Interior painting is a cinch, isn’t it?
Well, unfortunately, no.
House painting is one of those tricky things that look oh-so-simple on the tin, but in actual practice can often turn out to be anything but.
Because it’s not just an exterior house painting that can go wrong, and there’s a lot more than just the color to worry about when it comes to interiors.
So how do you achieve perfection when it comes to residential painting?
Banish lap marks ~ Lap marks are the work of the devil, but they can be avoided with a bit of foresight. You should roll the paint to the full length of the wall. Then you keep an edge wet. We recommend mixing your paint in a bucket to ensure even consistency and color before the start. You should also paint the edges and borders of your walls first to eliminate lap marks.
Prime your walls ~ We know it’s dull, but to get really wow results you need to prime your walls until they are even and flat. This means sugar soap and elbow grease. Additionally, it may mean Polyfilla and primer too. Even paints which promise one coat can disappoint if walls are inadequately prepared.
Never skimp on quality ~ No matter how low your budget, we would always insist on the highest quality paint you can afford if you are going to compromise, it really shouldn’t be here. You need the best paint you can get.
Your walls will love you forever!
Knowledge is power ~
In both interior and exterior painting, color is power.
So, before you launch bubblegum pink all over your kitchen diner, it’s as well to know what you are getting into.
It should go without saying that you should do a test patch before starting – in the same room and good lighting, so you can see what it looks like.
Top tip: when you do your match pot, give it ample chance to dry in before deciding anything radical. What a color looks like wet and what it looks like dry can be very different.
Likewise, the style of lighting can affect your color, too – so look at it in daylight and good artificial lighting before making your choice.
Color is power too!
Different colors bring out other qualities in a room. In general, remember that:
Blues – are calming and pure. This can be the right color for the bedroom but also for areas where you are working too. It is also a perennial favorite in the bathroom. However, avoid darker shades as it may induce melancholy.
Reds – reds bring life and energy to a room, but they are not for everybody. Too much red can stifle and even lead to panicky sensations. You are also likely to be hungrier in a red room, which might make it a good choice in a dining area!
Yellow – yellows evoke sunny memories and feelings of warmth. It is a good choice for any room, but especially bedrooms and lounges which need brightening. Yellows can help make small spaces seem more expansive but should always be broken up into larger areas.
Green – like blue, green can evoke calm and makes a great bedroom color, but it can also be used in kitchens and bathrooms for enhancing a feeling of wellbeing and calm.
Purple – not to everyone’s tastes, but purple has a regal feel to it, which can work well in master bedrooms and anywhere else you might like a “pamper” element.
Follow these tips and your interior walls will look like they’ve been decorated by a pro!