Your toilet seat is the kind of item in your bathroom that often doesn’t get much attention.
It’s functional, and let’s be honest, most of the time nobody sees it because they sit on it.
But what if you want to spruce up the look of your bathroom? Or the paint of the toilet seat started peeling off?
The majority of people buy a cheap toilet seat, use it for a few years and then replace it with a new one.
However, a more expensive toilet seat can provide more comfort, and this mean you are less likely to throw away a toilet seat that wasn’t cheap.
In this article, we take a look at how to change the appearance of your toilet seat quick and easy, including tips and tricks on removing the old paint and repainting.
Why Do A Toilet Seat Makeover?
Although buying a new toilet seat is the most convenient way to a shiny new seat, there are some very compelling reasons why reconditioning your toilet seat is a great idea.
Here are the most popular reasons why people choose to go the extra mile for a DIY toilet seat.
Save Money
If you have an expensive toilet seat model, then replacing it can be very costly.
In comparison, painting your toilet seat will cost significantly less than buying a new one.
While you could opt for a cheap toilet seat, buying cheap seats over a longer period of time will cost you more money.
That’s why, it’s best to purchase a more expensive model which can last for longer.
Reduce Waste And Your Impact On the Environment
One of the most popular reasons why upcycling your toilet seat is a better option is that it reduces waste and the impact on the environment.
Toilet seats are usually made of plastic which cannot be recycled.
Also, the toilet seats that are made of wood or other materials are not recyclable because they use other materials, such as chemical glue, that cannot be safely returned to the environment.
Toilet seats generally end up in landfill, where they take many years to decompose.
If you want to make sure that you keep your carbon footprint as low as possible, then you should consider reconditioning your toilet seat in the easy way.
Get A Full Deposit Refund
Toilet seats are usually part of the inventory in rented flats and houses. You will only receive a full deposit back when everything is in good condition.
If you have lived at your home for a long time, then the toilet may look worn out, and just applying some fresh paint and make it look like new.
Get Creative
Any DIY project simply unleashes your creativity. You can just let your imagination flow and create the toilet seat of your dreams.
There are thousands of wonderful design inspirations for toilet seat redecoration out there. All it takes is a few colors and your favorite design.
What Kind Of Toilet Seat Can You Paint?
Before you get the paint out, you need to know whether you can paint your type of toilet seat.
As a rule of thumb, you can paint plastic toilet seats as well as wooden ones.
For these toilet seats, you will need to prepare this surface which we will look at further down.
You cannot paint toilet seats that are padded. The padding is usually made of vinyl. Paint doesn’t stick to vinyl, and it would crack.
In addition, we would also not recommend painting a toilet seat that’s still in warranty. Painting the seat will likely break the warranty teams.
How To Paint Your Toilet Seat
If you have the right toilet seat that can be painted, then you are ready to prep and paint your seat.
It’s important to prepare the toilet seat to ensure the paint sticks well, and you get the toilet seat to look as you want.
What You Will Need
There are a few things that you will need, including painter’s tape, cleaning solution (e.g. dish soap), newspaper, rags, screwdriver, sandpaper, paintbrushes, primer as well as paint suitable for either plastic or wooden surfaces.
Remove The Toilet Seat
First up, you need to remove the toilet seat from the toilet. Use the screwdriver to turn the bolts at the top while holding the nut underneath firmly.
Clean The Toilet Seat
Once you have removed the seat, it needs a thorough cleaning. Make sure that you clean everything, including the hinge area. Then let it dry.
Cover Up Areas That Won’t Be Painted
Just like when painting your walls, you need to cover up any areas on your toilet seat that you do not want to paint.
You can use the newspaper to cover the lid (if you don’t want it painted), or use the painter’s tape to cover smaller areas.
Sand Down Painted Areas
Next, you need to sand any areas that will be painted later. The sanding will make the paint stick easier.
We recommend wearing a mask when sanding as this process releases fine dust particles through the air.
Work In A Ventilated Area
Before you start painting, you should ensure that there is enough ventilation in the room you want to work in.
We always find it easier to work outside for painting jobs as you then don’t have to air a room for a long time.
Wherever you decide to work, make sure that the surface where your toilet seat rests is well covered.
Prepare The Seat Surface
Although the sanding is already good prep for making the paint stick on the surface, you also should apply some primer which is going to ensure the paint bonds with the seat surface.
If you want to save some time and money, then you can look out for a combination product that contains primer and paint.
Paint The Toilet Seat
Finally, time to paint your seat!
You can get the best results with a spray paint. You can simply apply the paint as per the can instructions.
Apply a light and even coat of paint on the surface of the toilet seat.
Make sure that you spray across the whole of your intended surface. Depending on your type of paint, you may need to apply two coats, with a waiting time of half an hour between coats.
It’s important that you do not apply too many coats or too thick coats, as this will make the toilet seat look heavy and unsightly.
If your toilet seat (see also ‘How To Tighten Any Loose Toilet Seat In 10 Minutes‘) is being used a lot, then you may want to epoxy paint instead of spray paint.
Epoxy is more durable, which makes it ideal for items that are frequently in use.
Epoxy paint needs to be mixed and applied with a fine paint brush. Check the instructions on the paint before you start.
Reinstall The Toilet Seat
Once the toilet seat paint has fully dried and you are satisfied with your result, then you can re-install the seat.
Toilet Seat Scratch Repair
When you take a closer look at your toilet seat while you prepare it for the painting process, you will likely notice some scratches.
These can happen when a toilet seat is older and the coating slowly wears off.
It’s important that you repair any scratches before painting as they will be visible after the makeover.
Here are some tips on how to repair scratches in your toilet seat.
Sand Down Light Scratches
If a toilet seat isn’t badly damaged then it will show just light scratches. You can usually easily make them disappear by sanding the surface.
Put a little bit of rubbing alcohol onto the sandpaper surface, and then start sanding. This will create a smooth and even surface.
Alternatively, you can also use a gentle abrasive, such as toothpaste or baking soda.
Treat Deep Scratches Gently
Deeper scratches are much easier to see, which makes them not just unsightly but they can also catch fabrics or even cause abrasions on your skin.
Deep scratches need to be treated carefully. You need to go over them with wet grit sandpaper several times.
Ensure that you do not use any abrasive materials, such as salt, chemicals or nail polish remover, as this could damage the surface of the toilet seat further.
Whether you can manage to repair the deeper scratches of your toilet seat or not depends on the damage.
Some scratches and knocks are simply too deep, and you will have to buy a new toilet seat.
Conclusion
You may want to save yourself some money or you simply want to update your bathroom with a new design.
Whatever your reason for reconditioning your toilet seat, painting a seat isn’t very difficult.
You just need to ensure that you prepare the toilet seat properly, and then you can get creative.
Once you are done with your toilet seat makeover, it will look just like new, and you will wonder why you haven’t done it sooner!
