Home Decor Basics: Painting Tips

We all want our home to be a warm, inviting place, but before we start thinking about changing the decor, look the basic projects.  Painting the walls is the single most dramatic way to refresh or spice up your interior.

Painting doesn't have to be difficult.  With just a little planning and preparation, you can easily change the look of a room in a single day.

In this article, we are going to assume that you've done the hard part, which is deciding on color and type of paint. Don't be afraid to ask questions at your local paint or hardware store. 

Here are some painting tips that will have you becoming an expert in no time:

Assemble Your Tools

The painting supplies may vary from job to job, but the basic tools remain the same.

• Rollers, covers and extension pole
• 1 or 2 inch brush for cutting in and small work - slightly angled brushes work best
• Paint tray and liners
• Drop cloths and rags
• Painters tape - this is the blue tape
• Spackle paste and putty knife to fill in holes

Prepare the Room

Preparing the room will protect the furniture and flooring from a paint mishap and will ensure the finished product looks great and lasts long.

• Move all small furniture out of the room as well as all wall hangings, drapes, etc. 
• Remove all switch plates and hardware if possible.
• Use masking tape or plastic to cover anything you can't remove. 
• Small items (like screws) can be covered with vaseline or chapstick. Easily wiped up later.
• Large furniture items can be moved to the center of the room and covered with a drop cloth. 
• Tape off woodwork and make sure plastic dropcloths are taped down.
• Clean all surfaces as needed - mostly this is just dusting and making sure loose items are gone. 
• Apply spackle as needed to holes. Let dry. 

Painting

The typical order of painting includes "cutting in" or painting the edges about 2" deep, the ceiling (if you are painting it), the walls and then the woodwork.

• If you have a steady hand, using a stiff 2" brush can help you avoid using tape when you cut in, just make sure you have a damp cloth available for quick wipe-ups.
• Use long strokes at the end. Using short back and forth strokes can help get the paint on, but always finish with long, smooth strokes. 
• Only dip your brush about halfway in the paint to avoid clumping up the brush and ruining it.
• When painting with a roller, work in about a 3 foot section at a time, putting a W on the wall and filling in.
• Almost anything will look better with a second coat - even the paint says it's only one coat. 
• Make sure the paint is dry before applying the second coat. 

Here's a great video with more details on painting a room:

And for even more tips on painting:

47 Tips and Tricks for a Perfect Paint Job

Of course, the least fun part is the clean up and putting everything back, but once you're done, you'll love the results!

Remember to let a newly painted room dry or cure for at least 2 weeks before applying any Wall Stickers.
What a fun way to add "art" to a room - they come in 30 different colors and are easy to remove with ruining your wonderful new paint job!