A home is that one place where many people get peace of mind and where they can relax after spending a long, tiring day at work. This is why homeowners must be cautious about the design aspects that they choose for their home’s interiors. Ambience – the most relaxing one – is achieved where painting is done. But wall painting is far from merely holding a paintbrush and a can of paint. There is more to wall painting than meets the eye.

The Typical Painting Kit

• Patching paste
• Putty knife
• Drop cloth
• Plastic gloves
• Paint thinner
• Primer
• Paint can opener
• Assorted paintbrushes
• Paint roller
• Roller cover
• Roller tray
• Multi-purpose paint tool (used to clean caulk, apply putty, clean roller covers, etc.)
• Safety glasses
• Extension bar (to help you stand away from walls)
• Can of paint
• 5-gallon bucket complete with screen grid (used in painting larger areas)

It’s Time to Paint

If you think that dipping a paintbrush into the can of paint is a good way to begin painting your walls, then you’re mistaken. Instead, you need to choose the type of brush that you will use first.

Intricate painting can be accomplished with the help of foam brushes. Such brushes are typically good for single use since they do not clean well.

Acrylic and water-based latex paints need to have brushes with man-made bristles. Be sure to buy only the brushes with evenly-distributed bristles. Synthetic brushes come in straight or split-ended bristles. The latter provide good coverage so you only need to make a few strokes with them.

Natural bristles made with animal hair are best for oil-based paints as water-based and latex paints will only dry out these bristles.

Foam rollers provide coverage that look similar to that of a paint sprayer. You also get access into corners effortlessly.

After choosing paintbrushes, the next step is to prep the walls. Start by removing furniture from the room. Wear safety goggles and your work clothes.

Dust off the walls using a towel or vacuum cleaner. When painting the kitchen, use a homemade solution made with three teaspoons of detergent to a gallon of water.

Scrape any flakes of old paint; as for the small imperfections such as plaster bumps, just smooth them using sandpaper.

Be sure to keep all the materials that you will need near you. As soon as all the tools and materials are prepared, use a primer to hide any additional imperfections on the walls. For a new drywall, use water-based primer while oil-based primers work best on walls with heavy stains or paneling.

Protect wall trim and wall sconces with painters tape prior to painting.

Begin painting by using a paint pot that is wider than the regular paint can. As you load the brush, be sure to dip only half of the bristles. Strike the brush on the pot’s side in order to remove any excess paint.

Hold the paintbrush at an angle that you are comfortable with then start applying the paint. Wider brushes are used for smoother surfaces while smaller ones are used for textured finishes.

In order to prevent the paint in the can from drying up, fill the air space with old golf balls. Hatbanding – a common painting problem – can occur if you dip the brush to cut the dried top paint layer. This can produce a texture that you might not want on your walls. To prevent this from happening, roll the paintbrush as close as possible.

Now you know why painting is considered a tedious task. If this is your first time to paint a room in your home, do not expect perfection. Just like any skill, it also takes time to develop steady hands and flawless work.