The Beginner's Guide to Painting

Holly Conway
by Holly Conway
$50
4 Hours
Easy
Painting is a great way to give your home an update on a budget and it's a small home project that can make a huge impact. If you're looking for painting tips, this beginner's guide to painting is for you! Even if you aren't a beginner there may be a tip or two to pick up!
In my opinion painting is one of the easiest DIY projects around, and can really make your home feel completely different. It's cost effective and can make a huge impact right away. There is also something soothing and therapeutic about painting right...no? Am I the only one?! A good paint job can go a long way, so let's get started!
Step 1: Choose your color.
When I first moved into the new house, everything was painted very flat dull brown color. It was a very lovely neutral color, but I am more into the lighter airy colors, so I knew this project was first on my list!


*Tip: I highly recommend picking up some paint samples. I think they are well worth the $4-$5 investment. Before I paint a room I make sure to paint a large section of each color I am considering on the wall and leave it up for a few days before I make my final decision. Its important to see what it will look like in the day, the night, sunny, cloudy, you get the picture. It's amazing how different these colors will look at different times of the day.


Step 2: Prep


The next step would be to fill in any holes in the wall with nail filler. I had a few holes from the previous owners so for this project I used Dap DryDex Spackling and had good success with it. After spackling I made sure the wall was smooth where I filled in the holes by going over it with a 3M sanding sponge where I needed to.


Next comes the fun part (not really), taping off......
I will admit I don't always tape off everywhere. I always tape off areas I know will be hard to maneuver around even with my (aff link) Wooster Shortcut  {I promise this brush is awesome}!



Step 3: Open up that paint can!
Now time to open up that can of pretty paint....I can't wait! Remember this is the beginner's guide to painting, so I am covering all the basics! I have always used a flat head screwdriver for this, usually because I always have one laying around in the garage somewhere. Slowly open up the can and make sure to slowly stir and mix the paint after opening to make sure the color is mixed up good before it goes on your walls. Any paint store, Lowes, or Home Depot give you these stirrer things for free.


Step 4: Edging
This is the step that since I have started using the Wooster Angled Paint Brush saves me a lot of time. This is also a great time to get out that (aff link) Frog Tape ! Something about how this brush is designed, and I don't know how it works, but it is pure magic. Cutting in can take practice, but this brush helps not make it so scary!
*A little tip: Wrap up your brushes between coats
I was so happy when I learned this little trick from a friend. This keeps me from having to clean my brushes/rollers between coats to get off the dried paint. You can use a ziplock bag, but I always use clear plastic wrap. Either will work.
Step 5: Roll it on!
This is the fun part I promise!  Make sure that all sides of the roller brush are covered with paint and then roll it back and forth a bit on the pan to get off the extra. This will ensure you get even strokes when rolling your paint.
I always make sure to roll it on in a W pattern, and make sure to then paint horizontally filling in the spaces of the W until you have that one section of wall covered and smooth.
After your first coat is dry you will then repeat with a second coat. Make sure to remove your tape before your second coat dries completely. If you remove it when it is dry you run the risk of pulling off the paint on the walls that is attached to the tape (learned this the hard way!).
You're done! Yay, you've mastered your first small home project and made a huge impact on your space!
Holly Conway
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Holly Conway Holly Conway on Jun 01, 2017

    That is a really good tip! I do notice a couple of places where there were previous pictures hanging that I can sometimes see it when the light hits it the right way. I'm gonna have to try this! It's alway learning the hard way! lol

  • Sirkku Sirkku on Jul 11, 2017

    Thank you so much for sharing

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