with other brands.

3. KILZ Kitchen and Bath Interior Primer

A great water-based primer that provides moisture resistance and less moisture infiltration into the drywall is Kilz Kitchen and Bath Interior Primer. The VOCs are only 5 g/l.

This would be a good primer to use with ECOS Paints.

There are three more brands to consider in the book and course.

Vapor Open Paints

Next are vapor-open paints that may be marketed for the bathroom but are only acceptable if your wall type is designed to absorb the moisture from the air safely or your walls are not permeable at all.

Warning: I would not use a vapor-open (“breathable”) paint with any gypsum-based wallboard, including regular drywall or MMR (“green board”) except in a powder room. I would also not use vapor open paint in a earthen home or concrete wall home.

1. Graphenstone (high lime content biobased paint)

A paint that relies on a high lime content to provide natural antimicrobial resistance.

The company claims it’s made with a biobased binder and not acrylic, though they don’t make it clear what kind of biobased binder it is or provide evidence that it is biobased.

It does smell like an acrylic paint, but unlike acrylic, this paint is “breathable” so moisture will go through to the wall.

It’s also washable. 

2. Auro Anti-Mould Paint (high lime content biobased paint)

Another biobased paint that is high in lime. This makes it naturally anti-microbial.

This brand has certifications showing that it is bio-based.

It’s a matte finish that is breathable. 

3. Kiem (silicate/mineral paint)

Kiem Interior Mineral Wall Paint (called Innostar in Europe) is made primarily with silicate binders which do not off-gas or have an odor, and just a very small amount of acrylic binder.

This paint is almost odorless when wet which makes it unique.

Kiem is listed as zero-VOC and it’s for use on new or previously painted drywall or plaster.

It’s self-priming on both bare and previously painted surfaces.

Kiem has a perm rating of 77 so it’s highly vapor open.

Silicate paint is great if you want an odorless paint that has a very flat finish and is also washable.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.

Join the top Substack on healing from MCS and mold!

Sources:

Conversations with reps from Benjamin Moore, BEHR, ECOS, Mythic, Auro, Graphenstone and Kiem

Conversation with Cheryl Ciecko, architect

Forbes

Consumer Reports