Painting is one of the easiest ways to freshen your decor and completely change the vibe and dynamism of your home. So if it’s so easy, why do people get so panicked at the thought?

When decorating their home, many people, particularly first time painters, make huge mistakes when it comes to how they put paint on their walls. And, it makes sense. Painting is a messy and difficult job. Even when you try incredibly hard, it’s very rare to come out with an expert result.

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This is enough to put most people off entirely. But, that’s a shame. Any room will benefit from a touch of colour, which they’ll never get. You can be different, though. And, to help you out, this post will go through some of the best tips to getting your house beautifully painted.

Cutting In

You’ve probably heard the term ‘cutting in’ before. This is the process of preparing the outer edges of a wall, before painting the inside. To start with, choose a fine brush that you can control very easily. Go around the outer edges of the wall, painting as close to the edges as possible. Create a thin line all around the wall.

Now, you can go up to a bigger brush. Repeat the process again, all the while being very careful not to get paint anywhere it shouldn’t be. This will give you a great big canvas on which to do the rest of your painting. When filling the area in, always paint in the same direction. This will give you a smooth finish, without streaks or lines. Cutting in is essential if you want the job to look professional.

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Preparation

The first thing you must do before painting is to clean the walls. Sugar soap is perfect for this.Use a soft cloth and don’t saturate the walls; just clean off dust and residue.

Preparation is key to anything like this. Most of the issues that people have when painting a room are caused by a lack of readiness. It’s quite common to panic when things go wrong. But, this can lead to disaster. For example, dripping paint on the carpet can make people forget themselves and create streaks on their new wall. To avoid this, put painting sheets or even newspaper on the floor to avoid such disasters.

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Mask areas you want to avoid painting on by using blue painters tape, available at any hardware store. Have all the tools you need ready to go and close by will make painting easier. Always think about the cleanup, too.

Try to choose paint that will wash out in water wherever you can. And ask the experts about cleaning and storing your paint brushes and rollers. Ensure lids are on firmly by lightly tapping with a hammer around the rim.

Or Hire A Professional

In reality, most people will be disappointed with their own efforts, when it comes to painting a room. So, to get a truly perfect finish, it’s usually best to hire professional painters. Painting is a skilled trade that can take years to master. People spend a long time learning how to paint correctly, so it’s hard to do it well on your first time.

One of the hardest aspects of a room to paint are the windows. If you have wooden frames and even multi-paned glass, you will likely find this the most challenging of painting jobs.

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Hiring a professional will guarantee the best possible results for your room. Professional painters will prepare the room correctly and clean up all the mess. That in itself is a bonus. However, the results you’ll get from a professional will likely outweigh the costs incurred. After all, you get what you pay for, right?

However, for relatively simple rooms you can paint them yourself. Remember to clean, prep, cut-in, and take your time.

Hopefully, this will inspire you to stop shying away from painting. Once all your rooms are looking fresh, you’ll be very happy with the results. It’s worth putting time like this into your home. It will make you appreciate it more and will make you feel like you’ve had a hand in the house’s creation.

Thanks to Taubmans Paint for all the beautiful images.

Home Styling and Decluttering

Did you know that the experts at Don’t Call Me Penny now offer Home Styling and Decluttering services? See more by clicking on the link and by searching for ‘decluttering‘ on the site for tips to organise your home.