Interior Painting Tips

With a few interior painting tips and the right tools, you’ll paint like a pro in no time.

A few simple tricks make painting your home easy.

Consider the following when choosing an interior paint color:

• The mood of the room. Do you want it to feel calm? Exciting? Cheery?
• The primary architecture. Certain colors seem to fit the atmosphere of a home. Dress up your home with what looks best for it, be it a 1920s bungalow, a downtown loft, a 1960s California ranch, a two-story colonial, and so on.
• The flow of one room to another. This is where having a good understanding of the basics of color design is beneficial. Selecting interior paint from a coordinating color palette is easier than ever, especially since many paint swatches come with suggestions for corresponding trim and ceiling paint.
• Colors you like. They can be your personal favorites or something you’ve always wanted to try.
• The surface area. Some paints roll over drywall and paneling well, but what about textured surfaces or plaster? What if you’re trying to paint over brick? Before you get your heart set on a particular color, evaluate the options for the best coverage.

Here are some basic interior painting tips to make your project a success.

• Flip through magazines, visit showcase homes, and cozy up for a few hours of home improvement television. Top designers and remodelers start color trends, so you’ll learn a lot very quickly.
• Gather a handful of swatches and tape them to the wall to see how the light plays off the color. A shade may look gray on the swatch, but after it’s been in the room for a day, you’ll swear it’s more of a baby blue. Additionally, many home improvement stores and specialty paint retailers sell sample jars of paint so you can try a color out on a small portion of wall.
• Measure the area and calculate square footage by multiplying wall height by the length of the wall.
• Clean and repair the walls and ceilings the day before painting. A common household cleaner works well. Fill in holes with putty and smooth over.

• Select a high-quality paint to reduce the number of coats. Usually, trim is painted with a semi-gloss for durability, and walls and ceilings are covered with a flat latex. Latex does not coat oil-based paint well, so make sure your new paint matches the old. Most paint cans note the amount of square footage the contents will cover, but use your measurements as a guide for how much paint to buy. If covering a dark wall, you’ll probably need to prep the walls first with a primer, such as Kilz.
• Bristle and foam brushes have individual advantages. Some painters prefer foam brushes for trimwork because of a smoother finish, but others think foam flakes apart or falls off the handle too easily. If using bristle brushes, natural bristles work best on heavier, oil-based paints.
• Here’s a handy checklist for other painting equipment you’ll need, including the type of roller size for a particular surface.

• Homeowners have differing opinions on taping off trim, windows, and baseboards before wall painting. Some think it’s too much trouble, and that the wrong kind of painting tape peels away a freshly painted surface. Others consider taping to be one of the best time-saving interior painting tips to know, as it makes the actual paint application process faster. No matter which method you choose, painting trim should be done with a patient hand.
• Start from the ceiling and work downward. After you finish painting the ceiling (if necessary), work the walls by rolling within a half-inch or so of the ceiling, and finish off the top of the area with a brush. Baseboards should be the last item you paint. Use a wide putty knife as a guard so you don’t get paint on the new wall.
• Don’t be afraid to get paint on the brush. Dip it into the can or pan, and tap the sides to let the paint fall down naturally into the bristles. Apply with firm, quick strokes to avoid drips.
• If your project carries over into the next day, save time and money by wrapping your paintbrush in plastic wrap. It will stay moist and ready for the next use. This is not a long-term storage solution, however.
• You can paint doors in place, but experts recommend taking them off the hinges and painting them horizontally.
• Double-check your work before applying the next coat to spot bumps or missed spots. If you used a roller, dab the paint onto an imperfection to mimic the roller application.

Another great interior painting tip is to not lift a brush until you’ve painted online. Get fresh ideas, understand how different color combinations work, and even get expert opinions on your selections with a few easy clicks.

Benjamin Moore Paints has a handy function on its site called the Personal Color Viewer. Room by room, see how much of an impact the right paint combination can have.

Try your hand at virtual painting and other decorating with the Better Homes and Gardens “Color-a-Room” feature. Register online to mix-and-match colors, fabrics, and different flooring options, such as carpet, travertine tile, and bamboo flooring.

The Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer is a great virtual painting tool as well. The guide features numerous color palettes from which to choose, including historical paint choices and new color trends.

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