Interior Painting Tips for Beginners

Painting an interior wall is one of the easiest ways to give your home a fresh, clean look. Even if you live in an older or rented space, a fresh coat of paint can help mask imperfections. If you’re a little wary of the process, though, you’re not alone. Here are some smart painting tips to help you get the look you want without the stress:

First Time with a Brush? Follow These 5 Painting Tips

1. Start Small

Rather than jumping right in and buying a large quantity of paint, buy small quarts and test them on your wall. Even if a paint looks perfect in the store, it may look different once you get it home, and this can be highly disappointing if you’re not careful.

Purchase several quarts you like and paint a small swatch of each color on a wall in your home. Let them dry and observe the way each catches light and looks in the room in question. This will help you make a smart paint decision.

2. Map the Square Footage of Your Room

Few things are more disappointing than running out of paint in the middle of a project. As such, you’ll want to map the square footage of the room before you purchase your supplies. Generally, professionals recommend purchasing one gallon of paint for every 400 square feet of room in the home.

3. Lay Down Drop Cloths

To avoid ruining your floor as you paint, lay down drop cloths and newspapers to catch any spills or splatters. Be sure to watch out for wet paint as you move through the room, so you don’t accidentally step in it and track it around your home.

4. Cut in Corners and Ceilings First

If you can find a partner for this phase of the job, that’s fantastic. If not, you’ll need to do it on your own. Using an angled brush, “cut in” the corners of the room, the ceiling, and the floor trim before you start the walls. “Cutting in” involves running a thick yet precise line of paint along these sensitive areas to give yourself a buffer later when you come back with the roller. Don’t forget to tape your edges!

5. Roll the Walls

If your walls are dirty or dingy, clean them before you start painting. A simple wipe-down with soap and water will help the paint stick better. Be sure to allow the walls to dry completely before you start painting.

Once the walls are clean and dry, dip your roller in paint and move up the walls in long, steady strokes. Replenish your roller with paint as needed, being careful to avoid picking up too much paint, as it will look chunky and may run as it dries.

Painting Tips from the Pros

Even if you’re not a professional home painter, you can paint like one with these smart painting tips. From preparing your space to purchasing the right quantity of paint, each of these tips can help make the process smother and simpler from beginning to end.