As the seasons change, you might realize you need a different look in your home. A room can lose its luster when it has old paint or wallpaper on it. A proper coat of paint can truly light up a room. This can pair with any style you might like and there are many fun things you can do with paint. For a first timer, things can get confusing which is why we composed a list of painting tips for your home's walls.
You might not realize, but like anything else, walls can get dirty. In most cases, they are left without being cleaned for years (who has that kind of time). As you plan to create a new look in your home the first step is to wipe down those walls. You can remove dirt/lint/dust with a tack cloth. After grabbing a bucket, water, and a cleaner give your wall a well-deserved wipe down. Give your walls a chance to air dry by removing all outlet and light switch covers. Lastly, we don’t want you to get anything on your furniture. One of the most important painting tips is make sure to cover anything and everything!
We all have different styles and ideas of how our houses should look. One of the most important painting tips for walls is making sure you get the right paint. Most hardware stores have services to match your paint. Along with getting the right color to know the difference between oil and water based paints, use denatured alcohol on a rag to wipe existing paint. If paint comes off on the rag the paint is water based. If there is no residue that comes off then you will have an oil based paint.
When you think about paint in a house I’m sure your first thoughts are different colors or plain neutral color. The last thing on your mind is about the different sheens incorporated into colors. This feature is actually very important for certain areas in your house. It either brightens and enhances how your wall looks, giving more detail (shinier sheen). Flat paint is good for a low traffic room such as bedrooms and hallways.
Paint is definitely needed in order to paint a house. However, the tools to apply the product are also extremely important. Having quality materials can help decrease streaks and help apply a smoother finish. When buying your materials, it is better to buy more. The reason is you will spend less time cleaning rollers and less money on running water. If you need a break once you start painting, a painting tip is to cover your brush or roller with plastic bags and keep them in the fridge. This will keep the paint fresh and ready to use once you start your project again. Once the project is finally finished, store your brushes in a plastic baggie. This way the next time you use them they won’t be dried out.
Don’t be fooled, taking on a painting project can be exciting. However, it is a long process and knowing some painting tips for walls will help make this adventure a little easier. First, use low odor and VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints for a safer environment for you and your family. When you finally choose a color make sure to use contrasting trims to make the room pop. Also, if you are using dark paints make sure you let the wall dry for 6 hours between coats. This way you won’t rewet the paint causing streaks and patches to happen during your next coat. Lastly, make sure to save some of your paint for future touch-ups throughout your house.
Looking for a paint match or materials in order to paint your home? Check out Fallon's local hardware store, Louie's Ace Hardware. We will have everything you need to get you started on your next project! We offer ACE hardware rentals such as paint sprayers and fixture sprayer rentals for your painting project.
