10 House Painting Ideas

A beautiful new coat of house paint can give your room or space a fantastic transformation. House painting is also an economical way to refresh your home and give it more curb appeal or make it more welcoming to your guests. Painting your house is an easy DIY job that most homeowners can handle without hiring a professional. 

Here are 10 tips for house painting and outdoor paint to make your home look brighter and more inviting.

Choose the Right Luster

Besides the paint color, another big decision for house paint is the luster; this refers to the type of finish that will appear on your walls, ceiling, or outdoor space. If you want interior paint that is easy to scrub and durable, a glossy finish can be the best option. On the other hand, flat finishes can help you disguise any wall imperfections. Different finishes, such as pearl or eggshell, help your wall look even lusher.

Buy the Correct Amount

Estimating the amount of paint you need for a particular job can be challenging if you haven't painted that spot before. Additionally, if you get a custom-tinted product or a unique all-in-one paint, you can't simply get a refund for unused paint. Experts recommend DIY painters get about 80% of the amount of paint they think they need for the main part of the job. If they need more, they can always go back and order additional cans.

Find the Right Shade

Next, you need to select the right paint shade for your space. You may need to get approval for exterior paint colors for your home in some towns or neighborhoods. Some homeowner neighborhood groups may provide a list of approved exterior house colors that you can use if you want to change the overall look of your home. Be sure to consider the color of the shutters, garage, and doors before choosing a new hue. For interior painting, look to the color wheel to get ideas about complementing shades.

Decide Between Latex or Oil

Another decision to make before choosing interior or exterior paint is what kind of product you want. Oil-based paint may be a good bet for an area like molding or a piece of trim. Oil-based paint offers lots of durabilities. A water-based paint, or latex paint, is more environmentally friendly and suitable for an exterior paint job or a wall indoors that may get some moisture. You can use an additive to your quality paint to extend its durability.

Prep the Area

Before you put down a new coat of paint, you need to prepare the area. Make sure you have the necessary painting and prepping tools to make the job easier. The preparation should start with removing any old peeling paint or wallpaper. Rotted wood must also be removed and disposed of; to get the smoothest finish and freshest look with the new coat of paint, sand the wall before painting.

Use Primer

Apply a coat of primer on the wall before you put down the final color. Putting down primer may add an extra step to the process, but it can pay off when you've finished the entire job. Your color can look much smoother and more professional on the wall with a primer base coat, and you may need to use less paint. Another option is to use an all-in-one paint that acts as a primer and base color combined.

Protect the Wall

For high-traffic areas, it's a good idea to add another protective topcoat on the wall. A clear matte protective topcoat can help enhance the wall's color and give your space additional protection from dirt, grime, and scuffs.

Have the Right Brushes and Supplies

Most DIY painters have the essential tools, such as a brush, a paint scraper, a putty knife, and a roller, but it may be worth investing in other specialty painting supplies and tools to give your room even more depth. Try to do unique finishes or other effects to give the room some personality.

Try Adding Some Accents

After completing the main part of your wall, consider adding an accent wall in a room to add drama. If the central space of your living area is a light, neutral color, a pop of a dramatic hue like metallic gold gives your home something special.

Maintain Your Paint

Finally, be sure to regularly maintain your newly painted walls or home's exterior spaces. Outside, regular power washing can keep dirt and grime from making your paint job appear dull. Interior walls should get routine scrubbing every so often to keep them looking beautiful. You can consider searching for painting services to keep everything excellent.

If you're about to start your next house painting project, check out the painting products at Max Warehouse to get helpful tips and supplies to give your home a new look. Find your best shade today!