Painting your walls is about the easiest and least expensive thing you can do to bring on a HUGE change in your décor. Even knowing the dramatic effect it has I still put the task of painting on the back burner.
It’s never as hard as I make it out to be in my mind and the results are always good for a jolt of instant gratification. I decided on a color and actually bought the paint for my dining room FIVE months ago. That’s embarrassing.
I think the fact that the sweet people who make Purdy’s paint brushes offered up free brushes to try finally pushed me into doing this project. They want you to be excited about getting painting off your to-do list! Tell me in the comments below what COLOR you are using in your next painting project. I can’t wait to hear, I’m so curious!
I have painted more walls than I can count in the last seven homes we have lived in over 15 years of marriage. Along the way I have managed to learn a trick or two about painting. Today I am sharing my experience!
- Don’t be scared of color – I feel the same way about hair cuts and color as I do about wall paint. You can always change it if you don’t like it. I’m of the opinion that people pick the lightest shade on the color swatch all to often. It can be a sort of non-committal color. If your looking for a change then commit to it and be bold. I went all out with this particular room and chose Caviar Black by Sherwin Williams. I really think we will start to see a trend of darker colors in the near future. I’m no expert, but I feel it coming! Buy a sample size and paint a swatch of color if you’re hesitant on taking the plunge. Live with it a while and then decide. You might just find a new found pep in your step once you go big in your color choice!
2. Set the mood – Allow ample time to complete your project or else plan it out in stages. Turn on your favorite ITunes playlist. This is the perfect time to enjoy a break from Kidz Bop and play some uplifting worship music or whatever it is that gets your juices flowin’. Wear comfy clothes and crank the A/C down to get ready to work!
3. Use the right tools – Being unprepared makes any project harder than it should be and painting is no different. Get all your supplies rounded up and BEFORE you start. When Purdy sent me new paint brushes I have to admit it got me all excited. Having the right brush makes all the difference in the world. I know this from experience. I used the Purdy XL Cub Medium Stiff Nylon/polyester brush. I like a brush with a shorter, fatter handle so I have more control. The bristles have to be slightly firm so they bend with the pressure I apply, but don’t give way and get all loosey goosey on me. This brush did just that. Not to mention it was clean and new. There is a time and place to retire old brushes. I had a favorite but then I let my mom use it and I don’t even know what she did to it, but it will never be the same. People – be nice to your brushes! Clean them. Brush in the right direction or else they will become a rat’s nest…like this…
Here is a list of supplies I recommend (with affiliate links):
Paint
Brushes – A Medium stiff brush, 2″ to 2.5″, for cutting in edges
Small Brush for touch ups and small spaces
Damp rag
Trash bags or plastic drop cloth
Flat head screwdriver
Ladder/step stool
Old glass jar
Replacement outlets, switches, etc. as needed
4. Prep your area – I don’t tape all the edges. You may want to. I free hand most of my edges and find it’s much quicker than taping. I DO tape the baseboards. As you can see below, I tape off the baseboards and then use the tape to hold my plastic trash bag or drop cloth in place. This protects the floor from my messiness and any paint splatter that may occur. Go ahead and remove all fixtures, nails, outlet covers, etc. that are on the prospective area. This is a must…no painting around them (except for the instance in #6 below), that just looks unprofessional!
5. Hand paint first – I always cut in the edges and paint around outlets first. This is the most time consuming part of the job and it’s good to just get it over with first. The biggest mistake made when hand painting edges is not loading your brush with paint. Don’t be scared of the paint! Get your brush loaded, you want to be pushing the paint with your brush. If you paint when your brush is to unloaded you will actually pull paint from the wall. That’s when the paint looks thin and you’ll need multiple coats along the edges. If you move quickly with a loaded brush you can glide down the edge of a wall or ceiling with ease.
6. Roll it – Again, don’t be afraid to load the roller with paint…frequently. If you try to go to long between filling the roller you’ll start taking paint off the wall. I’m sure you know the whole go in a V motion, but if you don’t it works best. Be sure to use the right roller nap – it really makes a difference in quality of coverage. GOOD TIP: If you need to run pick up your kid from school or something and have to leave in the middle of painting no need to pick everything up. Use a damp rag and lay it across your paint tray and the paint will stay until you get back. If you need to leave it overnight you can cover it with a damp rag and put it in the refrigerator. It will be good to go in the morning. I always toss my used roller naps when I’m done. I can never get them clean enough to keep and if they’re crunchy they don’t paint as well.
7. Make it look professional – It’s the small touches that will make your job look professional. Making sure you paint two coats at least and there are no white spots or old color shining through is an obvious one. Changing out light switches when you go dark is a subtle touch that lends a sleekness to your room. The same goes for plug outlets. Just paint over them! They become seamless in the wall and don’t draw your eye in the same as when you leave them white. In this room I painted the entire A/C grate and trim because it’s an in wall register. Now it just goes away instead of being an eye sore. The finish of your paint can also make a huge difference. I’m big on flat paint for walls and a semi gloss for trim. It’s a personal choice.
8. Keep it Up – This is my favorite trick. When you are all done painting, before you retire the leftover paint to the garage, pour some into a glass jar. Any jar…use and old pickle jar, spaghetti jar, whatever. Label the lid with the color and finish and then you can easily hide the jar in your laundry room or under the sink for a quick go to when you need a touch up. Wrap a rubber band around it with a sponge brush and your touch up station is in order. For me, this is so much easier than heading outside to our storage area, rummaging through gallons of paint, prying a crusty lid off and trying to find a brush. Easier = actually doing touch ups!
Hopefully, these few easy tips will encourage you to paint that room you keep putting off. Now I’m off to work on the other plans for my dining room makeover. I will reveal when it’s complete. Until then, let me know any tips you have for me and don’t forget to tell me your next paint color choice.
I too have my paint at home, waiting for the window sills to be finished so I can paint!
I chose Benjamin Moore Stormy Monday for our bedroom. Most all of the furniture and decor has been chosen and some already being used, while I wait!
That sounds wonderful, I have seen that color in homes online before and really like it! Hope you get to paint soon! Maybe with some new brushes!!!
rich chocolate for an accent wall in my narrow-long living room! I had asked a question a few weeks ago and didn’t receive a response- when you bring nature inside to decorate do you treat it for little critters, mites etc? I love the plumes of pampas (?) grass you decorated with! Did you treat it at all?
I love your ties of decorating with spiritual lessons!! Thanks! I even get my husband to read a good # of your blogs!
I LOVE chocolate walls – we had an accent wall in our last bedroom. I apologize I missed your question earlier – just sent you a response. I usually shake things, let some of them dry out a little and hope for the best as far as pests go! If you choose healthy plants it helps and so far I haven’t had any problems! Tell your hubs he is not alone, mine reads it all too!
Love the color, but my house is too small to go that bold, I’m in the process of painting a bathroom….I chose SW HGTV in Ancient Marble, and am loving it. It complements the marble look tile so well.
That sounds nice, I am not familiar with that color, I am going to have to check it out. I am a Sherwin Williams fan
Sadly, I have no tips for painting a room as I have not done so! I would LOVE to win some Purdy brushes and take the plunge – thank you!
I hope this gives you some encouragement to try it!
Your dining room looks fabulous!!! LOVE the color!!! You have inspired me to paint my living room a beautiful color called ‘Coral Reef’ by Sherwin Williams. I’ve always wanted a living room that is a bold and vibrant color. Thank you!!!!
Sounds bold and fun!!! I am sure it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy!
I would like to paint my bedroom in a taupe or beige color. I’m not sure which one. I don’t know why, but painting a room seems scarey to me. I think it’s the cutting in at the ceiling that makes me anxious. You gave some good tips today, so maybe I’ll put on my big girl panties and get on with it. I really would like to have my house in shape for the holidays.
It feels good to tackle a project like this before company comes. For me – the key to cutting in the ceiling is the right ladder. You want to be able to see what your doing, then it’s no different than the corners! Good luck!
I will be using bright white for a chair rail in my bedroom, two Grey’s for the walls. Going to do teal in craft room, an antique copper in my bathroom… yes! I have the paint, no paint supplies and no motivation… please help me!
I am obviously a fan of all these colors! I haven’t tried copper yet, but it has been in my short need to try list…you’ll have to let me know how it turns out!
I have my front doors taped and ready to be painted with Chester Grey, originally a Home Depot Ralph Lauren color that I had color-matched at our local Sherwin Williams store. LOVE that color and love SW for doing that!
Grey is such a versatile color and I think Sherwin Williams is my favorite paint store 🙂
I have been waiting patiently to decorate our den in a sort of romantic french country theme.We have remodeled our entire house in the last 6 years. The den is my little slice of heaven. I am leaning toward Benjamin Moore’s “Pleasant Valley” as my paint. I love the name, as well as, the soft, muted shade. I look forward to getting this off my to do list!
I know the name shouldn’t matter, but it really does help make a decision! It sounds delightful. Honestly, kicking myself for not doing this sooner!
I desperately want to paint our master bedroom a dark gray. It’s the same cruddy shade of green it was when we moved in. :/ Loved your tip about the small jar of paint for touch ups!
My master bedroom is dark gray and I love it!!! Go for it!
I love the tip about the paint in the jar!! I am planning to paint two front rooms, foyer, and stairway Vanilla Bean. I’m in my calm phase!
Isn’t it a great idea. It’s a touch up life saver! Vanilla Bean sounds yummy 🙂
Why in the world have I never hand painted first…seriously that would make me feel so much better about the progress! I am really hoping to paint over the Christmas holidays and move some kids around. Currently Carly Jo’s room is a bright pink..almost flourescent (what was I thinking) and I would like to use something grey, Sherwin Williams is always my choice, in that entire side of the house to update a bit. Every bit of our woodwork needs repainting so if you have any good tips for painting that I’d love to hear it. I dread woodwork!
Loving the caviar color!
I always say tackle the hard part first! I don’t have much help on the trim, It is a tough one, but like anything it usually is never as bad as it seems! We have used Gauntlet Grey and Mindful Grey both from Sherwin Williams in our house and love them!
I’m planning to paint my kitchen a medium grey color. Would love some new brushes!!
Our kitchen island is a dark grey and I love it, we also has a lighter grey in my daughters room. it goes with everything!
My painting tip is: when painting over a strong color prime with a gray first-it neutralizes the old color to prevent bleed through. I am trying to find the perfect calm sage-like green or faded duck-egg (ASCP) type blue for our bedroom and guest rooms…I have got to help my husband get over the white walls, which in this house are not true white, but an off-antique white with old yellow bleeding through-yikes! And I only use Purdy brushes!!! You’ve got us beat! We’re on house number 3 at 13 years of marriage-and we’re not even military!
This is a GREAT tip! I think a little touch of color will do you all right! We have moved a ton…and we aren’t military. My husband worked for a home builder for a while so we built and moved for that, some for work and some because we wanted 🙂 I doubt we are in our last house, but you never know! Happy painting!
Good job, Kim! Glad you finally got that off your list and it looks wonderful! I’m not painting!
lol – I know!!!
White chalk paint
🙂
I would love to have my family room painted. I recently had back surgery, so it may be a while ,but i like the color of Simply White. I have one Purdy brush and it is great. It would be great to win !!
[email protected]. Tommie
Simply WHite is great, crisp and clean! I hope that you start getting back in the swing of things soon. I know how having those home projects hanging over your head can be hard! Hope you are able to tackle it soon!
Navy, rich and dark, with glossy white trim, and white accents for our front door. There are panels and a glass center, and I thought I would paint the edges of the panels white and then dry brush the navy across it to give a feathered look.
This sounds so beautiful!!! Wish I could see it!
Right now IAM painting my kitchen cabinets….a crisp semi gloss white.
There is not much better than a fresh new coat of white!
I haven’t picked my color yet but its going to be yellowish
I once had multiple rooms painted in a light yellow, it was so cheerful! I think I have had every color under the sun!
Going to paint my kitchen cabinets Duck egg blue. I would love a Purdy brush, have heard great things about them.
That sounds delightful…the brushes are a treat for sure!
I want a barn red kitchen
I have a roasted red pepper kitchen once and I loved it! I say go for it!!!
We recently bought a house and every room is multiple shades of unfortunate color choices. I have put off painting rooms as they seemed to be much more daunting tasks than the furniture pieces I painted to draw ones eyes away from the walls. haha But I will tackle the hall bath this month. I will paint the vanity a matte gray (I forgot the actual color I got) and the counter top white. The walls will be white, save for a dark teal/blue accent wall, and the strange tile half-wall border will be an experiment in painting the same gray as the vanity. I have the paint, nearly the motivation, but no brushes. Thanks for the touch up jar tip- I will certainly be using that!
I love SW #6694 – Glad Yellow. Don’t you just love the name. I have a Tuscan kitchen and this color is warm and rich. I have a funny color story. Back in Indiana I wanted to paint my living room pink (I was single then and could get away with this color LOL !!) I always purchase a small quart and paint a swatch and live with it. Well it was too pink so I purchased a different pink. I thought this might be it so I bought a gallon and began painting – whoa, way too pink also. Next I went super light – now too light. I became frustrated so I got a 5 gallon bucket and poured all the pink paint in and added white until I got a color I could live with – I loved it and had a pink living room for years. I called it my custom custom paint. Thanks for sharing your paint story !!!
too funny – I would do pink for sure if all the guys in my life would go for it. I toured a 100 plus year old house today and they said the child boy’s rooms were pink because it was a derivative of red, a war color…so there you go!!
SO excited to tell you! You are the WINNER of the Purdy paint brushes! WooHoo! Congrats.
Painting our sunroom thai teal.
that sounds so fun!!!
I’ve heard that to do trim you should remove it where it’s possible and then paint and put back. I’m not sure but it beats kneeling on the floor for painting floorboards, but side trims, doorways etc. I wouldn’t bother, hope this helps.
whew…that sounds difficult to me! I am sure it would look good though! Thanks for the tip!
Hi there! I have enjoyed browsing threw your pages and picking up hints and tricks along the way. Thank you very much for these. I am thinking I would like to paint my wooden floor. I will start with a nice dark burgundy colour and then stencil a brocade in a of white colour. But do it so it looks distressed. Would you think the chalk paint mix that you have shown will work? I do have dogs…..large ones. I would seal it with beeswax I think for I am a beekeeper and have some on hand.
Thanks again, Laura
oh pretty and great tips Thank you