One of the most exciting things about being a homeowner is getting the chance to finally customize the interior of your house the way you’ve always dreamed of. While your furniture arrangement and artwork placement are essential for decorating, painting is what truly adds some fun to deciding on the look of the inside of your home. From choosing which color will best accentuate the living room to picking out a vibrant shade for the nursery, it’s hard not to get excited about adding a new coat to boost your house’s style. But before you dip that brush into the bucket, take a look at how to avoid some of the more common house painting mistakes when it comes to the interior of your home:
Always remember to tape
Remember when your elementary school teachers instructed you to always draw inside the lines? Well, the same should be considered when it comes to painting inside the house, except instead of lines, you have tape. Any surface you plan on painting should have tape applied to all the edges you want to avoid painting over, such as door frames or window sills. Painting within the boundaries of the taped area will help you avoid any bleeding over of coats you’re trying to keep separated.
Prep the surface
Any surface you plan to paint must be prepped beforehand. While you may be eager to dive right into the painting, this step is crucial to ensure your new coat will remain in excellent condition. Prep work entails removing any flaky paint chips or paint that is peeling, as well as sanding over the area you’re going to paint. After you’ve removed any excess or unwanted paint, thoroughly dust off the wall or surface, otherwise you’ll trap particles underneath a fresh coat of paint. You should also give your walls one last cleaning over, especially if you’re painting the kitchen, where stubborn grease may still be stuck on the surfaces.
Rolling vs. brushing
When painting the interior of their homes, many people confuse when they should use a roller and when they should use a brush. The biggest thing to remember when it comes to knowing which tool to utilize is that rollers should be used when painting over bigger, wider spaces while brushes are employed when coating over smaller, tougher-to-reach surfaces. Rollers will save you plenty of time and effort when tackling larger painting projects, but using them in tighter areas could result in bleeding over, so always switch to a brush whenever you need more precision and accuracy. Learn more about picking out the right paint roller.
“Higher quality of paint is always a worthwhile investment.”
Quality and quantity
While it’s tempting to choose a bargain brand because of budget constraints, remember that this is an investment that will last your house for years to come. Spending a little more on higher quality paint will help you avoid having to add another coat a few more years down the road. In addition to quality, never overlook the quantity of paint you’ll need as well. According to the DIY Network, 1 gallon of paint will cover about 400 square feet, so take that into consideration when deciding how much paint to buy.
Patience is a virtue
Lastly, arguably the most overlooked element to painting is being as patient as possible. Once you put on the first layer of paint, make sure it’s completely dry before adding a new coat. Take this time to enjoy the process and remember that rushing only leads to mistakes.
Don’t be the person who is guilty of these common house painting mistakes. Be patient, use tape and get good quality products. You’ll be thankful you did!
