Home Interior Painting For Beginners

In the introduction to painting for beginners, we outlined the basic painting process. In this blog, we will continue with more information about your home interior painting project, as well as provide additional details about paint supplies and paint tools. Understanding the importance of sequential preparation, along with knowing paint and paint brush options will prepare you to become an expert home interior painter in no time.

Prepare In Advance

The day before your actual painting begins will be the day for you to get organized on several fronts. One will be to create your workstation. Another will be to move all furniture out of the way, followed by removing switch/outlet plates, light fixtures, heat grilles, hinges, door knobs and the like from walls and baseboards.

Next you will affix tape to areas to be primed and painted to prevent spills or overage on areas that need protecting. As mentioned earlier, you can use masking tape or blue painter’s tape; blue painter’s tape works well since it provides a barrier and won’t peel when it’s removed.

Fixing Damaged Walls

Your second step includes repairing any wall damage so you have a seamless surface to prime and paint. This includes filling in any holes or cracks using spackle compound and/or smoothing the surface with a putty knife or fine grain sandpaper. Another option is to use fiberglass tape. In addition, make sure your walls are clean by using a gentle detergent, vacuuming cobwebs and/or removing old loose or chipped paint with a scraper.

Priming

The importance of priming may not be obvious to the beginning painter but it is a vital step to ensure a good outcome on your home interior painting project. It seals wall surfaces, making the paint look rich. Also, if you have filled in holes or sanded some wall areas, you may apply a second prime coat in these spots for added protection.

Selecting Paint

Selecting which kind of paint is optimal for a particular room is an essential part of any painting project. This shopping expedition will have been done in advance, although knowing what to purchase and where it’s typically used will impact drying time for your home interior painting project. General purpose and drying times are listed below to guide your paint selection:

• Latex or Water-based Paint has a short drying time, is environmentally friendly and is easy to clean up with water.
• Oil-Based Paint is more commonly used for cabinets, furniture and/or trim. It takes longer to dry but is also easier to apply. It cleans up well with ordinary paint thinner or other solvents.

Selecting Paint Brushes & Rollers: Common Uses

Below is a brief description of paint brushes and roller styles and what areas of the room they are typically used for, as well as what kinds of paint they are used with:

• Natural bristles are used with oil-based paint
• Synthetic bristles are used with water-based or latex paint
• Foam brushes/Rollers are used for touch-ups and other small jobs
• Flat, smooth rollers are used on flat, smooth walls
• Thick rollers are used on rough or textured walls.