By the end of this article, you will be painting like a pro, with these interior painting tips!

I know you’ve heard it before: a killer paint job can change the “vibe” of your home. It’s the aesthetic equivalent of burning a sage stick. A fresh coat creates a clean slate, ridding your home of old, tired ju-ju. 

You’ve heard it before, but maybe you still don’t buy it. Perhaps you feel like painting is an awfully big undertaking, which just isn’t worth it for the sake of a fresh aesthetic flair. After all, you can change your home’s “vibe” by moving your Reservoir Dogs poster into the living room, right?

Let’s put aside all arguments about vibes and aesthetics. Painting your home is actually good for it. Most of us don’t spend much time examining our walls and trimmings, but these surfaces undergo a lot of stress. From hanging objects to collecting dust, your walls and trimmings suffer more wear and tear than you might think. When you give your walls some much-needed love via a fresh coat of paint, you are inherently repairing the walls’ structural damages. Furthermore, cleaning and painting your walls may even improve the air quality in your home. 

Still, painting a home is a massive undertaking, right? Lucky for you, we have 6 simple tips to make that undertaking a cinch. Follow these 6 interior painting tips and you will be painting like a pro. 

Tip #1: Be a “Wall-Whisperer”

The first on our list for interior painting tips? Be a “wall-whisperer”! 

As mentioned in our previous articles about interior and exterior painting, a dirty and damaged wall won’t respond well to fresh paint. To achieve an end-result that professional painters will envy, take the time to examine your walls before applying any primer or paint. 

Got some nicks and dents in the wall? Use painter’s putty and a putty knife to fill in those little imperfections. 3M Patch Plus Primer is a tried and true product, recommended by novices and professionals alike! We recommend smoothing that spackle out with a Habco Putty Knife. Habco Putty Knives come in a variety of shapes and sizes. By investing in a set of these putty knives, you will have the perfect tool for repairing any sized dent. 

If the damage is too significant for the painter’s putty to fill, the pros recommend using Plaster of Paris. DAP Plaster of Paris yields professional-quality results and will only put you out by ten dollars. 

Whether your walls are riddled with dents or super smooth, a professional painter always cleans the walls before applying any paint. To clean the walls like a pro, start by dusting them, vacuuming them, or even lint rolling them. Once the initial layers of dust and grime have been removed, wipe the walls off with a degreaser. We recommend Stanley Home Degreaser; this reliable product is gentle on your walls and can be used throughout your home even after your painting project is complete. 

Tip #2: The Paint-Staking Details

If you want to start painting like a pro, you have to know how to pick the perfect paint. We’re not just talking color combinations, here. Different paints have different finishes (or sheens). Each sheen has unique advantages and drawbacks. 

If your painting walls or ceilings, professional painters recommend choosing paints with an eggshell or satin sheen. These paints will leave your walls with just the right amount of shine. Furthermore, it is relatively easy to maintain the cleanliness of walls with this type of finish. 

For cabinets, trims, and doors, the pros recommend using paints that have a semi- or high-gloss finish. These paints are especially stain-resistant, making them perfect for the most “scuff-prone” trimmings. 

Tip #3: Caulk About It

Speaking of trimmings, most pros use a simple trick to create a seamless trim-to-wall finish. Applying a small amount of caulk between wood trimmings and the walls will create the perfect surface for a seamless paint-job. We recommend using an all-surface caulk, such as ALEX Plus. 

Tip #4: Priming Perfection 

As mentioned in our articles about exterior painting, priming your surfaces with a tinted primer will save you both time and paint!

If you have chosen to paint your walls a lighter color, a traditional white primer is the best way to go. However, if the paint you have chosen is a darker color, using a white primer will double the number of coats that you’ll need. 

Instead of wasting all that time, money, and paint, the pros recommend using a tinted primer on surfaces that will be painted a dark color. 

Tip #5: Master Mixology 

Here’s a secret you may not know: each can of paint is slightly different. Even if you’ve purchased several cans of eggshell white paint, the hue of each can will be a little bit unique. Unfortunately, you may not notice the difference until after the paint has already dried and you have found yourself staring at a splotchy wall. Yikes.

But this mishap can be easily avoided! To create the most even color possible, mix all of your paint into one 4 or 5-gallon bucket. This will create one consistent color.

Tip #6: Best Brushes

If you want to start painting like a pro, don’t skimp on brushes and rollers! Sure, there are cheap options out there. But cheap tools yield cheap results.

If you’re still looking for the perfect brush, consider going synthetic. Synthetic paintbrushes don’t swell or retain water, which allows for a more even application. Purdy Paintbrushes are perfect synthetic brushes, which come in a variety of sizes and angles. 

Pros also paint with lambswool rollers. Lambswool rollers create a smooth and seemly finish. Wooster Lambswool Rollers come in a variety of sizes and naps, making them the perfect choice for any interior paint job. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Painting Interior Tips.

Should I sand my walls before painting?

Sanding before painting is not always necessary. However, if the walls have some rough or uneven spots, we recommend sanding them down prior to cleaning the walls. If the previous coat of paint is water-based, you can sand it down with low-grit sandpaper. If t is oil-based, we recommend using medium-grit sandpaper. 

When painting a room, should I begin with the walls, ceilings, or trims? 

Both professionals and novices debate the answer to this question. While it is ultimately up to the discretion of the painter, most professionals recommend painting the trim, the ceiling, and then the walls.