Whenever you’re thinking of painting the interior of your home, it’s important to know what the process entails. Home interior painting can be a big job, but with the right preparation and execution, it can be a relatively easy project. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the entire interior painting process from start to finish. We’ll cover everything from preparing the walls for the paint to choosing the right colors. So whether you’re considering painting the interior of your home yourself or hiring a professional painter, this blog post is for you!

Plan your approach

What areas are you painting?

As the first task of business, decide which areas of your home need a new coat of paint. Measure them to determine the scope of the project and how much paint you’ll need to purchase.

Wall surface

Know the surface of your walls and what type of paint covers them. This will affect how you prep the walls for painting and what type of paint you’ll need to use.

How to choose a paint type

You have a few options when it comes to paint types. The three most common types of paint are latex, oil-based, and shellac-based.

Latex paint is the most popular type of paint for interior walls. It’s easy to clean up, dries quickly, and is less likely to fade or yellow over time. Oil-based paint is also a popular choice for interior walls, but it can be more difficult to work with. It takes longer to dry, and it’s more likely to drip and splatter. Shellac-based paint is a good choice for high-traffic areas or areas that need to be cleaned often, like kitchens and bathrooms. It’s also more durable than latex or oil-based paint, so it’s a good choice for areas that get a lot of wear and tear.

How to choose the paint color?

The color you choose will depend on the look you’re going for in your home. If you want a bright and cheery space, opt for lighter colors. If you want a more subdued and relaxing space, go for darker colors.

Neutral colors are always a good choice if you’re not sure what you want or if you’re painting a rental property. That way, you can easily repaint the space when it’s time to move out.

Choosing a color is a process on its own. We recommend you to read out How to choose a paint color blog post to find a color that you’ll love.

Prepare your materials and tools

Brush

Choose the right size and thickness of brush depending on the painting you will be doing.

The type of bristles will also affect your brush’s performance. hog hair bristles are good for oil-based paints, while synthetic bristles work better with water-based paints.

Roller

Pick a roller with the same considerations in mind as you would a brush.

The exception is that instead of bristles, rollers have naps.

They come in different lengths, from short to long, and each length works best with specific paint types and surfaces.

Short naps (1/4 inch) are good for painting smooth surfaces with latex paints.

Medium naps (3/8 to 1/2 inches) can be used with latex or oil-based paints on rough surfaces.

Long naps (1 to 1 1/2 inches) work best with oil-based paints on rough surfaces.

Other painting equipment

Paint tray and liners, roller frame, roller cover, paint comb, painter’s tape, stirring stick, and extension pole for the roller. Drop cloth to protect the floor and furniture. A metal spiral bit to mix the paint.

Cleaning equipment

Sponge and dishwashing liquid to clean walls from dust and stains.

Safety equipment

Goggles to protect your eyes. Dust mask to protect your lungs. Latex or nitrile glows to protect your skin

Other helpful tools

Ladder to reach heights. Cordless drill or screwdriver to remove electrical covers and similar obstacles. LED lights or other work lights with at least 4000 lumens to get a better visual representation of the painted surface. Ventilation, to adi the paint drying process as well as keep the air free of fumes.

Primer and paint

Look for a tinted primer that doesn’t leave the primed wall so bright and shiny. You won’t need to use that many coats of paint. Big bucket so you can mix your paints in it. Don’t use the paint can by the can. Mixing all the cans will allow you to keep consistency on color.

Preparation of the room

Start with clearing the area and removing all the obstacles. You will minimize the risk of tripping and secondly, you want to keep them free of paint.

Move all the furniture outside of the rooms you’re painting or into the center of the room and cover them with a drop cloth. Do the same for the floor. Remove light switch covers, electrical sockets, outlets, hooks, nails, and every obstacle on your walls. If you cannot remove them, use painter’s tape to seal them off.

Use painter’s tape to seal off areas you don’t want to be painted like the edge of the ceiling, the trim, windows, and door frames. Create a “wet paint” sign to warn people not to touch the walls.

Prep the walls

Check all the surfaces for leakage and dampness and treat them before starting to paint. Scrape off old paint flakes. Clean the surface with a damp sponge and dishwasher soap to remove dirt, cobwebs, grease, or leftover sand and dust. Repair any dents, holes, or cracks with spackling compound. Lightly sand the surface if needed for a better paint grip. Wipe the walls with a damp sponge and dishwashing soap again to make sure the surface is clean and ready for priming.

Priming

Primer is a specially formulated paint that is applied before painting to improve the paint’s adhesion to the surface, cover up dark colors, seal porous surfaces, protect the surface from stains, and provide a more uniform paint color. You can use a paintbrush, roller, or sprayer to apply primer.

Paint stores carry a variety of primers, and you should select one based on the type of paint you’ll be using and the surface you’re painting. Purchase a tinted primer to help reduce the number of paint coats you’ll need to apply.

Apply the primer with a W-shaped motion to achieve even coverage. Let the primer dry according to the manufacturer’s instructions before painting but for at least 4 hours.

Putty

Putty is a type of sealant that is used to fill in cracks, holes, or other imperfections on surfaces before painting. It is available in different colors to match the paint color you’ll be using. Apply putty with a putty knife, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Let the putty dry before painting.

Painting

Pour all the paint cans into one large container to keep color consistency. Stir the paint thoroughly with a stir stick to mix the contents evenly and to break up any clumps. Be sure to scrape the bottom and sides of the can as you stir. You can get this done in a store as well.

If you’re painting with a paintbrush, pour the paint into a paint bucket. If you’re using a roller, pour the paint into a paint tray.

Before you start painting, it’s a good idea to test the paint color on a small section of the wall to make sure you like it. Once you’re happy with the color, start painting!

Paint the edges first with a brush and then roll on the paint in 3-foot wide by 3-foot high W-shaped sections. Start at the top of the wall and work your way down. Reload your brush or roller as needed.

Let the paint dry for at least 4 hours before painting the next coat. If you’re using a brush, wash it out with soap and water. If you’re using a roller, wrap it in plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Be sure to brush out any roller lines for a smooth finish.

If you need to, apply a second coat of paint using the same process as before.

Finish

Finish refers to the sheen of the paint. A matte finish has no shine, while a satin finish has a low-level sheen. Other finishes include high-gloss or eggshell. The right finish for you will depend on the look you’re going for and the amount of traffic in the room. A matte finish is a good choice for low-traffic areas like bedrooms, while a high-gloss finish is better for kitchens and bathrooms that see more use. Eggshell is somewhere in between, making it a good choice for rooms that get moderate traffic.

Inspect and finish your painting process

Inspect your work by checking the trim and corners of your walls. Cover any areas you missed. Remove the painter’s tape and replace the light switch covers, electrical sockets, outlets, hooks, nails, and any other obstacles you removed from the walls.

Clean up your painting supplies and any paint that spilled. You can store your paint in the original container or transfer it to a sealable bucket or jar. Be sure to label the container with the name of the paint, the date it was used, and the name of the room it was used in.

You’re done! Pat yourself on the back and enjoy your newly painted room!

Conclusion

We hope that our article gave you a lot of useful information on how to choose the paint color for your project. If you still need professional help, don’t hesitate to contact us.