Top 10 Interior Painting Mistakes

By Author: Michael Giulianti
Total Articles: 11
Comment this article

Looking to Paint the Interior of Your Home? Then look out for these Top 10 Interior Painting Mistakes
Everyone thinks painting is easy and virtually anyone can do it. Not so. Although you can paint the walls in your own home, rarely do

homeowners have the right tools or supplies to create a professional paint job. Here are some common painting mistakes to avoid:

I. Forgetting to test out the paint color
Do not just rush out and buy paint. "Do not go shopping for paint intending to bring home paint that day," says Christopher Lowell, the

Emmy award-winning lifestyle expert and author of "Seven Layers of Design." Colors will look darker on the wall, but the glossier the

paint, the lighter it will look. Our advice? First, use swatches to narrow your color choices. Once you have a handful, get small containers

of the paint, and test the finalists on big pieces of poster board, checking the color both at night and in the daytime since it can look

completely different.

II. Choosing trendy paint colors
What color is “hot” today, may not be tomorrow, and you’re ...
... stuck with it for a couple of years unless you intend to repaint in the

meantime. Think about colors that you like and colors that you wear (besides black and white of course). Often, if it looks good on you, it

may look good in your home as well.

III. Assuming all walls are created equal
Want to give a room punch by painting one accent wall? Select an unbroken wall (no doors or windows). Often it's the wall you see first

coming into the room and will “pop”.

IV. Forgetting the ceiling
The ceiling is essentially the fifth wall. If you expect to paint your ceiling a color, consider going a few shades lighter because ceilings

tend to look darker. On ceiling colors, designers often disagree. Some designers prefer a white ceiling. A decorator's white (not a stark

white) will give you a sharp definitive line from painted walls. Others want the ceiling in the same color family as the walls. Some

suggestions? If your ceilings are above nine feet, go one shade darker than the wall color. That will bring the ceiling "down" and make the

room appear cozier. If the ceilings are nine feet or less, use a color a shade or two lighter than the walls.

V. Not knowing existing paint
Many older homes have oil-based paint on the walls. But homeowners most frequently turn to latex varieties when they want to paint. The

problem: You can't put latex over oil unless you've coated it with a special primer first or your new paint job will peel off within the

week.

VI. Thinking all paint is created equal
First, consider the price of the paint. Don’t cheap out on the quality of the paint that may adorn your home for years to come. Then, you

have to choose between latex and oil and the right finish -- flat to eggshell (matte with just a hint of gloss), to semi-gloss and high-gloss.

A bedroom may look great in a flat or eggshell paint finish, but a bathroom area may need something more water resistant like semi- or

high-gloss. Flat paint hides imperfections in a wall the best, while glossier versions can highlight them. If you’re not a painting

professional, avoid glossy paint! Your other options include special easy-to-clean versions that resist stains and scratches and eco-friendly

paints low in volatile organic compounds, called low-VOC paints, which emit much less in the way of smells and gases.

VII. Not having the proper tools
You need more than a can of paint and a high-quality paintbrush to create a professional paint job. For instance, it’s probably a good idea

to have a paint edger kit. It’s a mini roller with a brush guard that lines up with woodwork and trim. It allows you to paint close to the

trim without actually painting the trim. To paint around trim and windows, use a brush. For large, open areas, use a roller. Textured walls

will require a roller with more nap on the roller. Plus, clean your tools thoroughly every night. That means capping the paint cans and

cleaning the brushes. Ask about proper disposal of unused paint you don't want to keep. To keep chemicals out of drinking water, most

cities have a designated dump for paint cans.

IX. Using thick coats of paint
Many do-it-yourselfers keep adding paint to cover up mistakes. Thick coats don't hold as well as thin coats. Many decorating pros

recommend three thin coats of paint when you do a room. It will dry correctly, cover your old paint, and give you a great new look.

X. Improper preparation
Probably the #1 blunder of an amateur paint job is in the preparation. Painting is painstaking and takes patience. The steps before you

actually start to paint are the most important. Remove all the furniture, because you never know where paint can fly. Have nail holes?

Paint or spackle them first. Tape off areas around windows or trim. And before you start, give the room a really thorough vacuuming to

get rid of all the dust.

http://www.myfourseasonspainting.com/