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Published on December 28, 2023

Pro Tips

20+ DIY Home Painting Tips and Tricks for Beginners

Our experts share their top painting tips and hacks to help you paint your home like a pro. Get tips on painting walls, avoiding messes and drips, achieving clean edges and a smooth finish, and speeding up the cleaning process.

1
Gather All Your Painting Supplies Before You Start

Before you tackle any interior painting project, it’s crucial to gather all your painting supplies and make sure to have them on hand. This not only saves you time and frustration but also ensures smooth and uninterrupted work.

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Cans of SICO paint

2
Choose the Right Paint and Colour

Consult our interior paint buying guide to make sure you choose the right product for your project. Also, don’t forget to use a paint sample or swatch card to see how a particular colour will look in different parts of the room and under different lighting.

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Pro Tip

Not sure how many paint cans you’ll need? Use our paint calculator!

3
Pre-Wash Your Rollers

To prevent loose fibres from ruining your interior paint job, simply pre-wash your rollers with a little bit of water. There’s no need to wait for them to dry—you can start using the roller covers immediately!

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Person cleaning walls covered with children’s drawings

4
Thoroughly Clean Dirty Surfaces

Painting over dirty or oily surfaces will result in chipping and peeling, so take the time to clean any grimy or dirty walls with a deglosser or heavy-duty cleaner specifically designed for prepaint cleaning (such as TSP).

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Man sanding a wall

5
Repair and Smooth Out Flaws

For a perfectly smooth wall paint finish, it’s essential to start with a smooth surface. Use a sanding pole fitted with 220-grit sandpaper to sand the walls, then wipe away any dust and debris with a clean rag or sweeping tool. If needed, check out our step-by-step DIY guide on how to fix holes and dents in drywall.

6
Opt for Cotton Drop Cloths Rather Than Plastic

Paint spills and drips on plastic stay wet and end up on your shoes… and, therefore, on the floor. To avoid this, opt for cotton or canvas drop cloths. In addition to absorbing interior paint spills, they will stay in place better.

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7
Make Sure to Have Adequate Lighting

Good lighting is crucial when painting. Invest in a bright work light to check your work as you go or after you finish each section. While natural sunlight is ideal, a portable LED work light can be a great alternative for interior paint jobs.

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Video of a person putting tape on a paint can

8
Keep Your Cans Clean

To prevent messy spills and drips, place a strip of masking tape around your interior paint can before you start painting. This way, you can easily wipe off excess paint from your brush.

9
Install Your Roller the Right Way

Before putting a roller on a roller frame, hold it in your hands and roll it back and forth. Take note of the direction the roller moves in, and slide that end onto the frame first for a smoother finish.

10
Never, Ever Skip the Primer

Applying a coat of primer is key to eliminating flashing (an uneven surface sheen appearance due to irregular wall paint application) and texture differences.

Pro Tip

Instead of using white primer, tint the primer with the colour of the finish paint. The result will be more vibrant and may require fewer coats!

Video showing how to dip a paint brush in paint

11
Work with the Right Amount of Paint

For best results, make sure you don’t put too much paint on your brush. Dip about 1/3 of the bristles into the paint, then remove the excess by gently scraping it off the rim of the paint can. In addition to helping you paint without overflowing, this precaution will greatly speed up cleaning while wasting less paint.

Man trimming mouldings with paint

12
Always Work with a Wet Edge

It always pays to have a helper for interior paint jobs! One person will be cutting and the other one rolling so that there is always a wet edge to work with. If you’re working alone, achieve a seamless look by cutting in one wall and immediately rolling on the paint before moving on to another wall. This allows the brushed and rolled sections to blend together seamlessly, with a consistent texture.

Person removing painter’s tape

13
Remove Tape Like a Pro

Once the wall paint is dry, pulling the tape off the trim can damage the newly painted surface. So, for a perfect edge:

remove the tape before the paint is dry;
use a blow dryer to heat up the tape before removing it; or
cut the tape loose with an all-purpose knife before pulling it off.

14
Help Your Brushes Last Longer

Cover your paint bucket, tray, or other container with a damp towel between brushing and rolling to keep them from drying out. As for brushes and rollers, simply wrap them in cling film or a plastic bag to make sure the paint isn’t exposed to air. Browse our selection of brush and roller cleaners to speed up the cleaning process once you’re done painting.

More Painting Tips for Beginners

Here are some more painting tips to help you level up your painting skills:

Paint the ceiling first.
Yes, take those electric plates off!
Use paint tray liners for faster cleanup.
Flatten the painter’s tape with a putty knife
Remove the painter’s tape at an angle.
Scrape, scrape, scrape your rollers before cleaning to save the extra interior paint and speed up the cleaning process.
Clean your brushes and rollers thoroughly once you’re done.
Fix uneven baseboards with caulk.
Use a razor scraper to carefully remove paint lines and drips on the floor.
Choose top-quality rollers and brushes for a great finish.
When using 2 or more cans of paint, mix them together in a separate bucket to ensure colour consistency.
Never stop painting in the middle of a surface for an extended period of time. End at a natural break to ensure uniform colour and coating.
Roll paint on in a 3’ by 3’ W-pattern and fill in open areas using horizontal strokes.

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You’re one brush stroke away

from completely changing your decor. Check out our interior paint selection.