Tips to help your job go smoothly
Here are some home painting tips that will help you be successful in painting a room. I absolutely love to paint! It is the quickest, least expensive, and most transforming decorating project you can do. But, it can be very frustrating if things don’t go well. So, I would like to share a few tricks I have learned along the way, that will help your project go more smoothly.
This is my master bedroom. I painted it with Porter Paints in the color “Gray Shell”.
Home Painting Tips – Choosing Interior Paint Colors
Choosing interior paint colors can be really exhausting. But following some simple interior wall painting tips can make the process a little easier. When you decide on a certain color, like green for instance, don’t immediately choose one green that seems close to what you want. Instead, get at least four or five sample paint swatches of greens in the same hue.
Tape them up on the wall and step back and take a look. Comparing all the greens together will help you really see how one green may have a little more blue to its hue. Or you may see another green that has more of a yellow hue.
Next, hold up the color to a piece of white paper. This lets you see how strong the color will really be once it is up on the wall.
Always get a sample quart of your favorite color. Our store charges $5 for a sample quart. It is the smartest money you will ever spend, because that little paper paint sample can be very deceiving!
Next, paint some of the color onto a piece of cardboard and hold it up to all four walls. This is probably one of my best interior wall painting tips. Light hits every wall differently, so you really want to look at your paint on every wall.
How to Touch-Up Your Walls
When you need to touch up a wall that you have previously painted, it is always best to add a little bit of water to your paint. WHY? After paint has been on the wall for some time, dirt and dust settle in the pores of the wall. (it happens to the best of us) When you then apply a fresh dab of paint, after it dries it will not be exactly the same.
I like to apply the paint with a brush, and gently go back and forth forming an “x”. Then, go outside the touch up spot, and apply the paint much lighter.
How Much Paint Do I Need?
Figuring out how much paint you need isn’t too difficult when you use a paint calculator. This will get you pretty close without leaving you short.
Store your left over paint in a new quart paint can from a home improvement store. Be sure to label your can with permanent marker. Doing this saves from having a garage overflowing with half-full paint gallons. It will also keep your paint much longer.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat – soft, no gloss finish. In my opinion, the ceiling or a faux treatment is the only place to use this sheen. Flat is easy to scuff and hard to clean!
Matte – very light gloss that hides minor surface imperfections.
Eggshell – smooth, delicate, yet durable finish with a slight gloss.
Satin – rich, all-surface finish which is perfect for any room. One of my favorites!
Semi-gloss – stain resistant, gloss look that is highly resistant to scuffs and scratches.
Gloss– brilliant, polished finish that is great for trim, doors, and furniture. It has maximum durability, stain resistance, and wash-ability.
Oil or Latex?
I don’t like to work with oil on walls or trim because I get impatient. However, oil is wonderful for painting kitchen cabinets and furniture. Once completely dry it has a tough finish, and that I do love.
Home Painting Tips: Remember, you can paint oil over latex paint, but you cannot paint latex over oil.
So, if you purchase an old piece of furniture that you are not sure whether the previous owner painted with latex or oil you need to do a simple test.
Take a cotton ball and wet it with fingernail polish that contains acetone. Rub the cotton ball in a circular motion on an unseen section of the furniture. If the section remains unchanged, then it was painted with oil-based paint. If the section turns gooey, then it was painted with a latex paint.
Patience
Remember when you are painting with a color that has strong colorants like reds, purples, or dark blues, they will take longer to dry. Many times they will also take more than one coat. Red is a color that is notorious for needing several coats to obtain the hue you want.
For more interior paint color ideas, search Pinterest to find some inspirational colors.
Take a Break
(One of my favorite home painting tips!)
If you need to take a break, you don’t have to wash your brush, just wrap some foil around it and put it in the refrigerator! Everyone needs a coffee break!
White Ceilings Are Boring!
Here is an interior paint color idea that really makes a difference. I like to see color on a ceiling, white is boring. The eye follows color and light. If your wall is green, and your ceiling is white, the eye stops at the top of the green colored wall.
If you don’t want to paint a color on your ceiling, try choosing an off-white color. Even a cream gives the illusion on a larger and warmer room. My favorite ceiling color is “Heavy Cream” by Porter Paints.
If you want your ceiling a color in the same monochromatic scheme as your walls, go about 2 to 3 shades lighter than your wall colors. Beautiful!
I have used Behr paint, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin Williams.
I hope you found these home painting tips helpful! Good luck with your paint project!