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10 DIY Interior Painting Tips

Stephanie Somers

Co-CEO of a successful 20+ person team, Stephanie Somers has been bringing her fierce loyalty, unrelenting work ethic, and constant pursuit of creativ...

Co-CEO of a successful 20+ person team, Stephanie Somers has been bringing her fierce loyalty, unrelenting work ethic, and constant pursuit of creativ...

Mar 11 4 minutes read



Painting your own home may seem like a daunting task but in reality, most anyone can do it. Taking control of your own home design is a benefit in and of itself, not to mention the money you’ll save in the process (psssst....painting companies are EXPENSIVE)! Here are 10 crucial tips to keep in mind for first-timers, or those just “brushing up” on this task, that will lead to a lovely outcome you’ll enjoy for years to come:

1. Swatches are a handy way to get started in choosing your color scheme. If you’re painting a smaller room, you may want to keep it light to open things up. Dark colors can visually shrink a room. 

2. Whites and greys are the most popular choices for house painting but keep in mind that there are a ton of varieties to choose from within them.

3. Before you get to dipping that brush, throw down drop cloths! Borrow them, use unwanted sheets or purchase your own (they also sell disposables) and avoid any spills or splatters.

 4. Paint color can dry differently than what you see on a swatch. Some dry lighter while others dry darker. Try rolling a test square. This ensures your choice agrees with the surface in the way you’ve envisioned.

 5. Spackling, caulking, sanding, and priming are just as important as painting. If you desire a professional finish, take a decent amount of time on these steps and don’t rush through them.

6. Make sure all prep work (caulk, spackle, primer) is properly dried before you start painting over it or you’ll have a not-so-fun mess on your hands!

7. Use painter’s tape and angled brushes for tough angles and cut-ins but beware, tape can’t magically fix all sloppy work. Try not going completely crazy with paint JUST because the tape is there. Take pride in some detail! It’s pretty relaxing.

 8. Paint comes in a large spectrum of not just colors, but quality as well. Cheap paint can have you slaving over multiple coats and a rough application. I love Benjamin Moore Paints because the application and coverage are really impressive, with lush density and perfect pigment. Working with it is a joy.

9. Brushes matter. First off, don’t buy cheap ones. You’ll get more use out of your brushes by spending a few extra bucks. Also, practice good brush cleaning while you paint. There’s no shame in wrapping a paint-filled brush with a plastic bag if you’re using it the next day but never just leave it in a paint bucket. Respect the brush!

10. Several coats may be in your future. Depending on your color selection and overall application, you may have to paint more than one coat (after priming). What I like to do with darker colors is a heavy first coat, a brushed spot coat where it looks weak, and then one last heavy coat. The outcome is always even-steven!  


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