Interior Painting: How To Guide

Interior designers will be the first to tell you that putting a fresh coat of paint on the wall is a surefire way to give a wall a new lease on life. But doing a quality job that will last for years to come isn't as easy as slapping any old paint up on the wall, lest it ends up looking like more like a backyard clubhouse rather than a model home. If you have ventured into a home improvement store recently, then you know that the painting section is ever expanding and can be daunting for a novice. Here are a few tips to help guide you through the process.

First of all, your options for picking out paint are endless! Every color and hue under the sun is available and even if they don't have the exact color that you want, if you bring in a sample, they can mix it. Before you commit to a color and buy gallons of paint, be sure to paint a little swatch on different parts of your room and see how they look in the morning, afternoon and evening light. Sometimes a color that we thought was just perfect, ends up being a little off once you get in on the wall, so be sure to test it out before painting the entire room a color you don't really love.

Next, be sure to get the correct type of paint. Want something that is easy to clean for those high traffic areas? Try a satin, gloss or semi-gloss. Or what about one that camouflages imperfections on the walls? Use a flat or matte finish. You can use any type of sheen for any area of the house, but there are some that are better suited for high traffic areas than others. While you are at the store don't forget to stock up on all the other little things you might need while painting an interior room like brushes (several sizes are good), rollers, plastic bags, tape, rags, paint can openers and drop cloths.

The day before you begin the painting be sure to remove all furniture from the room or if that isn't possible, put it in the middle of the room and cover with a drop cloth. Remove all hardware from the room, such as light switches, door knobs, and outlet covers because no matter how careful you are, you will get paint on them if you leave them! Don't forget to label them as to where they go to save yourself frustration when you go to put them back on. Of course, you can't forget to get yourself ready by removing all your jewelry and putting on comfortable old clothes that you don't mind never wearing again out of the house. Before you paint, you may need to use a primer to insure the surface will absorb the paint. Primers also help cover imperfections on the wall as well as make the color look more even once you have gotten it on the wall. Don't forget to tape off the room with blue painters tape in order to make sure that the paint doesn't end up in places you want to protect.