Mistakes To Avoid When Painting Your House

Pro Tip: Paints from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore are a good option.

Matte paints are good for coverage but aren’t the best choice for high-traffic areas. Semi-gloss paints are durable and moisture-resistant, making them the perfect choice for rooms that experience a lot of moisture— like bathrooms (“What Is The Best Paint Finish For A Bathroom”), for example. Other types of paint and finishes include eggshell, satin, and high gloss.

A lot of DIYers struggle with choosing colors. When you’re painting the interior of a home, it’s best to stick to three or fewer colors (Tromler). Using color psychology (“Color Psychology: Choosing Home Color Schemes”) and checking out different color schemes online can help you pick out colors that compliment each other in your home.

When it comes to finishes, flats are one of the most popular. It’s durable and has minimal sheen. Flat and matte are great options for a clean, non-shiny appearance. An eggshell finish would be ideal for a place that needs easy wiping (“What Type of Paint Should I Use in My Bathroom?”), such as a hallway.

With paint, it’s better to overestimate than underestimate. Running out of paint can be a hassle. You have to stop what you’re doing, rush to the store, and then rush back before your paint dries. If you bought paint that was custom mixed, you might have to wait for the same color to be mixed again and hope that it’s close enough to your original shade.

When changing the color of your walls, remember that you’ll need two coats. If you’re not sure how much paint to buy, toss an extra can into the mix. In a worst-case scenario, you can use it to paint a different room, or save it for when your walls need a touch-up. Either way, it’s always better to have more than less.

You want to get the right brush for your project, not the cheapest. By using a good brush, you’ll make your painting job a lot easier and it’ll go by faster. If you’re using paint that can be cleaned up with water, stick to brushes with synthetic bristles. For oil-based paint, a natural bristle brush (DeKorne) might be better.

When it comes to edges and corners, look for a brush that’s good at cutting in, preferably with an angled tip. What about size? For DIYers, it depends on the area. Experts generally recommend a brush that’s 2 to 2 ½ inches wide for corners or 3 to 4 inches wide (“How to Match the Paintbrush to the Project • Wooster Brush”) for walls.

One of the most common DIY painting mistakes is not prepping the area and surface being painted. Sometimes, people don’t realize that prep work is a necessity. Others lack the materials and knowledge to do it correctly, and some people think it’s too much of a hassle. However, prepping your walls for painting can make a huge difference in the result.

You never want to paint a dirty wall. If the wall is covered with dust, dirt, or other grime, the paint won’t properly adhere. Before you start painting, dust the walls, scrape off any cracked or flaking paint with a paint scraper, and wash everything down with a clean cloth using soap and warm water (“How to Prep Walls for Painting Video”).

Look for any cracks, gaps, or other imperfections in your wall. If they exist, smooth them out with a compound and feather them out. If you have gaps around any of your molding or stair risers, apply caulk before you paint. These steps will ensure a smoother painting process and a long lasting result.

It might seem reasonable to dip and saturate the entire brush in paint, but the more paint there is on the brush, the more paint will be wasted and left unevenly in drips on the wall. Fully dipping a paintbrush in paint will lead to dripping and it’ll be the cause of an unnecessary mess. Instead, only dip the brush to cover 1/3 of the bristles.

Make sure to tap off any excess paint clinging to the side of the brush so it doesn’t dry there. Some people assume putting a thicker coat on the brush will eliminate the need for a second coat, but this isn’t the case. Using too much paint at once will make your walls dry improperly and cause an unfinished look.

Use painter’s tape to avoid sloppy lines around the trim, floors, and ceiling. This special tape separates different sections of the room so you don’t accidentally paint something you weren’t intending to.

When you’re using painter’s tape, keep these important tips in mind:

• If painting your ceiling a color that’s lighter than the original color on the walls, paint your ceiling first. This way, it’s easier to paint over any mistakes.
• If you have hardwood floors, avoid adding tape to them. This can strip the boards of their finish. You’ll want to be careful with laminate flooring as well.

Pro Tip: Read how to use scotch painter’s tape HERE (“How to Tape for Painting”).

Waiting for paint to dry isn’t exactly exciting, but it’s a necessary part of the painting process. To be safe, let your first coat dry for about 24 hours before applying a second coat. Doing this will leave a smooth and even finish. If you apply a second coat too soon, your brush strokes will be prominent, and your paint job won’t look good.

If you’re simply wanting to change the color of your bedroom, maybe DIY will work better. However, if you’re wanting to paint larger portions of your home, like multiple rooms, kitchen cabinets, or the entirety of the interior and exterior of your house– hiring a painting company will help the job get done quicker while ensuring a satisfactory final result.

When weighing the options ask yourself the following questions:

The thought of painting a house by yourself might seem simple enough, but considering the steps and supplies needed might change your mind. Besides paint, supplies also include brushes, rollers, painters tape, drop cloths, paint samples (Wallender), primer and more. Depending on the size of the surface area you want to cover, a do it yourself project intended to save money may cost more in the end.

Pro Tip: Ceilings, foyer and tall walls can provide painting challenges and may also require scaffolding or ladders.

Skipping the prep work saves time in the short term but a quality paint job requires proper preparation. Paint needs to be able to stick to the surface, and won’t adhere properly when put over a dirty surface (“Painting Prep: Best Way to Wash Walls Before Painting”). In addition, all holes, cracks or other imperfections need to be patched prior to paint application if you want a good end result. Prep work is beneficial for your paint’s longevity.