10 Interior Painting Tips — I love to paint. I know, I am a weirdo. But, here’s the thing, paint is one of the really inexpensive personalized changes that you can make to a room, and still get a huge impact.
It can totally change the entire feel when you walk into the room, and once you rip off the first timers band-aid, it’s totally not that bad. It’s like a big giant art project.
Quite a few readers have asked me to give some of the little tips I’ve picked up over years and years of painting and re-painting rooms, so I thought a top 10 was in order.
PREP.
I cannot emphasize that enough. Don’t skip prep. By prep, I mean taping. I know it’s time consuming, but if you put the time in up front, it will save you tons of time during the actual painting process. It will also minimize the amount of bad words you say, I promise. I use 1″ Frog tape and tape all of the baseboards.
Lay down canvas on the flooring.
You might think you are going to be careful, but seriously, paint is like a two year old with an ice cream cone–it will baffle you how it can get it the places it does. Just lay down the canvas {which is a one time purchase you can use over and over again}.
You can go the cheaper route and use plastic sheeting, but it just leaves puddle on the plastic, instead of absorbing it, so you inevitably step in it and drag the spill/splatter around in your socks.
I always use plastic tray liners.
They save a ton on clean-up, and cost next to nothing at Home Depot. It’s is so much better than trying to clean out your metal tray. Plus, if you let the paint dry out completely on the plastic liners, you can just toss them in the garbage when you are done.
Decide how much paint to purchase.
I usually follow this general rule of thumb: one gallon will cover about 350 square feet of surface area. Take the time to measure the walls and do the quick math.
It will save you from over-purchasing–or worse, under-purchasing and having to hit the store mid-project. {Make sure to have a little extra to keep in the garage so that you can do small touch-ups.}
Finish one wall before starting another.
I used to cut everything out and then go back and roll. Then, someone told me that the paint doesn’t blend as well that way, because of how it dries. So, now I take the time to cut out one wall, then I immediately roll that wall. And you know what? It really does blend more uniformly.
Invest in a nice brush.
Seriously, this is a biggie for me. I really like the Wooster brand paint brushes. I have one nice brush that I trim everything out with. It will hold up for MANY painting projects if you take care of it {don’t let paint dry on it, clean it, shake it out, and lay it flat to dry after washing}.
Roll in a W pattern.
Instead of rolling your walls straight up and down, roll in a W pattern on the wall, working your way up, down and across. It blends better than straight up and down.
Mix paint if you have purchased more than 1 gallon.
Get a 5 gallon bucket and mix the gallons together. Even though you have ordered the same color mix, they can vary just enough that you will be able to notice. Mix the gallons together in a 5 gallon bucket and stir them with a stir stick. Then work with that paint. It will give you a more unified finish.
Wash your rollers BEFORE you use them.
Those babies always have fuzz that inevitably sticks to your wall when you first roll them. Unless you are going for matted fuzz on your wall, just take the time to wash them with water and a little dish soap. Rinse well and then push the water off with your hand. They will be dry enough to work with right away.
If you need a primer {which largely depends on the color you are painting or the color you are painting over}, have the store add a little color to the primer. It will make priming so much faster, and more effective.
That’s really about it. Those are my top 10 interior painting tips. Really, don’t be intimidated by painting rooms yourself. As long as you follow steps one and two, there is really nothing that can’t be undone. If you don’t like the color, you can paint over it.
~Mavis
Brianna says
Good tips!
A few more….
Invest in a painters 10-15 in one multi tool. It is wonderful and allows you to easily clean rollers, prep, etc. I use mine a lot.
Do not paint out of your cans. This is because it can contaminate the paint, cause mold growth, alter the paint consistency, and will make the rim rust. Use a plastic pour edge when pouring to keep the rim from rusting too.
Store your excess paint properly. Since the metal cans can rust if improperly sealed, make sure they are tightly closed all the way around and do not use a huge hammer or anything that will damage the lid, I use a claw nail puller as it has a nice weighted edge to delicately hit and seal cans. Store the paint can upside down and you will never open a can with a gritty rust edge or dehydrated paint slick at the top.
Open an account at your paint store. This will keep you second guessing yourself on the roller nap or exactly mixing of paint. They can look up everything you purchased. I have a business account and get 40% off, so I buy the highest quality paint for a great price. High quality or even medium quality paint makes a difference on the job.
Keep consistent on paint brands. Because semi-gloss is one brand is not the same as semi-gloss in another brand, there are subtle differences and in the same rooms it is very noticeable.
Buy a set of quality artist brushes. The pack with about a dozen different small brushes with flat and tapered edges. This will help with touch ups, funny small edges, etc. so you can get it right. Nothing is worse than an odd space of wall like along the edge of a cabinet and not being able to paint it properly. Again, the right tools.
Don’t forget the forgotten spaces. Those walls behind the toilet tank, refrigerator, stove, door jambs, etc.
Spackle and caulk. Part of the prep, but learn to apply it correctly with the right tools and it will make your painted surface look seamless and flawless.
Punch list. As you paint, you may notice things like a piece of loose quarter round that needs to be secured, rusty doorstop, etc. Write it down right away and go back to painting. When you are done painting, then you can address your list. It will save you from pulling out the nail gun while painting or going online to order something. Just focus on the painting.
Jodi says
Great add-on suggestions! Thank you!
Gigi says
Don’t forget to label the cans when you’re done to indicate which room
Shari Harniss says
Thank you, Mavis!
I don’t hate to paint, but it ain’t my fave.
I appreciate the tips more than you know!
Nancy says
One of the most difficult parts for me is choosing the right color. There are so many shades of every color. How do you choose?
Kim says
I have learned to always pick one color lighter than the color I like on the swatch. If you are doing a huge project, it pays to get a small sample and put it on the walls and look at it in different light. We were painting our basement and the color that I loved looked awful on the wall and I’m so glad I spent the few extra dollars to try it out first.
suzanne says
Look for similar or complemantry undertones to your other fixed surfaces. carpet, counters and tiles. For example a white paint with a slight pink undertone doesn’t work well with a gold granite counter. At least according to color expert Maria Killam.
Sue says
Great post! Sadly, all the tips in the world can’t help this painting-challenged gal.
I paint like a 2-yr old on Pixie Sticks: I am wildly enthusiastic and have the highest aspirations, but the result is something even a kind preschool teacher would side-eye.
Can’t even paint a closet interior acceptably.
I think it’s genetic, and have made my peace with this particular lack of talent.
Susan says
Perfect timing! We’re updating our master bath which is the start of just about the whole house. I want to repaint everything, my husband tells me “have fun with that!” The last time I painted a wall (15+ years ago), I decided to leave it ‘artistic’ because I did such a terrible job. (I had it redone by a professional when I moved out of that condo).
I’ll definitely be using your tips to help get me started. I think once I have the bathroom done, maybe I’ll have enough practice (and enough mansplaining given to me) that I’ll be ready to do the rest of the house!
Diane says
I remember years ago, you mentioned something that you add to the paint to help with streaking. I think it was something like Flotrol? Would you add that to wall paint or was it more for gloss paint on doors and trim work? Also, do you paint your trim work first or the walls first? Thank you!
Mavis Butterfield says
Yes, I’ve used Flotrol in the past and it works great! I usually paint the walls first, then the trim. 🙂
NeeNee says
I always wash the brushes with lukewarm or cold water never hot
Thxs for the tips
Pauline in Upstate NY says
Thanks, Mavis & other commenters! These are just the kind of tips that a newbie needs. Having seen the price of (good) paint these days, I still don’t think re-painting is “cheap,” just cheaper than hiring someone else! Now I just have to put on my big girl pants and rip off the newbie bandaid…
Lori says
One tip I always do is line my metal paint tray with a trash bag. I actually put the paint tray flat in the trash bag. When I’m done I just pull the bag of turning it inside out and tie it up and throw it away. So easy and very little cost.
Jodi says
I love this article. It helps narrow down the focus and avoid the overwhelm with everything that’s out there. Thank you!
Cindy Brick says
These are great — thank you, Mavis!
I also keep a thin watercolor brush handy, to touch up any dots or skips in the final check. (Red face: I confess that I taped our dining room, with every intention of painting it — got the ceiling started, then left the tape on FOR YEARS until we hired someone else to paint it. Just before we sold the house.)
I am a bad girl.
Brianna says
Life happens and that made me smile! I had a cathedral ceiling cake tier foyer taped and ready for weeks before I got around to getting it done. It was downright annoying, but someone was not satisfied with the corners and edges of the multiple cake tiers with the way the contractor had done them. They had to be perfectly done, as it was the first area one sees in the house, so it was a ridiculous amount of sanding, spackling, and squaring by someone else to make it perfect before I could start my job to paint it. The final product was beautifully stunning and satisfying, but I was worried about having tape on everything for so long. The tape did come off, but it was a first for me to have something taped for that long and in a hold, the anxiety with each week, wondering if the tape would come off correctly was awful. I could not imagine waiting a few years!
Melissa says
Mavis, this is such a timely post. My husband and I are both painting challenged and we’re getting ready to start repainting the house. What brand of paint do you like?
Mavis Butterfield says
We used to use Behr paint from The Home Depot but this time around we are using Benjamin Moore Regal Select and I like it much, much better. The color is Chantilly Lace {walls in eggshell, trim in semi-gloss}.
Brianna says
I use Sherwin Williams Emerald line for everything. Interior acrylic latex (Flat for ceilings in color choice and semi gloss for walls in color choice) and urethane trim enamel (semi gloss) for interior and exterior use for trim, moulding, doors, baseboards, etc. also in color choice. I like the washability and it never yellows or fades and has a lifetime warranty. I go to a SW store for all my paint and supplies.
Chris says
Any tips on washing walls before painting? I have to do the kitchen in the next month. My dad always used TSP but that seems extreme.
Picking a color gives me severe anxiety. Too many choices, undertones, light reflection, gaah!
Mavis Butterfield says
I don’t use any chemicals, I just use a slighlty damp white washcloth so I can see any grime.
Gigi says
To add. 1. You can use tape to wrap around your roller to get rid of the fuzz. 2. I use old sheets as well as canvas to protect the floors.
Michelle says
My husband uses the tape to remove fuzz from a new roller. Wrap the roller in tape and then unwrap fuzz free. We like the same frog tape. It works so well but it is a bit pricey. My favorite brush for cutting in is Wooster Shortcut – it has a short handle and easy to hold.
Angela D. says
I have never thought about washing my rollers before beginning to paint,
thanks for the great tip!
You’re not alone– I, too, LOVE to paint!!!