Best Painting Tips and Tricks
When it comes to cheap and easy projects, painting is at the top of the list. A fresh coat of paint on a wall or a piece of furniture is like a fresh start!
The amazing people over at HGTV Magazine (one of my favorites! always great ideas!) have a special bonus paint section in this month’s issue, packed full of tips and tricks for making painting easier and using paint to make your projects POP. (You can also sneak a peek online, and then hit up the newsstand to get the full issue!).
We combined some of their great tips with some of our favorites to give you all the BEST painting tips, tricks, and techniques to make your projects amazing! (featured image: Lara Robby/Studio D for HGTV Magazine)
This post is part of a series about great painting and paint color tips. You can see the other posts here:
- Tips and tricks for painting
- How to test a paint color before you buy it
- Mobile apps to try out paint colors
- Creating a paint color palette from a photo
- 5 tricks for choosing the perfect paint color
Best Painting Tips, Tricks, and Techniques
Accent Wall Ideas
Want to paint but not sure what look you want? Check out our post for over 100 different ideas to paint interior walls.
Choosing a Paint Color
If you’re stumped on colors, the amazing Cyndy has shared so many great paint palettes with us — see them all here.
From transitional colors (that work with both warm and cool tones) to the easiest whole-home paint color scheme and choosing the perfect white paint — there is a treasure trove of information!
You can also test out paint colors using an app!
Prepping for Painting Walls
Before you start painting: be sure to give the walls a quick wipe-down with a soapy rag or a mix of 3/4 water & 1/4 bleach to rid of grease and other stains. These stains can prevent paint from sticking!
Want the perfect finish on your walls? To eliminate brush lines & have a smooth finish use paint conditioner. And if your walls are in rough shape to begin with, follow this tip and use washable flat paint to help minimize the imperfections.
Tips for Painting Walls
Be sure to pick up a roll of painter’s tape for crisp edges. Or, if you have a steady hand, try these tips for freehand painting and cutting in around edges and trim.
Want more than just a solid color? Try a stencil! These tips will help you to have a successful stenciled accent wall.
And don’t forget to look up! Applying a dark shade to a ceiling can make it appear higher, creating an illusion of infinity — or use it to add both height and color like this.
The same principle is true of smaller decorating jobs, too — painting the back of a bookcase gives such class and depth to a room! (And you can build your own bookshelf, too 😉
Taking a Painting Break
When you’re taking a break, but will need the paint roller or paintbrush later, wrap them in plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Wrap the paint tray, too!
See how Jenny painted and upgraded her kitchen, hall closet organization, and all the trim and molding in her whole house.
Clean Up After Painting
When you’re done painting, don’t let leftover paint go to waste. You can store it, or even donate it!
When you need to pause your painting project, place paint-covered rollers and brushes into a plastic bag (tightly sealed) overnight to keep them moist until the morning.
Make post-painting clean up easier! Clean your brushes out right away (after using the last tip to keep them moist until you finished painting!). Running a brush comb through the bristles of a paintbrush will help dig out any leftover gunk, leaving it soft and flexible.
More Painting Tips
When you’re looking to add a splash of color and character, paint your front door!
If you have a project where you want a softer color, and you want to still see the luscious wood grain — use one of my favorite tricks and use paint to color-wash the wood!
And of course, whitewashing is a classic finishing technique — same idea, just with white paint! Use these tips to get just the right aged look.
Painting Furniture (and More)
Refinishing furniture? Try chalk paint for a lovely finish — and you can make your own in any color!
Or, try another type of paint — read this post for a full guide to 5 different types of paint and when you should use them for painting furniture.
For an instant hit of color and a rubberized texture, dunk absolutely anything into Plasti Dip. It can easily be peeled off if you spontaneously change your mind!
Painting Upholstery
Want to freshen up an old piece of furniture? Splatter-paint a canvas drop cloth and upholster it to any chair!
If the upholstery is in good condition already, you can paint it! (Yes, paint a fabric chair!)
You can paint curtain panels, too, for an inexpensive custom drapery style. (More ideas here.)
And, what’s that you say? What about a rug? Why yes, you can paint a rug!
Painting Cabinets
It’s a big job, but painting your cabinets is a relatively inexpensive way to update a kitchen or bath! You can save thousands of dollars by using your existing cabinets and doing the painting yourself with these amazing tips.
Use a tinted primer to have double color protection against the dents and dings.
Pick up this ridiculously simple must-have tool for a perfect cabinet finish!
To make your painted cabinets look built-in and professional, paint a piece of trim to fill the toe-kick space below the cabinet.
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For more painting tips, be sure to check out the May issue of HGTV Magazine — on newsstands now and filled with more painting tips for happy-ending projects!
Still need more? Check out these:
Painting Furniture? Tips for Using 5 Different Types of Paint
5 Color of the Year Paint Trends
The Most Popular Black Paint Colors
This is such a great curated list of paint tips! Wish I would have seen the stenciled one before we did our powder room 🙂
Seng
https://www.sengerson.com
Thanks, Seng!
If you want an even easier way to wash your rollers but dont have the time? Pull them off the handles and drop the rolls into a 5 gal bucket of water and cover with a lid. Let it sit over night or til you have time to rinse out the rollers. The heavier-than-water paint will drain to the bottom of the bucket. It will save you massive amounts of time trying to spray out the rollers or lots of money from buying new ones all the time. It makes clean up a breeze!
That sounds too brilliantly easy to be true, Amanda! I’ll have to try it on our next painting job. Thanks for sharing!