Four Common Interior Painting Mistakes

Painting a room is a great way to give it an almost an entirely new look. When done properly it can look fantastic. When done improperly, however, it can look like a giant mess. This is a guide to common interior painting mistakes that, when avoided, will help your room look like the former and not the latter.

Preparation

Inadequate preparation ensures that no matter what you do during the painting process, the result will always turn out badly. Adequately prepare your walls for their makeover by cleaning them, removing dirt and mildew, removing any paint that's old and peeling, and applying a general amount of primer to them.

Rushing

Impatient people aren't going to like this one, but when you're painting you have to take your time. Rushing to get the job done will only show your shoddy workmanship. The only positive thing about rushing is that it means that less time will have passed before the paint dries and it reveals that you did not apply the proper amount of coats, neglected some spots, and applied some too heavily. Streaks can appear and your former paint job, no matter how old, will look like a palace in comparison. Instead, take your time and slowly apply even codes. You might think you're wasting time, but going slowly is nothing compared to having to do everything over!

Painter's Tape

Repeat after me: painter's tape is my friend; painter's tape is my friend. One of the most common mistakes in painting is the failure to apply painter's tape around those edges that you don't want to see covered in paint such as light switches, electric outlets, and ceilings. One stray swipe of the paintbrush can create an eyesore that will draw anyone's eyes away from your beautiful wall color to the careless mistake you made. Applying a strip of painter's tape as a border between that which should be painted and that which shouldn't is an expensive way to prevent an annoying mistake.

The Right Tools

Another common interior painting mistake that many people make is to use the wrong tools for the job. Unfortunately, there's no one magical tool for all your painting needs, so two or three will have to suffice. For painting the majority of the wall, the tall and wide areas, use a roller with a small handle. When applying paint to the edges and other hard to paint places, use a small, delicate paint brush. There are also angled trim brushes for curves and angles. Every room is different, so make sure you find the tools that are right for you.