Painting hacks for home decorators

From the Resene decorating blog

New to painting? Or looking for a better finished result? There’s nothing more demoralising than committing to a DIY interior makeover – or simple paint refresh, and ending up disappointed in the finished result.

Here are some simple painting tips, tricks and hacks from Resene for home decorators to help ensure your walls end up more “Wow!” than “Whoops!”

A lounge with a bold painted rectangle

Painting trim and special features in a room first, means less masking and less likelihood of drips and mistakes.

Careful preparation gives this room added drama, with a bold rectangle painted in Resene Hot Toddy framing a statement couch. Main wall painted in Resene Nero, peg stool and tabletop in Resene Half Gravel and table legs in Resene Double Merino. Couch from Contempa. Project by Megan Harrison-Turner, image by Bryce Carleton.

A blue hallway with a dramatic backdrop

Going over a wall with a hand-held light before preparation and painting, helps you spot – and fix – any flaws in the surface that may mar your final result.

This wall painted in Resene Bluetooth gives a perfect, dramatic backdrop to a bold table in Resene Wishing Well. Practical hooks painted in Resene Wishing Well, Resene Noir and Resene Japonica turn an unused hallway into a practical, eye-catching entranceway. Floor in Resene Alabaster and vase in Resene Wishing Well. Shoes from H&M, artwork by Dada22 from Pop Motif. Project by Vanessa Nouwen, image by Melanie Jenkins.

Choose your paint

No-one wants to have streaks of testpot colours dotted around your room, so paint A2 card with two coats of your Resene testpot colours leaving a white border or about 2cm. This means you can easily check your colours in different parts of the room at different times of the day, and in different lights. The white border helps you see the true paint colour, without it merging into your existing wall colour.
As a rough guide to working out how much paint you’ll need for your project, a litre of paint should cover about 12 sqm in one coat. Measure the length and height/width of your wall, ceiling or floor and multiply the two figures to work out your square metres. Divide that number by 12 to work out how many litres you’ll need, then double it to allow for two coats. The number of coats you might need could depend on the condition of your walls so check with staff at your Resene ColorShop.

Home office - dramatic paint finish

Careful preparation with cleaning, sanding and sealing helps ensure a bold, dramatic final paint finish that will last. Main wall and floor painted in Resene Ravine, office square in Resene Pumice, desk and bookshelf in Resene Blue Smoke, chair in Resene Harp, rubbish bin in Resene Armadillo, ladder in Resene Pewter, magazine file and plant pot in Resene Yucca and vases, bowls and smaller accessories painted in Resene Napa, Resene Yucca, Resene Blue Smoke, Resene Pewter, Resene Ravine, Resene Haven, Resene Pumice and Resene Harp. Project by Vanessa Nouwens, image by Wendy Fenwick.

Preparation, preparation, preparation

Getting your prep right is the most common bit of painting advice for good reason. It is the foundation on which your final result is built. Good preparation helps ensure a smooth, flawless finish and a longer life for your topcoats. For new plasterboard walls that means ensuring the surface is clean, dust-free and coated with a sealer like Resene Broadwall Wallboard Sealer. For surfaces that are being repainted, sand and clean with Resene Interior Paintwork Cleaner. Fill in any dents, gaps or holes with filler, dry and sand smooth.
Fabric Resene drop cloths are best on carpeted areas, rather than plastic, as they’re less likely to slip on the floor, and you’re less likely to slip on them. However if you have a major spill you will need to clean it up quickly as it can bleed through the fabric.
To find any dents or imperfections in your wall, go over the wall with a bright, handheld light. Mark any imperfections with a pencil or masking tape so you can see them again to fix. This is a particularly good idea if you’re going to be using a gloss-finish top coat as it will show any imperfections.

Make crisp finished edges around skirting and trims

Crisp finished edges around skirting and trims emphasise your colour choices.

These walls are painted in Resene Rice Cake, skirting boards in Resene Tablelands and plywood flooring in Resene Aquaclear. Vases painted in Resene Smitten, Resene Hive, Resene Just Dance and Resene Twisted Sister while the DIY artwork is in Resene Tablelands, Resene Smitten, Resene Ethereal, Resene Twisted Sister, Resene Hive and Resene Just Dance and lampshade in Resene Quarter Bokara Grey and Resene Hive. Shade from Freedom, runner from the Ivy House. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

Clever masking can be used to create crisp edges

Clever masking can be used to create crisp edges on different surfaces.

The bottom of these paper lanterns is painted in Resene Sweet Corn. Upper wall painted in Resene Eagle, lower wall in Resene Waiouru, floor in Resene Colorwood Mid Greywash, skirting board in Resene Ottoman, planters in Resene Cut Glass, round rattan cushion tops in Resene Eagle and shoes in Resene Waiouru. Pouf from Nood, rug from The Ivy House, paper lanterns from Trade Aid, teapot from Everyday Need, artwork by Rakai Karaitiana from endemicworld, mugs and book from An Astute Assembly. Project by Kate Alexander, image by Bryce Carleton.

Cutting in

As a rule, paint top down. That way if you drip paint it won’t wreck already painted areas. Make sure you cut in before you paint the whole ceiling or wall.
Masking is worth doing if you’re a beginner or just aren’t confident in the steadiness of your hand. Once you’ve masked the required edge on trims, leave the other side of the tape free, rather than pressing it down, so it acts as a shield for spills.
When painting skirting boards, press one edge of tape against the skirting where it joins the floor, and stick the second edge to newspaper to protect the floor.
If you don’t want to mask, invest in a good quality cutting-in brush with an angled edge. Smaller brushes are easier to handle for beginners, once you gain confidence, wider brushes help you cut in longer edges more cleanly.
Work from a small container of paint, rather than a large can, to avoid overloading your brush with paint (even if the edge is masked). This will also help to keep the paint in your original can in pristine condition.
If you do use painters’ masking tape, press the edge down with something like a putty scraper or even a kitchen knife to seal it, and prevent paint seeping underneath.
If you do get paint on the wrong surface when cutting in, use a paint scraper covered in a single layer of cloth and use it to wipe the unwanted paint away.

Using rollers

To simplify your clean-up line you can line your roller tray with a reusable plastic rubbish bag. Pour paint into that, then wash and reuse when finished.
Remove roller lint or fluff with a lint remover, or wrap it in painters’ masking tape. When removed it should take the excess lint with it.
Lightly dampen (do not soak) the roller before use.
Pour about three-quarters of a litre of paint into the roller tray and work the roller well into the paint. With new roller sleeves this usually takes a couple of minutes.
Apply paint in a ‘W’ pattern rather than in straight lines. It helps distribute paint evenly and avoids any visible lines forming between paint layers.
Keep the open side of the roller frame facing the part of the wall you’ve already painted to avoid leaving paint ridges between paint coats.
Cardboard tubes with lids, such as used but clean Pringles chip containers are great for storing clean, used roller sleeves.

General tips

Whether you’re using a roller or a brush, multiple light coats will give you a more even, smoother finish than fewer heavy coats.
Decant your paint into a smaller container for ease of handling and reduced waste.
Wrap a sturdy rubber band around the centre of your container or can. Wipe your brush on the rubber band to remove excess paint, rather than the edge of the container, where it can build up, causing lids to stick.
Prevent paint can lids sticking by drilling a few small holes around the inner rim, allowing excess paint to drain back into the can.
Write paint colours and where you used them in permanent marker on the top of cans, so they’re easy to remember and find.
If you don’t think you’ll remember what colours you painted a room, write the colour name in permanent marker on the inside of your light switches.
To avoid paint splatters on door knobs, cover them in tinfoil or clear reusable wrap. Reusable plastic wrap works well to prevent drips on light fittings.
Salvage stiff brushes by soaking in white vinegar.
Create drip catchers for your paintbrushes by cutting holes in large plastic lids and sliding them on to your brush handles.
Allow each coat (including base and undercoats) to fully dry before applying the next. The time it takes will depend on the type of coat you’re applying and what paint you are using. Internal and external temperatures, humidity and airflow will all play a part as well. Check with staff at your Resene ColorShop for advice.
To save doing a full clean-up between coats, slip your roller tray or paint container and brush inside a plastic bag while you take a break so things don’t dry out.
If you’re painting in gloomier areas consider wearing a headlamp to make sure you always have a good, uninterrupted light source. This is particularly useful for cutting in edges.