Painting Interior Walls - Tips, Tricks & Techniques
Of all of the things that you can do to update your home and make it look fresh and new, painting the interior walls is probably the easiest and the least expensive.
Unlike most remodeling or decorating projects, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a lot of impact with paint. When painting inside your home, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Here are some tips for painting interior walls.
One of the things most people struggle with when it comes to painting interior walls is choosing a color for their room. Part of the problem is that there are so many colors to choose from, and the other part is that most people are afraid of making a mistake and having their room turn out looking weird or normal.
The good news is that because paint is inexpensive, if you wind up hating the color you have chosen for your interior walls you can always paint over it with a new color, so don’t let fear hold you back.
Neutral colors are always a good choice since they go with most everything. Shades of blue and green work well in bedrooms since both of those are calming colors that will help you relax and feel at ease.
In the dining room try using shades of red or orange since these colors not only provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere, but also help people to feel hungry.
Yellow is a great color in the kitchen because it makes it feel bright and open. Yellow also puts people in a buying frame of mind, so if you are painting your home to sell it you may want to try using some different shades of yellow.
Along with the color you also need to choose the finish of the paint. Most paint comes in flat, satin, eggshell, semi-gloss and gloss finishes. In places that tend to get dirty like kitchens and bathrooms you should use a semi-gloss or gloss finish since it will be easier to clean.
Other rooms like bedrooms, living rooms, or dining rooms can use flat, satin, eggshell or semi-gloss, depending upon your personal preferences. If your walls are damaged or bumpy you should consider using flat, satin or eggshell paint since they will help make the damage or bumps less noticeable.
If your walls have water stains, mildew or an absorbent surface (such as plaster) you should use a primer before painting to ensure a beautiful finish and to keep any stains from seeping back through your new paint.
For painting supplies, you should get your paint, paint brushes, paint rollers and painter’s tape. You’ll also need a tray to hold the paint and a drop cloth or two to cover any items that can’t be removed from the room so you don’t get paint on them.
Start by removing everything you can from the room before painting. Take out any furniture and take down paintings etc. from the walls. Patch any holes in the walls before painting, and cover any items that can’t be removed from the room with a drop cloth to keep from getting paint on them.
You will also want to use a drop cloth to protect your floor. Remove any light switch or outlet covers so that you don’t have to paint around them.
Using the painter’s tape, tape off the edges of your walls so that you get a nice, straight paint line where the wall ends and the floor, ceiling or windows begin. Taping off takes a long time but is well worth the effort since it will give you a much more professional paint job.
Start painting by using a brush to paint around all the edges of the walls, leaving a big unpainted space in the center. Once you have the edges painting go back with a paint roller and paint the centers of the walls. Allow the paint to dry and apply a second coat if necessary.
Once all the paint is dry, take down your tape, reinstall the outlet and light switch covers and move the furniture back into the room. Voila! Now you know how to paint interior walls.
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