Interior Painting Tips

It's been years since I've painted a room but after getting a $550 quote to do a 200 square foot room, I broke out the rollers and paint brushes and got after it myself. After a couple hours, it was all coming back to me plus I figured out a few new ways to make the painting job easier.

1. Preparation is the key to painting. Prep time can involve anything from emptying the room; cleaning the walls, trim, ceiling; assembling and laying out all the tools that you will need; removing electric outlet plates, light switch plates, curtains, etc.; getting stuff out of your way; taping and more. Your time spent prepping the room is the key to how well your paint job will turn out.

2. To tape or not to tape? I definitely like to tape off the trim near the floor. You're just one big roller drip away from a mess. You can definitely cut in around windows and doors quickly with tape, but don't get too secure. If your tape job is just off or you slop on too much paint, you'll end up with paint where you didn't want it. If you tape something off then take your time and do it right. If you cut in with a brush, you'll have to take your time as well. Either way, you'll have to slow down and get it right.

Interior Painting Tips

3. The two handed, extending paint roller - Shur-Line Twist-N-Reach Roller Cover Frame. I picked up one of these at Sears Hardware. What a great buy! It has a cushioned handle and you can use it with both hands which makes life easy. You also have added control with two hands and can get right next to the ceiling, another wall or trim with ease. Twist counterclockwise to unlock the handle and extend then twist clockwise to lock. Now you can get near the ceiling without a ladder. Spend the $10, you'll love this thing!

4. Paints never look the same color as advertised because few people prime their walls. If you want the exact color that's on the swatch than you need to prime your walls. If not, the previous color on your wall will affect the color you are applying.

5. Teflon coated roller tray. The dried paint is supposed to peel right off of these in one piece. We shall see.

Interior Painting Tips

6. The $0.99 plastic tray cover. Heck, Amazon has them for half of that! We are truly a throw-away society but if it means saving several gallons of water in clean up, heck, I'll throw away the plastic tray cover everyday.

7. All those gadgets that claim you can paint next to trim without taping. If you use it exactly right maybe but usually they are a waste of money.

8. Soak your paint brushes and rollers in a bucket of water for a few hours before rinsing them off. This makes the cleanup process much quicker and easier.

9. Get a decent paint brush and you'll find you can cut in more accurately.

10. Get as much paint out of your roller and brush by using it on the surface to be painted prior to cleanup. I assumed my wife had done this and was dead wrong. She could've painted another wall with all the paint in that roller.

11. If you don't finish at the end of the day, wrap your rollers and paint brushes in a plastic bag and put them in the fridge. The paint won't dry and you can avoid cleanup for another day.

12. Roller covers are so cheap, consider just trashing them when you are done with the job rather than trying to wash the paint out.