This post is going to be different from many of my previous posts. Instead of teaching myself how to be a plumber or an electrician, I finally get to do something I am very familiar with… Painting. Because of this, I am not going to bore you by walking you through each step. Rather, I am going to share some tried and true painting hacks and tips I have garnered over the years.
Choosing the right paint
The Sheen
Simply put, paint sheen refers to how shiny the paint will be when it dries. Additionally, the higher the sheen, the more durable it will be. Sheens range from flat, having no shine, to high-gloss, which is very shiny. Picjing the right sheen for your project is essential and can add to the longevity of your paint as well as the overall finished look. The following table will help you to choose the best option.
| Paint sheen | Best used in | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat/Matte (no shine) | Interior living spaces with no moisture | Great at hiding imperfections | Less durable, harder to clean |
| Eggshell (minimal shine) | Interior living spaces with no moisture | easier to clean, minimally hides imperfections | Less durable than higher sheens |
| Satin (moderate shine) | Interior living spaces exposed to moisture (i.e kitchen/bath) | Easy to clean, Moisture resistant, durable | Shows a lot of imperfections |
| semigloss/high-gloss (lots of shine) | Trim and moulding | Very durable and easy to clean | Shows every imperfection |
The color
Now onto the hard part, choosing the color. While this can be fun, it is difficult to choose the perfect paint color, especially if you have something specific in mind. I reccommend ALWAYS purchasing multiple paint samples and trying them on large swatches in multiple places in your room.
Here is an example of some of the paint swatches I painted in the bathroom. What you can’t see is that I had 6 different colors and I painted them on two different walls to make sure that I liked them in different lighting conditions.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the sheen effects the paint color. Generally, the more sheen, the brighter the color may look, so make sure to get paint samples in the sheen that you will be ultimately using.
The necessary painting tools
Everyone knows you need a paint tray and a roller to paint a room, but having the appropriate paint tools for your project will result in a faster and neater end product. The following are some tips about using the right tools for your project.
Paint rollers
Obviously, a paint roller is your go-to tool when painting walls, but choosing the right paint roller will help save time and frustration. The biggest thing to keep in mind when choosing a roller is making sure the paint nap matches the texture of the surface you are painting. Generally speaking, the thicker the nap, the rougher the surface. So you should use 1/4 inch nap for smooth surfaces, 3/8 inch nap for smooth to lightly textured, and 1/2 insh nap for medium to rough surfaces.
You also want to make sure to have some smaller rollers for the hard to reach spaces.
High-quality paintbrush
A high-quality paintbrush is a must-have for getting into the corners and other hard to reach places. Believe it or not, all paintbrushes are not considered equal. A high-quality brush will hold more paint, apply the paint more evenly, and last longer. Click here to see my favorite brush.
Paint Edger
I hate taping! So it stands to reason that this is one of my all-time favorite tools. You just load it up and run it along the edge you need painted, and for the most part, it gives you a nice clean line without having to tape. It is truly a time saver!
Painters tape
I hate taping, but sometimes it is necessary. So whenever I start a painting project, I have to have my painters tape handy.
Painters tape painting hack
Have I told you I hate taping? It takes forever and even apter you tape, it bleeds through and it is really hard to get a crisp line. However, if you really need that crisp line, I have a hack for you.
Here I am painting the ceiling and I want a super crips line where the ceiling and walls meet.
Step 1: Apply painters tape
Step 2: Paint a thin layer of the color your are taping at the edge of the painters tape and let dry.
For me, I was taping the wall, so I painted a thin layer of the wall color at the edge of the tape.
Step 3: Paint as you normally would
For me, I painted the ceiling using rollers and brushed.
Step 4: Peel off the tape while paint is still wet.
See that nice clean and crisp line. Totally worth it! This hack works for painting lines or stripes on walls as well!
Paintbrush hack
Here is my last hack that I could not live without. I hate cleaning the brushes and the rollers about as much as I hate taping, so I try to do it as little as possible. As a mom with children at home, I often have to step away from my project for long periods of time so instead of cleaning the brushes every time, I place my brushes and rollers in a bucket of water. Its that simple, no need to rinse them, just make sure they are fully submerged. Then when you go to use them again, wring them out so there is no more dripping water and you are good to go!
Those are my painting hacks, tips, and trick that could hopefully help you in your next project. As for my project, here is the final product. I am super happy with the color!
I started this blog in the hope of inspiring other people to try something new, especially if it is unexpected. If you like what you are seeing, please like, comment, or share! Thanks for reading!