Giving a room a fresh coat of paint is one of the simplest methods for a total transformation.
Besides the visual upgrade, a quality paint job can increase your home’s value, make walls easier to clean, and help prevent moisture issues.
But while we love the impact of new paint, tackling the job yourself isn’t always easy, particularly for beginners.
We consulted professionals to uncover the most common painting mistakes and learn how to prevent them, ensuring you get a flawless result every time.
Refining your painting skills means you’ll achieve a clean, fresh backdrop for your decor without spending extra time cleaning up spills or correcting uneven spots.
Prepare for your next painting endeavor with these expert tips to confidently and skillfully makeover your spaces.
How to Paint Your Walls Like a Pro
1. Not Cleaning Your Walls First
“Clean your surface so it is free of dirt, grease, and other buildup—this is a problem in kitchens particularly—that might interfere with paint adhesion,” says Tom Hill, president of C2 Paint.
If you’re tempted to skip this step, know that dust, hair, and any tiny particles may peek through your final coat and ruin the smooth, sleek look you’re going for.
For easy prevention, start with a dry sweep using a vacuum brush attachment or duster. Next, use warm, soapy water with a sponge or cloth to wipe down your walls.
Be sure to clean tiny nooks and crannies, too, like the intersections of your crown molding and baseboards.
2. Not Prepping Your Room
Ample prep will significantly reduce your cleanup time at the end of the paint job by preventing drips and splatter as you go.
To start, cover your floors and furniture with drop cloths or clear out the entire room if you’re tight on space.
And for an extra clean finish, remove your outlet and switch covers (just be sure your power is off at the breaker). When painting interior doors, wrap your door knobs with plastic and painters tape. Finally, scan your spaces for imperfections.
“Make sure to fix any holes and sand any patches so your surface is smooth,” Hill says. “After sanding, wipe down the surfaces with a tack cloth or damp rag to remove dust.”
Using painters tape will make you a more efficient painter, giving you those satisfying, crisp lines and protecting your delicate surfaces from paint damage. Painters tape can also help you create stylish motifs like stripes or buffalo checks.
There are different kinds of painter’s tape, so be sure to choose the right one for your space. Low adhesion painters tape works best for delicate surfaces like freshly painted walls and trim, laminate, cabinets, hardwood floors, and more.
3. Choosing the Wrong Paint Finish
Another common mistake is picking the wrong kind of paint. Before heading to the paint store, consider quality, sheen, and color for the specific surface you want to cover.
Hill advises against using a flat finish meant for ceilings to paint your walls, since flat paint has little to no durability, is highly prone to scuffs and stains, and can’t be touched up like a satin or eggshell sheen can.
This is why professionals typically recommend using a semi-gloss or gloss for doors, trims, and baseboards and reserving sheens like satin or eggshell for walls.
However, your inner decorator may unleash a non-traditional approach. If you’ve been eyeing those formal parlors saturated in a glossy vibrant hue or dining rooms outfitted with a shiny white ceiling, you’re not alone.
This design approach can elevate your space if executed with the right color and in the right location. If you’re unsure how to align a bold paint choice with your creative vision, it can be helpful to consult with a professional designer or research example photos online for inspiration.
4. Not Sampling Your Color Choice
Hill says the most important step to any paint job is to invest in high-quality paint and sample your color choice before committing. This will prevent multiple coats or future repaints.
Hill says it’s not uncommon for many people to choose the wrong color, so he suggests observing your paint sample in real-time (during the day and night) to finalize the right pick. “
Also, consider the natural lighting and overall “temperature” of the room, cool or warm, when choosing your color,” he adds. And since almost every paint brand on the market now offers either traditional or peel-and-stick samples, taking this step ahead of paint day will save you time and money in the long run.
As you scout your paint color, look for its Light Reflectance Value, also known as LRV. This rates colors on a scale of 1-100, with 100 being the lightest, reflecting the most light, while colors closer to 0 will be the darkest.
5. Using the Wrong Tools
You can easily end up with a patchy-looking paint job (even with high-quality paint) if you don’t invest in the right brushes and rollers. “Cheap, low-quality rollers and brushes don’t distribute the paint evenly and can shed,” Hill says.
“A high-density foam roller can also help achieve a smooth finish without brush strokes. You can also try using a paint conditioner like Floetrol to minimize brush strokes.”
It’s also best to determine if using a primer first is necessary. “If the surface of your wall has a lot of patches and fillings, it’s a good idea to prime the wall before painting,” Hill says. “Many paints are labeled ‘paint and primer’ but are only effective when applied on a uniform substrate.”
Hill explains that inconsistencies on the surface you’re painting can cause imperfections in your paint job. “In that case, it should be primed first,” he says. “Areas filled with spackling are more absorbent, so that should be evened out.”
6. Poor Painting Technique
The process and direction of your painting technique will also sway your final result. “Always paint walls from the top down, not the bottom up,” Hill says.
This technique allows gravity to work with you, because if you drip paint, you can paint right over it. Also, some paints are better at leveling (which means you won’t see the brush marks), and this is more likely to happen if you brush up rather than down.
Hill also suggests framing everything with a brush first to line the perimeters of your doors, windows, and additional architectural elements.
The type of paint will also influence the technique you need to use. “If you are using latex paint, be careful not to overwork,” Hill says. “Quality latex paint will level on its own.
If you brush it out and see the brush marks and then brush it again, you are embedding brush marks, whereas if you left it alone, it would level on its own.”
He also recommends staying patient. “Give ample time for each coat of paint to dry to avoid smudges and fingerprints, and check the paint can for recommended drying times. Also, make sure you have good lighting when you are painting to catch any drips or uneven areas.”