Advertisement
Painting your apartment can be an exciting project you can do by yourself or with a couple of roommates. But no matter how easy it may look, the best painting jobs take more than just brushing some paint on the walls.
Your paint colors, tools, and painting technique will all play a part in how your room will turn out. So if you want your New York apartment to look the best it can be, here are a few painting tips and tricks you can do for your makeover.
How do I paint like a professional?
1. Pick the ideal paint colors
Selecting your wall colors can be the most important decision you’ll have to make for this project since this can determine the overall feel of the room.
Muted and pastel colors are always a pleasant addition since they can add a pop of color without making you feel overwhelmed. While dark and bold colors can liven up any dull room and give a striking impression to your guests.
Since there are plenty of painting designs and color combinations you can do, it’s important to create a plan on what you want to do for the room to keep your project clear and consistent.
2. Get high-quality tools
It may be easier for your budget to pick up the most affordable tools at the store, but that won’t always mean you’ll get the best bang for your buck.
Cheaper paint brushes and rollers tend to shed off easier compared to higher-quality ones, making your walls look rough and uneven than you were intending. That’s why it’s better to chip in those few extra dollars for better-quality tools to make sure you’ll get a better paint job.
The same also goes for the type of paint you want to get since lower-quality ones will peel, fade, and, chip off faster than you’d expect.
3. Paint in the right weather
Painting in the rainy or winter seasons will make you end up with dripping wet paint that can take days to dry fully. Since the humidity in the air will make it difficult for the paint to harden, it’s better to schedule your project for a sunny day or during the summer.
4. Prep the walls beforehand
If you want to get a flawless interior, it’s important to repair any old holes and cracks you have on the walls. You’ll also need to sand down peeling and flaking paint so they won’t ruin your fresh coat later.
Removing stains and wiping off dust may seem pointless, but it’s important not to skip this step since a clean wall will make your paint stick better.
While you’re at it, you can also prep the room for painting by covering your floors and furniture with drop cloths to prevent any stray paint droplets from landing on them.
5. Don’t forget the primer
We understand that you’re excited to get your new paint color on the walls of your apartment, but skipping primer may only be fine for well-maintained and smooth walls. For surfaces that were recently repaired and filled in, one coat of primer may be necessary for smoothing out its texture and covering any imperfections from the repairs.
Plus, it can make the paint last longer since primer will create an adhesive surface that will make the paint stick better.
6. Keep your painting technique consistent
Now that your room and walls are ready for painting, the first step you’ll need to do is to paint from top to bottom. This way, you can still cover up any drips or mistakes you’ll make on the bottom half to keep your work consistent.
When painting the edges of the walls, remember to place painter’s tape to cover trims and moldings to keep your outline neat and crisp. A paintbrush will work best for more precise areas, while a paint roller will coat larger areas faster.
7. Remember to clean up after
No matter how careful you are, having a few drops of paint scattered around your apartment can sometimes be unavoidable. So if you find a few splatters that shouldn’t be there in the first place, it’s important to wipe them immediately before they dry up.
Since dry paint can be more difficult to remove, you might end up damaging your floors or furniture if you’re not careful.
But even after following the tricks above and your walls still don’t turn out as great as you were expecting, maybe it’s time to call in the professionals to do the makeover for you.
Aside from apartment painting, Soho Painters can also do wallpapering and custom murals to make your apartment walls look better than before. If you want to know more about our services, you can contact our team today to book a free estimate.