Painting the walls in your home is one of the easiest ways to change your home’s look and feel dramatically. Doing it on your own can save you money and give you the chance to be creative and impart some of your personality into your home – though, if not prepared properly, your dream painting project can turn into a messy nightmare. The expert team here at 21st Century Paints has come up with a few tips to make sure that the next time you paint your home, it goes as smoothly as possible.

One of the first things you need to do before painting your walls is clean them. Paint will not stick well to dirt, oil, or any other kind of debris. Cleaning your walls with a vacuum or duster to remove light particles, followed by gentle scrubbing with a damp cloth, will adequately prepare your walls for paint.

While the paint is good at covering surfaces, it’s not good at filling them in. Any cracks, gaps, or holes will be visible after painting, ruining the appearance of your new paint job. Using some putty or sealant to fill in any holes before painting will ensure you have a solid and smooth surface to paint on. Also, make sure there is no gap between your baseboard and the wall; that way, paint won’t leak behind.

It may seem like if your walls are clean, they are fully prepared for a new coat of paint. Depending on the texture of your wall, you may need to do a little more prep to ensure you get full adhesion from your paint. Sanding your walls with softer sandpaper, around 100 grit, will remove any bumps and provide a good surface for your paint to adhere to. You could also use an appropriate interior primer. This is especially useful if you paint a lighter color over a darker one since the primer will help hide the old one.

Anything that you do not want paint on (so anything that isn’t your walls) needs to be protected. Plastic drop clothes are cheap and easy options for covering floors, furniture, and any other fixtures you need to be protected. You can also use tarps or any additional cover you don’t mind getting paint on. Painter’s tape is also essential; you’ll have crisp paint lines and keep wet paint from dripping onto your baseboards or outlet and light switch covers.

Nothing is worse than having to stop partway through a project because you ran out of paint or another essential supply item. Making sure you have everything you need to finish your paint job before you start painting is the best and quickest way to paint any room in your home.

We are here to help with any project, ranging from residential, commercial, or new home construction. Our goal is to exceed your expectations, and we have the products to help you succeed. To talk to our paint experts, call us at (419) 841-2100 , text us at (419) 293-5396 , or fill out our form here and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. We proudly serve Holland, Toledo, Bowling Green, Findlay, Sandusky, OH, and Monroe, MI.