One simple way to give your home a renovated look without tearing down walls is to add a new coat of paint to your walls. This can really change the general feeling of a room and can provide you with a comfortable change that doesn’t cost thousands of dollars. Of course, if you’re still trying to keep to a budget you may be a bit worried about the task at hand. There are lots of different tricks to getting a paint job finished without forcing you to feel like you’ve spent too much money on the job. So instead of crunching numbers to make up for your high cost project you’ll easily be able to sit back and enjoy the beautiful new room you’ve created for your home.
1. Skip the Painter’s Tape
A lot of people think they need to tape off a room before painting, which can really add a lot to the final total of your project. Instead of working with painter’s tape you can easily find a solution to your paint problems. For example, if you’re working with tight edges around the ceiling or base boards then you might want to go around these areas with a fine tip brush. This will help prevent painting spreading onto the ceiling while also ensuring you can the area properly coated. It might take a bit longer to do, but you won’t have to worry about paint drips or missing areas. You might also consider removing the base boards and molding before you paint. This will give you an easy way to give the room a perfectly finished look without forcing you to tape off areas. If you plan on working with special designs for the room then try to buy a cheaper masking tape. It will cost you less and will do pretty much the same job.
2. Tablecloths
Protecting your flooring from paint drops is a must when you’re reworking a room. Most hardware stores will sell a painter’s plastic to put down to cover the areas. Unfortunately, this plastic has the consistency of a cheap trash bag most of the time, which can easily rip if you’re working with a ladder or certain types of shoes. Instead of worrying about this overpriced plastic you may want to look into getting some tablecloths. Most table cloths have a thicker design which will help prevent ripping and sliding while you’re working. Of course, a tablecloth won’t cover the entirely of a room, but they’re easy to put into place and the heavier design will help keep them in place. You should be able to get a great place on a tablecloth at a discount store and you may even be able to buy them in bulk packages. If you’re looking for the cheapest route possible then you might want to look at a thrift store to see if there’s any used one. When you’re finished with the job simply bag the cloths up for next time.
3. Moldings
When you’re working on a room make sure you remove the moldings before you begin painting and then set them aside and forget about them. A lot of people will paint these items first as they find it easier than to start in on the entire room. In order to save on paint you may actually want to get the room out of the way. Usually you will use most of your paint while working on the room, however there will always be a small amount of paint left in the bottom of the tin that isn’t always convenient to use on the room. Instead of simply throwing this paint out you can easily use it all to paint the moldings. This will also save you time as you can easily paint the moldings while you’re waiting for your last coat of paint to dry. They should be dry right around the time your room is.
4. Consider Primer
One major problem with painting is many people choose to skip out on the priming step. This can really become a huge waste of paint if you’re not careful. Primer is especially important if you’re trying to cover up a very dark color or if you’re going from a dark color to a lighter color. Primer goes on as a first coat so you won’t have to worry about using your good paint to keep going over the old paint. You might even notice that when you use a primer the color of your room will become more vibrant and colorful rather than dull and diluted by the older color. Primer is also a whole lot cheaper than the colored paint you will choose for your final color. So, if you’re going to use primer make sure that you do a second coat if you feel the wall needs it. This will prevent any major problems with your paint so you’ll be left with an amazing paint job when you’re finished.
5. Line Pan
If you’ve ever painted with a roller before you know how hard it is to clean out the pan afterward. A lot of people simply skip the cleaning step and start the cleaning process by just throwing the roller pan in the garbage. Instead of wasting a pan from your paint job you may want to try to line the pan with a garbage bag instead. This will allow you to pain with ease without having to worry about cleaning up afterward. When you’re finished with the job simply lift up the trash bag and store the pan away for your next job. This technique also comes in handy when you’re painting more than one color. When you’re finished with your first color remove the bag and add a new one for the second color. Then when you go back to work on your second coat you can easily use the same bag as before to finish the job.
6. Sales
If you’re looking for the best time to paint then you might want to consider waiting until there is a major sale. A lot of sales occur during the winter because most people don’t want to paint during the cold season. You may be able to find some amazing colors on sale, especially if you love the bright colors that are typically sold during the summer season. You may also want to wait for off trend paint colors. Just as in the fashion world there are also many color trends that occur in the interior design world. If you fall in love with a color that happens to be in fashion then you may want to wait awhile before actually purchasing the color you like. This will give you time to make sure you actually enjoy the color while also ensuring that it will be offered at a discounted price when you do get around to buying the paint.
7. Mistake Paint
A lot of people tend to paint when they absolutely have to. If you have a project that needs a quick redo then you may want to skip the planning. Instead head to your favorite paint store and ask about mistake paint. This paint is generally made up for other customers, but is a color that doesn’t meet their satisfaction. This paint might leave you planning on a whim but it tends to save you money in the long run. The mistake paint is usually marked down quite a bit to begin with since it is mixed in advance, but if you ask you may be able to get an even greater discount on the paint. Of course, you may only be able to buy one mistake paint to suit your personal palette so be prepared to spend a bit more for the second paint can.
8. Paint Thick
If you enjoy getting the job done fast and using less paint then you may want to take a note from the pros and learn to paint thick. A lot of people think that it is important to use all of the paint on the roller before going back for more. This can leave you with a thin coat of paint that not only will cause you to use more paint, but will also force you to do more work. Instead try working with more paint on the brush. This will lay on a thicker coat originally so you may not have to go back to work on that dreaded second coat. The thicker coat might also help you get a cleaner finish so you won’t have to worry about touching up the room any time soon.
9. Utilize Plastic Bag
Sometimes painting a room can take several days which means you’ll be cleaning out rollers and brushes everyday if you don’t want to waste money on new brushes and roller. Instead of having your brushes dry or dealing with spending too much time and water on cleaning out brushes you can place your painting material in a plastic bag to avoid them drying out over night. A lot of people will also place the bag in the freezer, but it should be fine to leave them tied up over night. With the bag keeping your brushes moist you should be able to get the job done without needlessly washing out brushes and rollers or dealing with materials that have dried out too much. Of course, if you’re working with more than one color you should be careful to place each individual color in a different bag so the colors don’t mix together. You can easily use grocery bags on this aspect of the job too, so you don’t have to spend more money on painting supplies.
10. Know Your Paint
When it comes to shopping for paint it is incredibly important to figure out what paint is right for your home. If you choose the wrong paint then you may end up with a finished product that you can’t leave up. Instead of wasting your time and money you should always make sure to know what type of surface you’re painting on before you actually buy the paint. With the correct paint you’ll be to get the job done in one period of time while having a result you can be proud of. If you’re unsure about your walls then you should ask a professional’s advice before you make your purchase. Most paint departments should be able to point you in the right direction, but you may want to bring a picture of your walls to help make it easier to identify the paint you need. One mistake many consumers make is accidentally picking up exterior paint for the interior or vice versa because they are often placed on the wrong shelf. This is an easy mistake to make, so make sure you check the labels before you check out with your purchase.
Painting your home can be an experience that leaves you feeling more pride in your home. With your knowledge of painting supplies and how to stretch your money further you’ll be more apt to give your home an update. These tips will improve the look of your home while also leaving you satisfied with the area you reside. You may even find that the money value of your home is higher than you ever expected it to be, which could help raise the value of your simple home update.
