House Painting Ideas for Beginners

When it comes to the task of painting the interior of your home, it can seem like a daunting task, but it might have you wanting to start residential painting Sydney-wide! Deciding on colours, shades, and palettes is where the fun and excitement begin, but the biggest questions are how to start? Where to start? And how to really achieve a professional finish? This short guide aims to set out exactly the necessary steps to give your house the ultimate makeover.

Getting the Colour Scheme Right

If there is one thing that says "home makeover" more than anything else, it's splashing a new leash of life into your home with a whole new colour scheme. Whilst picking the colours may seem like an easy choice if you have a preferred colour – think about how the colours you choose will translate into everyday living for a particular room.

Whilst bright colours may brighten up a room and spark a fresh new look to a tired old room, why not choose something more subtle for the living room and bedroom, whilst leaving the brighter shades for places like the kitchen, breakfast rooms, bathroom and hallways.

If you can't decide exactly on the specific colour you want to go for, think about shades on different walls. Use a bold colour on the main wall in your room and then lighter shades for the other walls to draw attention to a particular point of focus for that room.

Choosing the Best Paint Finish

OK, so you've chosen your colour scheme, and now you want to start painting, but hold up! There are many different painting finishes that can bring even better depths to your room. Paint adds a shine and texture to bring out something special for every living space in the home. Here is a small run-down on the most popular interior painting Sydney locals have to offer:

Flat/Matte:

These types of paints offer the least amount of shine. They provide the most coverage of all paints and also require the fewest coats. Matte finishes, on the other hand, are one of the least durable paints available, so they are best used in places like the dining room and for ceilings.

Eggshell:

This type of finish has been a very popular finish in recent years, with a massive number of shades and colours available due to their popularity. This type of paint is more durable than flat or matte finishes and is great for areas such as hallways and entryways.

Satin:

These paints are the most common interior paints and provide a velvety sheen, making them particularly easy to clean.

Semi-Gloss:

As the name states, these paints are semi-gloss, which gives them a shiny and reflective attribute. They are extremely durable and even resist dampness and mildew and are therefore a great choice for places such as the kitchen, and bathrooms as they are exposed to moisture.

High-gloss:

This type of paint is the shiniest paint on the market, and they are the most durable and, therefore, very easy to wash and take care of. This is a great choice of paint for family homes on doors, trim and cabinetry to provide a great layer of protection against grime and a barrier for families with small children with crayons or dogs and cats.

Purchase the correct tools – and Don't Skimp in the Brushes!

Ensuring that you have all the correct tools needed to paint your walls will put you well on the way to achieving a professional finish. Spend time on the types of brushes you will need for your particular room, and ensure that you have the correct nylon bristles for water-based paint and natural bristles for oil-based paint.

Invest in a set of foam brushes for the more intricate work around the edges and in the hard-to-reach corners. Rollers are a great way to lay on a lot of paint for larger rooms and walls and ensure that you invest in a roller extender to reach high walls and ceilings.

Testing and Prepping

Once you have chosen your favourite type of paint for your particular room, you should test your paint on several walls to ensure that you have the right shade and that you still have some time to change your mind.

Once you've done your testing and are happy with going ahead, preparation is next up on the menu. Preparation is the most vital step in achieving the best professional finish you possibly can. Taking time to ensure that you have all of the right equipment, you have treated the walls if necessary and have the time to spend to finish the job is key!

Laying Down the Primer

The best way to ensure that your paint lasts achieve great coverage and has a professional finish is to lay down a coat of primer on your wall surfaces. Ensuring that you have sufficiently cleaned and dusted your walls and ceiling to avoid any contaminants, your primer coat will cover small imperfections and scratches to ensure you have the best base layer to cover.

It is usually only the professionals who love to use the primer to achieve the best results. Not only does primer provide a layer of protection between the paint and the walls to provide good coverage, but it also allows the paint to lay far more evenly, to achieve a stunning finish every time. It's one of the best finishes that professional interior painting Sydney has to offer!

Applying the Paint Using Technique

One of the best ways to apply your paint is to use a simple technique to divide the task up into a couple of smaller, easier sections.

• Cutting in is a technique by which you start to paint a wall from the perimeter inwards with a small brush to ensure you achieve crisp, clean lines around the wall.
• Once you have successfully cut into the wall, then you can move on large brushes and rollers to cover the majority of the wall within the centre. This is a great way to ensure that you do not overload your roller and avoid having to use the roller to the edges of the wall to prevent paint bleed or dripping.
• Work in simple three-foot sections of the wall and continue until your wall is fully covered. Afterwards, you can go around with a smaller brush for a few touch-ups if necessary, and then you'll be ready to apply a second coat after the first has dried.
• Leaving your walls to dry before second coats is hugely important, as depending on the type of paint you have chosen, the paint may shrink as it dries, which is why you should never recover a still-wet painted wall too early.
• Once the paint is dry, step back and admire the effort you've put in to make over your room, and onto the next one!

Conclusion

Painting your home's interiors doesn't have to be rocket science, as long as you follow a few simple steps. If you feel that you're unlikely to be able to achieve the finish you require, there's no shame in bringing in the professionals to let them perform their magic! We have some of the best Interior painting Sydney has to offer in the region, so why not take the hassle out of a makeover? And you'll be enjoying a stunning new living space for years to come.