It is amazing how a fresh coat of paint or a splash of new paint colour can instantly add value to your property. Whether you are refreshing your long-term family home, renovating a property you’ve just purchased, or doing some much-needed maintenance on an investment, painting your property is a big undertaking.
So, it goes without saying that before you run to your nearest hardware store and stock up on paint and rollers, there are a few things you’ll need to prepare first.
At Hunter Coast Painting, we know a thing or two about what it takes to get a good paint job done efficiently and cost-effectively, so here are our top 7 tips to consider before painting your home!
Tip 1. Pick Your Colours
Painting’s easy, right? Buy a couple of cans, slap them on a roller and start rolling. We wish!
Whether your project is a DIY or you’re looking to hire a professional for the job, there’s a lot to think about before you get started. Perhaps the most important choice you will make, however, is about colours. The last thing you want is to rush into a colour, spend hours painting or paying someone to do it for you and then be left unsatisfied with the end product.
Picking colours is often a highly personal choice, but it’s worth considering why you paint.
Are you painting to update a property for sale? Is this a refresh for a rental property? If that’s the case, you might want to take your feelings out of the equation and focus more on what will appeal to a broader market.
If you’re painting your home, then feel free to go nuts with colour!
A good point to remember is that home is home for a long time, and you’ll spend a lot of time living with your choices. Unless you have a lot of cash and time on the sidelines ready to be burned on a re-do, you’ll want to ensure you’re happy with your colours before you start.
If you’re painting multiple rooms, consider how the colour in one room will transition into the next.
To help you make your decision, get colour swatches from your local hardware store, hold them against the surface you’re going to paint in various light. You might even want to engage an interior stylist to help you choose if you have the budget.
Tip 2. Protect Your Furniture
It goes without saying that you are going to need to take things like curtains, TVs and artwork down from the interior walls, but what about the rest of the furniture? The clearer your room, the easier it will be to paint.
Not painting every room in the house? Move smaller and easily moved pieces, such as coffee tables, bedside tables and ottomans, into the rooms that aren’t being touched.
Move bigger pieces away from the surfaces you’re going to paint and into the middle of the room, ensuring plenty of space for people and equipment to move around. If you can move them out of the room, even better, but this isn’t always practical and, without much help, can be more tiring than doing the painting itself!
Ensure any furniture you leave in the room is properly covered and protected with appropriate drop sheets. You only need to paintthe interior walls and ceilings, sothere is no need to paint the couch!
Tip 3. Clean the Surfaces Before You Paint
There’s nothing worse than prepping your paint, getting the drop sheets ready and getting the roller covered before realising the walls are filthy.
If you’re hiring someone to do the painting for you, dirty walls are going to cost you time and money. Ensure surfaces are clean and dry a few days before painting begins.
Sugar soap sprays or wipes are great at cutting through dust and grime to leave your walls nice and clean and ready for your new coat of paint.
Start applying the soap from the top of the wall and work your way down, especially if you’re using a spray.
Once the soap has been on the wall for the right amount of time (check the product you’re using for more information), wipe the walls clean with a wet sponge and make sure it is dry with a cleaning rag before you start painting.
Tip 4. Stay Well-Ventilated
Wherever possible, ensure some ventilation in every room you paint in. You don’t want to be stuck in a stuffy room without fresh air when you’re painting.
If it’s nice outside, open a window. This will help the paint dry and give you some nice breathing space.
Here are some tips for healthy indoor painting:
- Schedule painting for dry periods of the year that aren’t too hot (think spring or autumn)
- Keep windows open after painting to avoid ongoing exposure to paint vapours
- Use fans to extract air, if possible
- Take frequent breaks. Step outside and get some fresh air
Whilst it’s important to try and ensure your room is well-ventilated, it’s also important to check that it’s not too humid when painting, as this can affect how effectively the paint (depending on its quality) adheres to the surface. A long dry time can mean dirt builds up in the wet paint.
Tip 5. Use the Right Tools
We’ve all heard the saying, “All the gear, but no idea.” Well, hopefully, this article gives you some idea about how to go about your next paint job, but you need to check that you’ve got the gear, too! Here’s a handy checklist of tools you’re probably going to need to get the job done properly:
- Paint
- Paint rollers
- Extension pole for paint rollers
- Drop cloths
- Paint brushes (for areas that need a bit more attention)
- Paint Trays
- Sandpaper
- Rags
- Putty
- Painter’s Tape
- Ladder (if required)
This is a typical list for painting the interior of a property. Exterior paint jobs can be much trickier and might even require scaffolding. If you’re unsure, speak to a professional about your job for advice on any other equipment you might need.
Tip 6. Test Your Equipment
Going it alone? Don’t fall into the trap of not checking your equipment. This is especially important if you’re painting an area with a high ceiling or hard-to-reach surfaces.
The name of the game of any good paint job is ensuring you apply the paint evenly and consistently, and to achieve that sort of precision, you need to be able to reach every inch of every surface you’re painting.
- Do your rollers comfortably reach the top of the wall without stretching?
- Are you able to reach those hard-to-reach places on your ladder without risking your safety?
- Are your rollers clean?
You don’t want to start painting before you’ve checked all the equipment and paint and ensured you can reach everything you need to reach without any issues. As soon as you’re stretching your arms or reaching on your tippy-toes, you’re probably not able to apply even pressure and achieve the consistency required to finish the job well.
This is a lesson much better learned before you start painting. Trust us!
BONUS TIP: Check how much paint you need.
When you’re buying paint, speak to a professional about the area you’re painting and make sure you know which colour is going where. They should be able to help you estimate how much paint you need. Remember, it’s always better to have a bit more than you need for any touch ups that might be required down the track.
Tip 7. Plan Your Workload
If this is a DIY project, make sure you plan your attack.
You want to minimise the need to walk through corridors and/or hallways with wet paint and ensure you’re not moving in and out of rooms more often than you need to. Paint can dry very quickly, depending on the paint you’re using and the weather while you’re painting, so working efficiently is key to ensuring a nice, even coat.
If you’re moving through the house to paint several rooms, start at the back of the house and work your way to the front. If you have some help, ensure that while one person puts the finishing touches on one room, the other is getting the next space ready.
When you’re done, clear your paint from one room and take only what you need to the next. Clutter is your number one enemy when you’re painting a house, whether interior or exterior.
Key Takeaways
- Picking the right colors is crucial, considering the purpose of painting and the broader appeal if selling.
- Prepare the space by removing or covering furniture and ensuring a clean surface for painting.
- Clean walls thoroughly before painting to ensure paint adheres well and looks clean.
- Maintain good ventilation while painting to ensure quick drying and reduce exposure to fumes.
- Gather all necessary painting tools and equipment before starting to ensure a smooth painting process.
- Test your equipment to ensure it's suitable for the job and can reach all areas without strain.
- Plan your painting project efficiently to minimize disruption and ensure a smooth workflow.
Ready to Paint?
Ready to get started? If you want to complete the work yourself, here are our final tips you might find useful:
- Take off light switch plates
- Light up your space (especially if you’re painting into the night)
- Calling it a night? Soak the roller in wet paint and wrap it airtight in plastic, then you can get straight back into painting in the morning.
Of course, if you need help with your next painting project, Hunter Coast Painting is just a phone call away.
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Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting. Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Gavin Kane
Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting.
Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.