6 Essential Steps for Almost Any Paint Project

Whether you’re repainting a room, reviving an old piece of furniture with a coat of paint, or adding some color to trim, window boxes or patio planters, here are the essential steps to follow for any paint project.

Tip 1: Start Clean

Dirt, oil, dust, grime, all create a barrier between the paint and the object you’re painting, so starting with a clean surface is essential. For walls, trim, doors, and surfaces such as cabinets and even tile, a simple solution of water with a degreasing agent, such as dishwashing liquid, is fine. You can also use this on wood and metal objects but be aware water will raise the grain of any exposed wood (which you can sand smooth) and can cause certain unprotected metals to rust if not dried off (which you can also remove by sanding or with a wire brush).

Tip 2: Smooth Things Out

Use a paint scraper to remove any loose paint you see and around areas where paint has chipped away.

Sand down existing paint edges for a smooth surface or use spackling compound to create an even area for painting. Follow drying times on spackling directions and when dried, sand spackled areas smooth. Wipe area down with a tack cloth to remove sanding dust.

Remove nails and outlet covers from walls, and hinges and decorative hardware from furniture and cabinets. If you’re planning on replacing the hardware on furniture or cabinets you’re repainting, fill in the existing screw holes with wood compound or spackling to create a smooth, solid surface for your new hardware. Fill in nail holes in walls with spackling for an even surface. Sand spackled areas smooth and wipe clean with a tack cloth.

Tip 3: Primed to Perfection

Paint primer is the best way to ensure an ideal surface for paint. There are a variety of options, from primers that cover oil spots and stains, to those that help prevent mold in high moisture areas, to those specially formulated to work on metals to inhibit rust, as well as options for interior and exterior use. You can also have your primer tinted to match your paint color – a good option for darker hues to help create a streak-free, flawless covering with fewer coats of paint.

Tip 4: Select the Right Paint for the Job

Start with the most basic determination – indoor or outdoor paint. Anything that’s not sitting inside your house and that gets exposed to the elements should get exterior paint, including your front door even if it’s protected by a storm door.

There are paints formulated specifically for high-moisture areas such as the kitchen and bath that include mold and mildew preventatives, and paints for metals with rust inhibitors. Talk to your paint supplier about the type of project you’re working on and which paint would be best for your needs.

Latex/low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints are great choices for interior rooms. They dry quickly and have minimal odor so you can get back to using your room quickly.

Oil-based paints are typically sold in quart-sizes since EPA regulations over the past few decades have limited their production. They have been used on trim and doors, for their superior leveling properties, that leave a glass-like, smooth surface with an extremely hard and durable finish.

Advances in water-based latex paints have improved leveling properties and durability in addition to their inherently safer, low/zero-VOCs qualities.

Tip 5: Select Your Sheen – From Matte to Gloss

Sheen levels for paint include flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss or high-gloss. Flat or matte paints provide a flawless, velvety look. Some paint brands use these terms interchangeably while others formulate their flat sheens with more pigment for greater coverage (also known as “hide”) and their matte paints with properties that make them “scrubbable” or easier to clean. Eggshell paints have just the slightest of sheens, imparting a faint glow that can still hide imperfections. Satin paints provide a sophisticated, muted glow, while semi-glosses provide a beautiful, polished shine. Gloss and high-gloss sheens have mirror-like qualities for the ultimate in light-reflecting properties.

Along with aesthetic qualities, paint sheen can affect how well a paint resists dirt and stains and how easily it cleans. Generally speaking, the higher the gloss, the more durable the finish and easier it is to clean. The downside of a glossier paint is how easily it highlights imperfections due to its light-reflecting qualities.

Tip 6: Pick the Right Color – With ColorReader EZ!

There are few things more disheartening than going through all the prep work and finally getting to painting only to find you don’t like the color. Color decision making is challenging for many people (40% of all paint sales are for re-painting due to dissatisfaction with the original paint color choice) resulting in either living with a color you don’t really like or spending the money and time to re-do your project.

The solution to this dilemma is simple – the ColorReader EZ. This Bluetooth®-enabled device and accompanying app lets you scan the flat surface of any color you like to get its top 3 paint color matches in an instant. Then simply tap your color match to find coordinating colors, including Complimentary, Analogous, Monochromatic and Triad color palettes, taking the guesswork out of trying to figure out what colors go together, as well as giving you some additional color inspiration you can be confident with.

Found new outdoor seat cushions you love? Use your ColorReader EZ to scan it to find a coordinating color to paint the chairs you’ll be using them on. Did you score on a yard sale dresser that needs some TLC? Scan a shade in your bedding with your ColorReader EZ to find a color to paint it and give it new life (don’t forget to add some new hardware for a real transformation!). Need some window treatments for your dining room? Scan your wall color for its paint match then tap on it to get coordinating colors ideas for window treatments.