Brush Strokes: Top Techniques to Paint Your Home

Image by: basykes

As the saying goes, if a job’s worth doing it’s worth doing well, and that old adage certainly applies when it comes to painting your home.

It’s not simply a question of buying a few tins of paint and slapping it up on the wall. If you want the job done properly and for the end result to look pleasing and professional, you’ll need to give some consideration to a few important things before you go haphazardly applying a few coats of emulsion.

If you do it yourself, not only will you save a considerable sum on painter/decorator bills but you’ll also end up with a great result and that warm and fluffy feeling of doing a job well.

So erase 60 Minute Makeover, Kirsty Allsop and Kevin McCloud from your minds – all you need is yourself, some preparation, a few hours, a bit of hard graft, and the following useful painting pointers.

Preparation

Before you start it’s imperative that you’re adequately prepared. Organise all your paints, brushes and equipment and keep them in the middle of the room you’re painting. Don’t rush things and don’t try to get everything done in a day.

In fact, use the day before to cover any wall cracks or patches, put painter’s tape around doors and window, and cover wall and ceiling fixtures with plastic bags. Clear out all the furniture, take everything off the walls, and remove door knobs, hinges and light covers to avoid any unnecessary drips or splashes during the job.

Brushes And Paints

There’s a myriad of good brushes to choose from – brushes with natural or synthetic bristles, foam brushes and rollers, pad painters and paint rollers. Plus, of course, you’ll need to know which paint type is best for the job – water-based, oil-based or latex.

Most paints jobs work better if you use a primer or base coat, which can potentially eliminate the need for a second coat. If you’re painting a light colour over a dark one, a primer is essential!

Handy Hints And Extras

You also won’t want clean your brushes or rollers every time, so wrap them in a plastic bag if you take a break, or, if you’re going to be away for a while, put the bag of brushes in the freezer (really!) and thaw them out an hour before use.

Painter’s Blue Tape is also very good – it has a waxy coating to prevent paint seeping through, provides perfect straight edges, and doesn’t pull off paint from surfaces.

No matter how careful you are, painting will always involve a certain amount of spillage and dripping, so make sure you’re armed with plenty of rags and wipes for any emergency clean-ups.

Surprisingly, one of the most common mistakes is not stocking up with sufficient or extra paint, so make sure you have a contingency can just in case. There’s nothing worse than running just as you’re about to complete the job.

A Final Word

Painting, decorating and any kind of DIY work doesn’t have to be a chore or an unpleasant experience – in fact, it’s easy to make it a fun and rewarding one just as long as you’re adequately prepared and sufficiently equipped to do the job well. After all, you don’t want to be like Wiggy or Mr Bean and end up in some crazily comic, paint-based catastrophe!

Have you got any useful painting tips you’d like to share?

Estelle Page is an interior designer and DIY addict who’s always redecorating at least one room of her house (and right now three – the landing, bathroom and office!).