Painting Tips and Ideas to Save Time, Money and Inspire!
I have done a lot of painting over the years and with all my recent projects, I thought I would share a few things that make painting easier for me and might work for you to!
Paint samples: worth the time and effort
Invest in the time and the few dollars they cost to pop up a sample of the paint you think you want. You might not actually love it on your walls. Lighting, flooring, large furnishings, time of day, etc… can really change the look of paint from the can, to your walls. Wet and dry make a difference too.
*Just keep in mind that paint samples are not the same quality of paint that manufactures sell in their quarts and gallons, so unless you seal a surface that a sample paint is used on, it will not age/wear like the real deal.
Deepwell Paint Tray: refill less and save time.
The Deepwell Plastic Paint Trays are professional-style and hold more paint than the average silver metal trays. I find them more stable and the legs hook on to your ladder perfectly. The brush holder on the Deepwell Paint Tray is super handy for cutting in and touching up as you roll too.
Deepwell Paint Tray Liners: just buy them.
You get 2 for $1.57. Use it, pitch it, move on.
For .79 cents, it’s not worth cleaning your tray or finagling some make-shift liner.
Use The RightTools
Use Good Quality Brushes: I use and prefer Purdy
They don’t pay me to say that either. Darn. lol. I’ve used Purdy brushes for years and years. In fact, I had to buy doubles when my dad and I were painting the exterior of our current home, since we were always “fighting” over who got tho use which brush! Pretty sure I’ve got about every size and variety. Nothing gives nice, crisp lines like a Purdy angled brush!
(my personal opinion)
Cover Your Rollers: to work another day
When you’ve got more painting to do but you’re ready to knock-off for the day, cover your rollers and they’ll be ready to work hard for you again tomorrow.
Cover Slim Size Roller Sleeves
Cover Full Size Roller Sleeves
Saran Wrap covers wonderfully and if you’re using more then one color and they are similar, make sure to pop a piece of tape on it and remind yourself what color you were rolling with it! Saves mix ups and mistakes. (and time!)
I was only using wall color and trim color. So labeling one worked just fine.
You can also use plastic grocery sacks to cover your full size rollers. They work like a charm and are free.
Cover Paint Brushes: for breaks or overnights
Same goes for brushes. Need a break? Wrap your brush in a baggy or tin foil to keep it wet and moist and you can skip the cleaning step until your project is complete. Make sure it’s air tight so it doesn’t dry out!
Paint Tray Covers: breaks and lunch hour
Those pop up foil sheets are so super handy and work great for covering your tray pan when not in use.
Some of my favorite bloggers are uber talented DIY’ers and I want to share some of their completed projects with you. These are some fun ideas you may want to try in YOUR home!! A little something for everyone…
Roeshel from DIY Show Off shows you how to paint a Herringbone/Chevron Style Accent Wall!
This thing pops and is full of Zing!
Maryann of Domestically Speaking shares a full tutorial on painting Ombre Walls with us here.
This is the most beautiful ombre wall and she walks you through it perfectly!
Debbie of Debbiedoo’s shows us how to wow with paint.. and stencils!
This ceiling stencil as a medallion is stunning.
We always hear how “paint can transform a space” and it still amazes me today. I know I can’t wait until our floors are done so I can decorate and share our new space with you!!!! If you follow me on facebook or instagram you’ll have seen some updates as I work. I share willy-nilly so some things might pop up one place and others somewhere else. lol. I’m so excited already, and everything is still a big, fat mess. If you’d like a peek at the floors you can click here.
Thanks for stopping by!!
Linda Cole says
Thanks for the tips. I am going to print them out & give a copy to my “never painted before” brother. He needs all the help he can get…lol!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage says
Awesome!! So glad you shared that. Good to know they are being found helpful (: Shannon