DIY Painting Tips Every Homeowner Should Know

Many homeowners undertake lots of different DIY home improvement projects and you can almost guarantee that painting the walls will be on this list. It goes without saying that wall paint can make such a huge difference to the look of a room and, due to this, it is usually the first thing that homeowners do when it comes to redecorating their home. Thankfully, painting the walls, both interior and exterior, is something that all homeowners can do themselves too.

Of course, like all other things you do when decorating your home, the more time and effort you put into painting your walls, the better they will look. There are also some general DIY painting tips that every homeowner should be aware of before they start putting paint on the walls. So, if you’re decorating your home, and you’re looking for some painting advice, keep reading today, below are some tips for our expert team here at Decor Express.

Don’t opt for the cheapest items

When undertaking DIY, many do so to prevent having to pay a professional. To save even more money when decorating, it can be tempting to purchase the cheapest paint and paintbrushes available, but you will definitely thank yourself for spending a little bit more. Take your time when purchasing these items and ensure you’re choosing the best on the shelf for your needs.

Preparation is key 

In order to get a professional finish, you need to ensure that you have prepped the area you’re going to be painting. From fixing up any imperfections in the wall and removing any debris from the wall to using a primer on your walls, all of these things will greatly improve the finished look. Whilst these pre-painting stages will take time, they are always worthwhile doing.

Always use paint tape 

This is technically part of your preparation, but it is so important that we wanted to highlight it separately. Paint tape is often overlooked by homeowners undertaking DIY jobs even though using it can make life much easier for yourself when painting. Just remember when using tape, ensure the paint is completely dry before you attempt to remove it when you’re finished.  

Mix your paint

As you may already know, you should never start painting your walls before you have mixed the paint in the pot. But, if you’re going to need more than one tin of paint, it is worthwhile mixing all of the pots together too. Sometimes, the colour can differ ever so slightly from pot to pot, so this will prevent any inconsistency in colour when you’re painting.

Paint one wall at a time

Lots of homeowners make the mistake of painting parts of the walls they can reach first and then going back around to do the higher parts with a ladder. Unfortunately, this will leave you with dreaded lap marks. In order to avoid this, paint one wall at a time and maintain a ‘wet edge’. This way, you can ensure that you’re left with a seamless finish on the wall.  

Take care of your paint brushes

Once you have finished painting your walls, ensure that you don’t just forget about your paint brushes. You may find you need to touch up some areas in the next few weeks, so keep some paint in a small container and ensure you take the time to clean your paint brushes properly. You’ll then be prepared to make touch ups as and when you need to.

DIY painting home improvements

All in all, there’s no denying that there are a few things you can easily do to not only make painting the walls or ceiling in your home much easier but to also save you lots of time and even improve the overall finished look too. Hopefully, the tips above can help you no matter what you’re painting at home and you can ensure that you’re more than happy with any DIY paint jobs you undertake.

If you’re looking to invest in all of the bits and pieces you need in order to start your DIY home improvements, visit the Decor Express website today. Here you will find a huge range of painting products, from a vast selection of high-quality paints to decorative accessories, so you can get your hands on everything you need to paint your walls like a professional. Of course, if you have any questions at all about any of the products you see on our website, don’t hesitate to get in touch, we will happily assist you further.