Painting the inside of your house is one of the most popular DIY home improvement projects—being both affordable and transformative. But even after gathering together paint rollers, drop cloths, and other needed tools, the results will ultimately depend on your technique. The guide below offers advice to achieve your desired results.

What Are Best Practices When Beginning a Home Painting Project?

1. Surface Prep

After laying down drop cloths or tarps along the floor, start by filling scratches or holes in the walls using spackling paste and a scraper tool. Then, smooth them over with sandpaper.

Once even, remove dirt and dust from the walls with a damp sponge. Line trim and other surfaces you won’t be painting with painter’s tape. Walls with dark or oil-based paints, patched drywall, and grease stains should then be primed prior to painting. 

2. Start at the Top

When painting a room, start at the ceiling so you can smooth out drips as you go. Specialty extension tools or a ladder will help you safely reach the top.

Using paint rollers, address one wall at a time. Paint should coat only half of the roller at once. Don’t apply a second coat until the wall is dry. This will prevent drip marks and help you achieve an even coating.

3. Fine-Tune the Trim

The trim should always be saved for last. Remove any caulking or weather-stripping that might surround your windows or doors. Then, cover the border with the wall with painter’s tape. As with the walls themselves, start at the top to minimize drips, using smaller paintbrushes for this finesse work. 

Find everything you need for your next project—including a wide selection of paint—at Wolfe Ace Hardware in Lincoln, NE. Family-owned and -operated since 1982, the friendly and knowledgable staff at this hardware store will help you find the tools you need and offer advice on how to achieve the best results. To learn more about their products and services, visit them online. Call (402) 466-7707 with questions.