If you’ve decided that your house needs a refreshment this season, putting a new layer of paint on your walls may be a great place to start. However, before you grab your paint bucket, we’ll reveal to you the secrets that professional painters use and that you can implement if you decide to DIY your project.
Here are some top tips for painting your home like a pro:
Choose your color carefully
Once you have a general idea of what kind of changes you want to make in your home, it’s time to go to the paint store and choose the right color.
To get the most precise idea of how the color will end up looking, you can ask to get a sample of the paint. This way you will get to test the color since different lighting and times of the day can make the color look vastly different. This is especially true for brighter colors. By doing this, you will be sure that you’re satisfied with the end product.
Buy high-quality tools
What makes a big difference between a good paint job and a bad one is the quality of the brushes and rollers you use. Not only will a cheap paintbrush leave residue behind, but it will also be harder to use.
You will need different supplies depending on the size and type of project, but here are some essentials for a paint job: a high-quality paint roller and a paint brush, a drop cloth, a paint tray, and painter’s tape. If your walls need more preparation, then you might need sandpaper and a primer too.
One thing to know is that if you’re trying to cut costs, you may want to consider getting professional help. Many services, like this one for interior painting in Calgary, offer a free quote beforehand. This tool can help you decide whether the cost of your time and effort is acceptable or whether it’s better to seek professional assistance.
Estimate how much paint you need
Considering the price of paint, you don’t want to end up buying a lot more than you need. You also don’t want to end up going to the store twice, especially because all paint is mixed in the store when you first choose and buy it. Hence, it will be difficult to recreate the exact same shade if you need to buy another can later. To avoid this problem, calculate the estimate based on the size of your room. You can use one of the many free tools available online.
Clean the walls
Depending on the state of your walls, it may require more or less preparation. Don’t paint over wallpaper, and don’t paint over dirty walls. For cleaning the walls, you can use a mixture of warm water and soap. For more stubborn stains, you can use a deglosser, which will also prepare the area.
Use primer if necessary
If your walls aren’t in their best condition, you might have to fix them and fill some of the cracks or holes. Painting over these patched areas might leave you with a splotchy finish if you don’t prepare the area properly.
It’s important to use a primer in this case. There are various types of primers. For example, if you’re going from a darker shade to a lighter one, a good fit for you will be tinted primer. It does a great job of hiding the fixed areas, and it also helps the color look more vibrant. Consequently, you will need fewer coats to get your perfect shade.
Prepare the room
To ensure you don’t spend a whole day cleaning up after your paint job, prepare the room properly beforehand. Push all the furniture into the middle of the room and cover it with a plastic cover or a drop cloth. Use painters’ tape around all the edges you don’t want to get paint on. A good tip is to remove all the light switches and outlets from the walls to avoid any accidental splashes.
Paint from top to bottom
Going for the right method of painting is what makes the difference between an amateur and a professional finish. Cut the edges with a paintbrush first, and then start from the top to the bottom. If you’re doing the whole room, paint the ceilings first, then move on to the walls, leaving any woodwork and doors for the end.
