10 painting tips for beginners is just what you need to get started on a major house update! Grab a roller and let’s go!

Painting your house. You might love it, you might hate it. For me, I find painting a room very therapeutic. You accomplish so much in such a little amount of time.

Over the years I have learned some things to make painting a little easier and I wanted to share what I learned with you. Here are my painting tips for beginners so you’ll be a pro in no time at all!

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Painting Tips for Beginners

1. Invest in good quality paint.

In my experience this makes all the difference. A good quality paint goes on better, with less coats and the color looks more intense.

My favorite brand of paint is Sherwin Williams. Their colors look sharp and I have always had great results with their paint.

Always make sure to stir your paint. Even if they shook it at the store you need to still stir it to make sure the color is mixed well.

2. The good tools make all the difference.

If you are using the wrong style of paint brush or cheap materials it will take that much longer to paint.

I prefer Purdy paint brushes. They will last years if you take care of them correctly. I have been really happy with my Purdy brushes. I feel like they hold the paint well without a lot of splatter.

You also want to have a good roller. To reduce splatter when you roll make sure you pick a roller thickness that corresponds to what you are working on i.e. ceiling vs. textured walls vs. flat walls.

Invest in an extension rod attachment for your roller. It’s a lot easier to use the extension rod then to move around with a ladder.

3. Instead of taping, get an angled brush.

I hate taping. Like I avoid it at all cost. Plus, I’ve never been very impressed with the tape brands. I think the better approach is to have a good (Purdy) angled paint brush and learn the art of cutting in.

Cutting in means drawing a straight line with your paint brush between two colors. This is typically done between the ceiling and the walls or around the trim of windows.

All you do is cut in with the angled side of the brush against the wall slowly painting against trim, baseboards, cabinets, etc. While you are practicing your cutting in technique, the slower you paint the better. Even if you are slow at cutting at first, I still think it’s faster than taping off everything.

4. In a pinch, trash bags work great as paint tray liners.

I used to buy liners for paint trays all the time but then I discovered this trick. Instead of using the liner just cover the paint tray with a trash bag.

I like this especially for smaller rooms that won’t need much paint. If I am doing really large rooms or multiple rooms then I will still buy liners.

5. Cut in first, then roll.

Cutting in takes the longest to do so I like to get it out of the way first. It also shows me how far I need to roll the paint.

6. Covering your brush in aluminum foil will prevent them from drying out.

The rule of thumb I go by is if it will be over 24 hrs until you paint again, wash your brush. If it will be a couple of hours then cover it in aluminum foil.

This works great and doesn’t ruin my paint brush. I only use this approach for painting on the same day just at different times. I try to always wash out my brush at the end of each day.

7. Drop cloths are your friend.

I probably need to follow this rule better than I do, but the more you cover with drop cloths, the less likely you will have paint fall somewhere you didn’t want it to. But if that does happen see rule 8.

8. Wet paint can be wiped up easily if you do it quickly.

It will happen. You will accidentally have a drop of paint get on something you didn’t intend it to. When it does happen, the sooner you stop and wipe it up with a damp paper towel the easier it comes off.

I’ve had some drops of paint on carpet, baseboards, doors etc. If I stop right away and wipe it off, no problem. It’s when I wait that it is harder to get it up.

9. Learn how to clean your paint brush.

If you clean your brushes well they can last for years and years of painting! Wash your brushes in warm soapy water until the water runs clear.

Then use a paint comb to get all the paint out. Do not use a wire comb! This will ruin and break the bristle of the brush.

10. Store your paint brushes correctly.

The cardboard wrapper covering the brush is called the keeper. After the paint brush is clean, store it in its keeper so the brush will keep its shape. Hang the brush up for best results.

I think that is it! These are my painting tips for beginners and I hope this helps make your next project a breeze. Did I miss anything? Do you have any tips for painting a room you want to share? Let me know!!