6 Great Painting Tips For Beginners

There’s nothing like the way a room looks after a fresh coat of paint. One of the most novice-friendly DIY tasks out there, painting can boost your home’s appearance and make it seem cleaner and more modern. However, not every paint project turns out the same; common pitfalls are to blame—but they can be avoided. By learning what not to do, achieving a picture-perfect paint job is possible. Here are six of the best painting tips for beginners.

1.    Safeguard edges.

The biggest sign of a below-average paint job is the occasional spot of paint on the trim or ceiling. These errors can easily happen when you don’t create boundaries. Pros have safeguards against painting “outside the lines,” which means you should, too. Whether it’s lining edges with painter’s tape or using a spray painting shield, having a physical barrier will keep your lines clean, even when your hand isn’t steady. Press down on your painter’s tape as you go to create a tight seal and reduce the risk of paint bleed-through. Also, guarantee your spray paint shield is properly secured to prevent it from slipping or sliding in the middle of a paint job. Taking the time to use these barriers will save you hours of backtracking and corrective spot-painting.

2.    Never paint over glossy paint or varnish.

Contrary to popular belief, the paint color you choose isn’t the only thing that’ll influence your results—the texture of the surface you want to paint matters as well. While your existing glossy paint may be excellent at repelling scuffs, it’s also going to repel a new coat of paint and look streaky. Luckily, there’s a quick fix. Before you start painting over any glossy surface, sand it or wipe it down with a liquid deglosser, also known as liquid sandpaper. It’s an extra step, but worth it.

Not sure what color paint to use? Check out these mood-boosting paint colors for every room. 

3.    Don't work in dim or low light.

It’s important to approach your home improvement project with eyes wide open—which means you need to see everything clearly. A great house painting tip: don’t try to paint at night or on a dreary afternoon when the lighting is low; you won’t get an accurate picture of how well your paint is covering up the old color. Take your paint project outside on a sunny day or start an inside job in the morning when there’s plenty of natural light streaming in. With good lighting, the thin areas that need another roll or two will be obvious right away.

4.    Move quickly.

An unsightly error, overlapping brush marks are more evident with darker paint colors and higher glosses. The key to avoiding this is to keep a “wet edge,”—which is achieved by quickly moving between sections so the paint doesn’t dry along the edge and prevent a seamless blend. You shouldn’t paint in just one direction, either. Gently and swiftly overlap layers to produce a solid color block instead of separate paint streaks.

5.    Add paint conditioner for detailed areas.

While paint from the can is thick enough to cover walls, it’s too thick for areas that need to express finer details, like woodwork, doors, cabinets, and textured molding. Paint conditioner thins out your paint slightly so you can apply coats delicately without appearing thick and gloppy. Mix a small amount of the conditioner with the can of paint to get your desired consistency, and always read the directions for the best results.

6.    Use primer, especially on dark walls.

If you want to cover up a bold or dark color with a light one, follow these wall painting tips:

First, you must apply primer first to “soften up” the previous color. Directly using light paint over a dark wall will force you to apply additional layers, and you may not even cover up the dark color completely. However, using a primer as your first coat will cut your work in half and create a surface that adheres to paint efficiently. Just make sure your primer has dried according to the manufacturer’s directions before painting over it, so you don’t get yourself into another painting mess.

Still need some guidance? Here are more of our favorite painting tips and tricks: 

Should You Leave Your Painting Project to the Pros?

Thanks to apps like Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok,  painting tips for beginners are readily available, and the DIY craze is here to stay. It’s simple to find instructional videos on how to do everything from do-it-yourself painting tips to toilet installations and deck replacements. But, before taking a sledgehammer to a supporting wall, think it through. Read our article, “When to DIY vs. When to Hire a Pro,” for signs that it’s safe to take on your home reno task alone and others that signal a pro might be better for the job.