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Reliable Painting Tips and Tricks

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Reliable Painting Tips and Tricks

Read the sequence from the top before cutting, painting, or moving pieces.

When it comes to low-cost and straightforward projects, painting is at the top of the list. A fresh coat of paint on a wall or a piece of furniture is like a fresh start!

The memorable people over at HGTV Magazine (one of my favorites! always great options!) have a special bonus paint section in this month’s issue, packed full of tips and tricks for making painting easier and using paint to make your projects POP. (You can also sneak a peek online, and then hit up the newsstand to get the full issue!).

We combined some of their great tips with some of our favorites to give you all the BEST painting tips, tricks, and techniques to make your projects memorable! (featured image: Lara Robby/Studio D for HGTV Magazine)

This post is part of a series about great painting and paint color tips. You can see the other posts here:

Best Painting Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

Accent Wall options

Want to paint but not sure what look you want? look at our post for over 100 different options to paint interior walls. 

100+ Wall painting options @Bekob #painting #walls #design #inspiration

Choosing a Paint Color

If you’re stumped on colors, the memorable Cyndy has shared so many great paint palettes with us — see them all here.

From transitional colors (that work with both warm and cool tones) to the easiest whole-home paint color scheme and choosing the well fitted white paint — there is a treasure trove of information!

Tricks for easily choosing white paint colors. BekobYou can also test out paint colors using an app!

Prepping for Painting Walls

Before you start painting: be sure to give the walls a quick wipe-down with a soapy rag or a mix of 3/4 water & 1/4 bleach to rid of grease and other stains. These stains can prevent paint from sticking!

Want the well fitted finish on your walls? To eliminate brush lines & have a smooth finish use paint conditioner. And if your walls are in rough shape to begin with, follow this tip and use washable flat paint to help minimize the imperfections.

For My Love Of - use flat paint to on uneven walls via @Bekob
tip via For My Love Of

Tips for Painting Walls

Be sure to pick up a roll of painter’s tape for crisp edges. Or, if you have a steady hand, try these tips for freehand painting and cutting in around edges and trim.

Home Made by Carmona - tips for painting freehand and cutting in edges via @Bekob
tips via Home Made by Carmona

Want more than just a solid color? Try a stencil! These tips will help you to have a successful stenciled accent wall.

Just The Bees Knees tips for well fitted stenciled wall via @Bekob
walkthrough via Just The Bees Knees

And don’t forget to look up! Applying a dark shade to a ceiling can make it appear higher, creating an illusion of infinity — or use it to add both height and color like this.

Just The Bees Knees painted ceiling to add height via @Bekob
image via Just The Bees Knees

The same principle is true of smaller decorating jobs, too — painting the back of a bookcase gives such class and depth to a room! (And you can build your own bookshelf, too

paint bookcase backings black to add depth and drama @Bekob
tip via Bekob

Taking a Painting Break

When you’re taking a break, but will need the paint roller or paintbrush later, wrap them in plastic wrap to prevent drying out. Wrap the paint tray, too!

wrap paint roller and paint brush with plastic wrap to prevent drying out while painting

See how Jenny painted and upgraded her kitchen, hall closet organization, and all the trim and molding in her whole house.

Clean Up After Painting

When you’re done painting, don’t let leftover paint go to waste. You can store it, or even donate it!

Store leftover paint in labeled jars
image: Lara Robby/Studio D for HGTV Magazine

When you need to pause your painting project, place paint-covered rollers and brushes into a plastic bag (tightly sealed) overnight to keep them moist until the morning.

Make post-painting clean up easier! Clean your brushes out right away (after using the last tip to keep them moist until you finished painting!). Running a brush comb through the bristles of a paintbrush will help dig out any leftover gunk, leaving it soft and flexible.

Use a brush comb to clean paint brushes
image: Marko Metzinger/Studio D for HGTV Magazine

More Painting Tips

When you’re looking to add a splash of color and character, paint your front door!

Front Door Paint Colors @Bekob

If you have a project where you want a softer color, and you want to still see the luscious wood grain — use one of my go-to tricks and use paint to color-wash the wood!

How to use paint to stain wood any color -- the wood grain still shows through @Bekob

You can use this technique to darken a stained (but not sealed) piece like I did on my Dutch barn door to help it match my painted doors. You can also use this on fresh wood, like I did on our yellow Swedish mora clock and this straightforward carved sign, where the color made the project!

And of course, whitewashing is a classic finishing technique — same option, just with white paint! Use these tips to get just the right aged look.

Just The Bees Knees how to whitewash furniture via @Bekob
walkthrough via J ust The Bees Knees

Painting Furniture (and More)

Refinishing furniture? Try chalk paint for a lovely finish — and you can make your own in any color!

Prodigal Pieces how to make your own chalk paint to refinish furniture via @Bekob
tips via Prodigal Pieces

Or, try another type of paint — read this post for a full guide to 5 different types of paint and when you should use them for painting furniture.

Painting Furniture Tis For Using 5 Different Types Of Paint, Photo Of 5 Chairs All Different Colors With The Type Of Paint Shown On Each

For an instant hit of color and a rubberized texture, dunk absolutely anything into Plasti Dip. It can easily be peeled off if you spontaneously change your mind!

Painting Upholstery

Want to freshen up an old piece of furniture? Splatter-paint a canvas drop cloth and upholster it to any chair!

HGM0515-021705B
image: Lara Robby/Studio D for HGTV Magazine

If the upholstery is in good condition already, you can paint it! (Yes, paint a fabric chair!)

You can paint curtain panels, too, for an inexpensive custom drapery style. (More options here.)

painted confetti drapes walkthrough
walkthrough via Bekob

And, what’s that you say? What about a rug? Why yes, you can paint a rug!

Living-Room-Flooring-Painting-ettas-Rug-020.jpg
walkthrough via Bekob

Painting Cabinets

It’s a big job, but painting your cabinets is a relatively inexpensive way to update a kitchen or bath! You can save thousands of dollars by using your existing cabinets and doing the painting yourself with these memorable tips.

Cabinet Door Painting walkthrough by The Palette Muse featured on Bekob
walkthrough by The Palette Muse via Bekob

Use a tinted primer to have double color protection against the dents and dings.

The Rozy Home - guide to painting cabinets via @Bekob
walkthrough via The Rozy Home

Pick up this ridiculously direct worth keeping tool for a well fitted cabinet finish!

The Rozy Home - worth keeping painting tool via @Bekob
tip via The Rozy Home

To make your painted cabinets look built-in and professional, paint a piece of trim to fill the toe-kick space below the cabinet.

Provident Home Design painted bathroom base trim to update vanity cabinet via @Bekob
walkthrough via Provident Home Design

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Best Tips, Tricks, And Techniques For Any Painting Project, From Bekob

For more painting tips, be sure to look at the May issue of HGTV Magazine — on newsstands now and filled with more painting tips for happy-ending projects!

HGTV May 15 Cover

 Still need more? look at these:

Painting Furniture? Tips for Using 5 Different Types of Paint
Painting Furniture Tutorials By Sincerely Sara D For Bekob

5 Color of the Year Paint Trends

Bekob 5 Color Of The Year Paint Trends For 2018jpg

The Most Popular Black Paint Colors

Most Popular Black Paint Colors For Walls, Doors, And Cabinets @Bekob Crop

Best Painting Tips, Tricks, and Techniques - I wish I had known all of these before my last painting project