If you think painting is one of the easier DIY home improvement projects around the house, you are correct. But, it’s not a project that just anyone can do. These DIY paint tips will help make sure your first attempt is a successful home improvement.
40 million. That’s the number of household painting projects that are happening at any given time. And there are 1.40 billion gallons of paint used annually in the U.S.
Amazing, right?
But, really if you think about it, it’s makes sense. Painting is one of the best first-timer DIY projects. Typically it doesn’t have to involve any demo, rebuilding, or any specialty skills like electrical or plumbing. All you really need is a brush and a can of paint that are available in the front of any big home improvement store.
But, if you’ve ever completed a ‘room makeover‘ painting project like us, chances are it was a little more involved. We’ve all browsed the paint aisles, and brought piles of paint chips home from the store to match up with furnishings and other wall colors, but you can never really tell the color on your wall–in the natural and artificial light in your home–until you paint.
And you don’t want to paint, and repaint, until you get the right hue.
Tip #1: Spend a few dollars on a few samples.
Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore have samples for around $5 for a small sample. You’ll get enough paint to cover more than 4 square feet, and be able to look at the color in the morning, evening, and see how your favorite furnishing really match up. You’ll be thankful later when you can avoid ‘making do’ with a not-perfect color, or spending $100 repainting the walls.
Tip #2: High-gloss shows off detail, flat can hide imperfections.
After you select the perfect shade, you’ll be asked what sheen (or level of gloss) you want. Here’s a quick breakdown from low-to-high sheen that can help.
- Flat is perfect for imperfect walls, and places you don’t touch like ceilings and inside closets.
- Satin/eggshell is more durable than flat, and walls can clean up easier.
- Semi-gloss is great for places with moisture or tons of handprints, like chair rail or bathrooms.
- Gloss shows off the details of detailed woodwork (and fingerprints) so it’s best if it’s used for places out of reach
Tip #3: Personalize with paint options.
There’s more to wall paint than just flat to gloss, there are also metallics, chalkboard, and magnetic paints available at most paint and home improvement centers. The best part is that you can actually paint over the chalkboard or magnetic paints these days, so you aren’t stuck with black walls. Absolutely perfect for a kid’s room where you don’t want to get stuck filling nail holes and repairing tape marks from posters and pictures stuck on the wall.
Tip #4: Tint your primer if you are choosing a rich color.
You can ask the pro at the paint store to tint it for you, or you can just pour a little bit of color into primer can. A little bit goes a long way. Tinting will save you from the repetitiveness of repainting a few extra coats.
Tip #5: The right tools for the job.
- Having a good paint brush goes a long way, especially for a big paint job. We usually use Purdy brushes to ease the pain of cutting in.
- Roller and roller covers will speed up covering large areas of walls. Bagging the roller in plastic while you are taking a coffee break or eating lunch will save you extra clean-up.
- A ladder or step stool will make your life much easier than using a dining room chair.
- Painter’s tape might become your best friend during prep time, but it can be a big letdown in the end. We use either 3M or Frog Tape and it really does a much better job at sealing paint. Great for cutting in or doing designs on a wall.
Tip #6: Estimate the amount of paint you’ll need.
One gallon of paint will typically cover about 350 square feet. If you are shopping at a place where professional painters shop (Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore), they can help you figure out how much you’ll need. But, there are easy-to-use paint calculators online at Lowe’s and Benjamin Moore that will save you the time in the store.
Psst: Mark & Theresa shared these tips on the NBC 10! Show.
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