In our house, it seems like I am always painting something. From painting our whole house more than once to painting furniture, feature walls, and even fabric. Paint is one of the most affordable ways to change your decor and have a big impact. I used to think that painting was complicated and needed to include tons of prepping and hours of tapping off floors, moldings, and trim. However, over the years I’ve simplified it down to some simple painting tips and supplies. (post contains affiliate links, see disclosure)
CHOOSING A COLOR
When choosing a color, don’t rely on the small swatch from the store. Always get a sample, bring it home, and paint small areas in different parts of the room. Look at the color at different times of the day and different lighting. Sunlight and lighting in your home are very different than the lighting in the store and can change the color drastically.
PRIMER
Use paint with a built-in primer. This eliminates a step and makes everything much faster. Honestly, you don’t even need a primer unless you are painting over a dark or bright color.
Bonus Tip: use a hammer and a nail to punch small holes in the lip of the paint can before you get started. When pouring the paint, this will prevent the paint from building up in the lip and go back into the can.
PAINT SHEEN
Don’t overthink the paint sheen. And don’t listen to the “experts”. I used to have four different cans of paint, all different sheens, but all the same color for different areas of the house. It was ridiculous. Now I use eggshell for everything (walls, trims, baseboards, moldings, etc) and every room. It’s durable, cleans well, and has a nice finish.
USE A LINER
Paint liners for trays and pails are super affordable and make the trays and pails reusable. Plus if you are switching paint colors between coats (like for an accent wall), the liner can hold the paint until you are ready.
QUALITY PAINT SUPPLIES
High-quality rollers and brushes are key to a smooth surface and the best finish. I prefer the Purdy brand and love a shorter brush to cut in around corners and baseboards. Quality supplies are easy to clean up and they last project after project.
Bonus Tip: wrap brushes and rollers in plastic wrap, seal in a Ziploc bag, and store in the fridge if you are still working on your project!
one | two | three | four | five | six | A short angled 2-inch brush is the only brush you’ll need. I use it to cut-in around walls, ceilings, windows, and door trim. The shorter handle makes it easy to hold and control. Plus, the angle is perfect for getting a sharp straight edge. This paint pail has a magnet for your brush, a handle for easy holding, and is big enough for a small roller.
Another thing I’ve learned is to always use a high-quality roller. It will give the smoothest finish and hold the most paint for easy rolling. Because most of our home is Pergo flooring, I don’t use one but I do highly recommend a drop cloth for carpeted areas. With our flooring, I am able to wipe up a paint drip, but it is not as easy with carpet.
I hope with these simple painting tips, you will start that painting project you’ve been thinking about!
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