Painting the Interior of Your House? Here are Some Must-Know Tips!
Taking on the responsibility of painting the interior of your home can seem like an overwhelming task, especially if you have no idea where to start. One thing for sure is that this job is nothing like finger painting with the kids or learning how to color inside of the lines. Painting the interior of your house can be quite intimidating, especially because it’s not something you want to make a mistake doing.
If you’re considering painting a room in your house, Home Repair Service is here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be a scary task. We’ll be sharing a few tips and tricks that can help make the experience of painting your home more enjoyable and leave you with walls that will wow all of your guests!
WHAT ARE THE BEST NEW COLORS TO USE IN 2022?
According to the color experts at PANTONE, the colors that will be trending in 2022 are Classic Blue, Tangerine Tango, and Buttercup.
Classic Blue is a bold and versatile blue that can be used in both traditional and contemporary settings, making it a great choice for those who want a timeless and elegant color for a formal dining room or guess bathroom. Tangerine Tango as well as Buttercup is bright and energetic, perfect for adding a pop of color to any space. Some other colors that are predicted to be popular include Smoke Green, Dusty Pink, and Pale Blue.
HIGH QUALITY PAINT, BRUSHES, AND ROLLER COVERS
When you’ve finally chosen the color you’d like to paint with, make sure you are purchasing a high quality brand. Taking on the task of painting your house is a big responsibility, so you want to make sure the paint you’re using will last.
In order to paint, you need brushes and roller covers. Your best bet is to purchase high-quality brushes and roller covers just like you did with the paint. Cheaper brushes tend to be flimsy and leave streaky marks on your walls, so, what’s the point of using nice paint if it’s going to look streaky because of the paint brush? The same goes for roller covers. Low quality ones can leave lint on your walls, meaning lint will stick to your walls once the paint dries, giving off a bumpy look to your walls.
PAINTER’S TAPE
Have you ever seen blue tape one someone’s walls while they’re in the process of painting? That’s what we call painter’s tape. Painter’s tape is typically used on the edge of walls where there will be no paint and comes off easily without removing any existing paint on the walls. It can be quite costly, but it’s worth it to spend some extra money on it to ensure that areas like around window sills and in between walls and ceilings aren’t painted.
Q&A
How do I get the perfect line with blue tape?
There are a few things you can do to get the perfect line with blue tape:
Make sure the surface is clean and dry before you start.
Tape down one end of the strip firmly, and then press down the other end so that it sticks to the surface.
Use a sharp blade to cut off the excess tape at the edge of your line.
Most Important: Before starting to paint the new color, apply a fresh coat of the existing color against the tape line. This step will effectively seal the tape line. Once you apply the new color and pull the tape off, you'll find that that pesky tape bleed is a thing of the past.
WEAR GLOVES
Paint can be quite difficult to clean off your hands, especially if you’re using an oil-based paint, so wearing latex gloves during the job will be a tremendous help. Even if the paint you’re using is water-based, it’s still a good idea to wear gloves to avoid messy hands. If you’re allergic to latex or simply prefer an alternative material, nitrile gloves are a great option.
TRY THE DUCT TAPE TEST
Are you sure that the wall you’ll be painting on will hold the new paint you’re using? Well, there’s a way to find out, and it’s by using duct tape. Before you start painting, lay a strip of duct tape on the surface you will be painting and then rip it off. If the existing paint on the wall chips or flakes off, we recommend scraping the wall and then sanding it before you apply your new coat of paint.
KEEP A WET EDGE
Have you ever rolled over paint that has already dried? This creates something called overlap marks, which are the streaks you see when there are uneven layers of paint. To avoid this mishap, you always want to maintain what we call a “wet edge,” where you will run the roller up the full height of the wall and continue to move over slightly as you paint.
Pro tip: When maintaining a wet edge, start near a corner of the surface you are painting, rather than in the middle. Work your way across the surface as you go. It definitely helps to have a helper on this one. One can roll the walls and the other can cut in at the ceiling and baseboard
If you’re painting the interior of your home but aren’t 100% comfortable taking the job on yourself, that’s when Home Repair Service comes in to help. Give us a call at (205) 858-1658 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your service.