A paint roller being used.

The Ultimate Guide to Interior Painting: From Preparation to Final Touches

Interior painting involves many steps beyond merely choosing your can of paint and applying it over a surface. In this article, you’ll learn every step necessary to achieve a quality, long-lasting finish that will transform your interior space.

A Comprehensive Guide to Interior Painting

Interior painting should be tackled in multiple steps. You’ll need to:

Plan Your Project

Will you hire professionals for your interior painting or handle it yourself? Either way, planning will make the project seamless. Start by setting the project timeline. Winter is typically one of the best times to start an interior painting project, especially if you’re hiring professional interior painters. Painting contractors are typically less busy at this time of year and can easily accommodate your schedule. You may even get discounts!

Set a budget, too. Get an estimate from multiple painting contractors if you want to hire a pro. Generally, professional painting will be more expensive than DIY upfront. However, it will save you time and possibly extra money from costly mistakes. If you’re planning to DIY, don’t forget to include the cost of tools, supplies, and equipment required to complete the project.

Once the painting project starts, you’ll have limited access to the space. Depending on the scale of the project, interior painting may take days to finish. If you are planning to paint important areas of your home, such as the kitchen or bathroom, make arrangements for alternative spaces ahead of time.

Choose Your Paint

One of the first things that will probably come to mind when choosing paint is what color to get. Color can influence the mood and feel of your space, so choose carefully. If you don’t have a particular color in mind and the options are getting overwhelming, here are some interior painting tips to help:

  • Find Color Inspiration at Home: Look around your home and determine the object in your space that you like the most. It can be a piece of art or a rug. Use these pieces as guides for choosing paint shades.
  • Consider Room Size: Remember that lighter colors can make even small spaces look bigger and more open. In contrast, dark colors can make a space look smaller and more intimate.
  • Consider Color Psychology: Color psychology can tell you what emotions are associated with certain colors. It’s not an exact science, but think about how different colors make you feel before making a decision.
  • Bring Home Paint Swatches: Paint colors may look different at the store and your home, mainly due to lighting. So, instead of immediately choosing a gallon or can of paint, ask for paint swatches. These are strips of paper printed in a certain color and are usually free. Bring these swatches home so you can see if the colors are really what you want in your space.
  • Book a Color Consultation: Who better to ask for guidance when choosing paint colors than the experts? If you’re struggling to pick a color, schedule a consultation with a trusted interior painter.

Paint also comes in different types and finishes, affecting both appearance and durability (glossier paints tend to withstand wear and tear better than flatter paints but also reveal more surface imperfections). Pains can be oil-based or water-based and high gloss, matte, or in between. Some products may or may not contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you’re planning a DIY interior painting project, you must learn more about your options. Some paints are just not ideal for interior painting.

Ensure Thorough Preparation

Thorough surface preparation is critical to achieving a quality, long-lasting finish. Remove hardware, like window locks, cover plates, and doorknobs, to ensure even paint coverage. Assess the surface for any damage and fix it before painting. Scrape off old, peeling paint, if any. Then, wash the surface to remove dirt and dust.

You also need to prepare the job site. Paint can spill and damage your valuables, so move them to another room. Cover items you cannot remove, including the floor, with plastic sheeting or drop cloths. Then, apply painter’s tape to the edges, such as the ceiling line and baseboards, for additional protection.

The Painting Process

There are a few things you should know when proceeding to the painting stage. So, what is the recommended sequence for painting an interior room?

If you’re going to paint the ceiling, start there. This way, you get the most difficult part out of the way first and make it that much easier to correct any edging errors once you paint the upper walls. Proceed to the crown molding, windows (and their casings), then the door. You can paint the walls next and the baseboards last. Following this order will save you time and protect your work.

Painting Clean-Up

At the end of the paint job, squeeze or wipe excess paint onto old rags, shredded newspaper, or another absorbent material. Properly store or dispose of leftover paint. Then, wash your painting equipment, including the paintbrush and paint roller. Wait for the paint to dry before removing painter’s tape and other protective coverings.

Avoid the Hassle With a Professional Paint Job

Painting in the interior of a home isn’t as straightforward as it seems. You can avoid the hassle and save time and effort by hiring pros. At All Decked Out Services, we guarantee a professional-looking finish.

Let us help you transform your space today and enjoy 10% off our professional interior painting services. Call us at 717-576-8013.