Painting Like a Pro: Interior Painting Tips For New Homeowners
Alot of homeowners don’t know how to paint a house interior. However, it’s a great skill to learn whether you just want to spruce things up for fun or improve the home before selling. Using the right tools and following best practices can help you achieve a professional finish. These tips make it easier to paint an interior room with good results.
Choose the Best Color For Your Walls
The color that a homeowner chooses to paint their house can have a big effect on the appearance of their home. Color matching and interior lightness and brightness should all be taken into consideration when picking the color for a home. Homeowners who want the best results can start by painting samples on their walls and viewing the samples at different times of day, to see each sample in different qualities of light.
Neutrals work best for homeowners who plan to sell their home soon. Neutrals are also best in common areas of the house, like the living room and dining room, where guests and members of the household spend time together. Brighter, bolder colors are more appropriate for parts of the house like the bedroom, where these personalized touches can make the space feel more intimate and special.
Paint Samples Before Picking the Color
It’s hard to tell what a paint color will look like by looking at a small swatch. Applying the paint to the wall is the only way to judge whether or not a color is right for a room. Paint stores sell samples for this very purpose. To get the best idea of what a color will look like in a room, paint a large square on the wall. View the square at different times of the day to see the color in different qualities of light.
Use Quality Materials
Wondering about the use of quality materials and asking yourself “how much does it cost to paint a house interior?” First, realize that cheap materials make it harder to achieve a good quality finish that will last many years. For the most even finish, buy quality paint brushes and rollers. Remember that good quality paint will cover the walls in fewer coats and will require less effort to finish the job.
HOW TO PAINT A ROOM LIKE A PRO
Painting a room is one of the most common do-it-yourself projects around the home. While it’s not that difficult to do, it helps to know the tricks of the trade on how to go about it before breaking out a roller or brush.
When painting a room, the work should be done in the following order:
Prep: Clean surfaces and repair any defects.
Prime: Where needed, prime the walls and trim.
Caulk: Fill any gaps or cracks with caulk.
Ceiling: Paint ceiling first to prevent drips on walls.
Walls: Apply paint to walls using a roller.
Trim: Paint trim last to avoid roller splatter.
Cleanup: Clean brushes and rollers, remove drop cloths, and replace furnishings.
Walls
Interior walls are usually painted with latex paint and can usually be repainted without priming unless the existing walls are:
Painted a dark or vibrant color.
Have stains, grease, or other hard to cover marks.
Defects in the drywall have been patched.
Previously painted with oil-based paint.
Before painting, shine a bright light along the surface of the wall to check for dents or defects, and fill them using a putty knife and spackling compound. Once the spackling has dried, sand the surface smooth. On rough surfaces dab the patched area with paint on a sponge or rag to mimic the texture of the wall.
Trim
In older homes, interior trim was painted with oil-based enamel, but improvements in the durability of latex enamel now make it the popular choice. Before painting over oil-based paint with latex, it’s important to prime the surface so the new paint will adhere properly.
How to Paint a Wall
When the walls of your home are in desperate need of a new color palette, you might be tempted to just pick up a brush and go. But before you do, it will be helpful to be aware of a few painting fundamentals that can save you valuable time and effort. The key to achieving a smooth, seamless finish lies in the preparation—after cleaning the wall and applying a base coat of primer, you can direct your attention to the outer edges of the wall and work your way inward using a color that makes the room irresistible to the eye.
Remove all accessories from the wall. Start preparing the wall by locating any knobs, outlet covers, light switch faceplates, thermostats and other items along the wall and take them off. Starting with a smooth surface with no obstructions will help the project proceed much more efficiently
Clear your work area of furniture. Find a place to store nearby furniture, appliances and other belongings until you’ve wrapped up your project. If space is an issue, you can also simply scoot these items away from the wall you’ll be painting. Be sure to cover any remaining furniture with a drop cloth or sheet of plastic to keep it protected
Lay down a drop cloth. Stretch out a canvas drop cloth or plastic tarp that will help catch spills and splatters once you begin working. For maximum protection, the drop cloth should extend all the way to the base of the wall
Clean the surface of the wall gently. Wet a clean cloth or sponge with warm water and a mild liquid detergent, then wring out the excess moisture. Run the cloth over the walls from top to bottom to clear away dust and other debris that can interfere with the paint’s ability to set up properly
Painting Supplies Checklist
Tape measure
Measure walls first so you’ll know how much paint to buy. Typically, one gallon of paint covers 400 square feet.
Primer
Use a primer with a stain blocker.
Stirrer
Usually comes free with any paint purchase. Always stir paint before applying.
Pouring spout
Attach the spout to a gallon of paint and pour without any mess.
Five-gallon bucket
For big jobs that require multiple gallons of paint, keep the color consistent by mixing all the cans in a large bucket.
Screen.
Place this inside the bucket to wipe any excess paint off the roller.
Roller tray.
Use a metal or sturdy plastic tray for smaller projects.
Roller cover.
A 3/8-inch nap provides the best finish for most interior walls.
Angled sash paintbrush.
To paint trim, use a two-inch angled brush, which will give you more control.
Blue painter’s tape.
Essential for protecting trim or walls that you don’t want to get paint on.
Drop cloths
Protect furniture with plastic coverings. Place a reusable canvas drop cloth, which is less slippery than plastic, on the floor.
Hole filler
Quicker than spackling: Dab hole filler into small holes in the wall.
Screwdriver
Use to loosen any ceiling plates of lighting fixtures and remove switch plates before painting.
Sponge
Before priming, wash the walls with a few drops of dishwashing detergent mixed with water.
Critical Things to Consider When Searching for House Painting Services
Depending on the climate and the quality of paint you use, you can wait up to 15 years before repainting your home. A new coat of paint every 5-7 years can keep your house looking like the nicest home on your street. If you haven’t hired house painting services, it’s time to start looking
Find An Insured Painter
You’ll need to find a painter who has a liability insurance plan of at least $1 million. That will cover any problems that arise from their work, from a bucket of latex spilled on your car or ladder damage to your roof. It will also cover any accidents or injuries that any workers incur on your property.
Do They Hire Contractors or Have Employees?
Find out whether the people they’ll be working with are contracted or permanent employees. It’s common and perfectly understandable for many companies hire contractors. That shouldn’t be the number one deciding factor.
Look At Reviews
Search the internet or ask around for testimonials and reviews. You’ll want to know if they finish on time, whether they do a thorough job, and whether they’re trustworthy.
Lead Awareness and Cleanup
Your house painting services should be informed about lead scraping and dust cleanup. They should be using HEPA filters with any sanders that they use and be well aware of the risks of scraping up lead paint.