4 Interior Painting Mistakes You Need to Avoid

Most homeowners are usually excited to get started painting right away once they select their paint. As excited as you are to paint, it's important to prep your walls before you paint them. In fact, prepping is what professional services spend the majority of their time doing. Be sure to clean the walls and scrape off any peeling or cracking before painting over them. Choosing not to clean them will make it harder for the paint to adhere to the walls. Additionally, you should also make sure you've carefully applied painter's tape and that any patching compound has dried before you start painting.

While you might be tempted to save by not getting primer, it's an essential part of the painting process. Primer helps to cover the flaws in the surface and give it a smooth finish that's long-lasting. It also makes the paint more durable and adhere to the wall better. If the surface is old but in good condition and has a flat finish, you can use a product that's a mix of paint and primer. If you have a more difficult surface to paint over such as stained drywall, it's best to use a stand-alone primer that can cover the unpainted surface.

One of the worst mistakes that can happen is picking the wrong paint color. You might pick a color based on a paint chip, paint it on your walls, and then realize it doesn't look like the color that you wanted. One way you can avoid this mistake from happening is asking your local paint store to mix a small sample of paint to try out on your wall. See how the color looks when there's natural light and artificial light. Even if you realize you don't like it, you save more time and money then if you had to repaint an entire room all over again.

Certain surfaces are better suited for certain types of paint sheen. If you're painting a surface that's less than ideal, avoid choosing paint that has a high sheen. The glossiness can accentuate the flaws that are on the wall when light reflects off of it. If you do want paint with a sheen that's glossy, make sure the surface is as smooth as possible. Additionally, when painting with different sheen of the same color, it's helpful to label both cans. The two can easily get mixed up, and you won't see the mistake until after the paint dries.

While interior painting takes significant time to do, when done right, it can provide amazing results for your home. Making sure you're prepared ahead of time is always key. Be sure to keep these mistakes in mind in order to avoid having to paint your walls all over again.