From the outside, painting a home’s interior can seem like one of the easier home remodeling jobs. There isn’t wiring, pipes, or heavy equipment involved, and you won’t have to change the structure of the home in a major way.
But just because interior painting is a relatively accessible DIY job doesn’t mean it’s without difficulties. But knowing the most common challenges of painting a room will help you navigate those difficulties when they arise.
Choosing a Paint Color
Choosing the color you want in a room seems straightforward on paper. If you want a room to be light blue, simply pick light blue paint. However, several factors impact the way any shade of any color appears once it’s on the walls. These include:
- The lighting in the room
- The previous color of the walls
- The type of floor and trim
- The color of the furniture
- Other wall colors
Because of this, a color may look one way on a swatch and another when you’ve added it to the walls. The best way to be sure what the color will look like is to paint a small patch of wall in the room and allow it to dry completely. Then, decide whether you want that shade or not.
Pro Tip:
Colors look different when they’re placed directly next to other colors than they do on their own. If you’re testing multiple colors, be sure you put a space between them to get a better feel for what it will look like.
Repairing Damaged Walls
Oftentimes, we use paint to obscure imperfections. However, some imperfections are more severe than others, such as cracks, dents, or nail holes. Simply painting over these can impact the longevity of the paint job, so it’s essential you take the time to repair damaged walls before painting for a smoother finish.
The same idea applies to mold. Attempting to paint over that kind of damage can lead to a mold problem becoming worse. Be sure you have remediation done in a room affected by mold before you start painting.
Having Ideal Drying Conditions
All paint dries eventually, but the conditions in your home can impact how well or how evenly it dries. If it’s too hot, the paint will dry too quickly, leading to cracks. If it’s too cold, the paint may not dry quickly enough and have trouble bonding to the wall. As long as the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees, the process should happen just fine.
High moisture can also impede your paint’s ability to dry. High humidity will make the process take longer, resulting in lifting and bubbles.
There are numerous challenges associated with painting your interior, but the risks are well worth the cost. A smooth paint job will add value to your home, protect your walls, and improve your home’s aesthetic.