Painting
How to Paint Interiors
Painting with Brushes and Rollers
First some basics on brushes, rollers, and choosing the right tools for the job.
Choose your tools
You'll most likely be using latex-based paint, so choose brushes with synthetic bristles.
| Use a 2" straight brush for interior trim and "cutting in." | Use a roller or power sprayer to larger areas. If you use a sprayer, mask carefully. |
| Consider an edge pad for "cutting in" around door and window frames. When used correctly, edge pads spread paint evenly and produce clean lines. |
Loading a Brush
Moisten the brush with water (for latex paint) then squeeze out any excess fluid.
Dip the brush in the paint carefully, placing no more than 2/3 of the bristles into the paint and move the brush around a bit the first time to saturate the brush with paint.
Pull the brush up and let the excess paint drip off—overloading leads to drips, runs, and spatter. You can also remove some excess paint by pulling the bristles against the edge of the paint can.
Loading a Roller
First get the roller a little damp. Use a thinner for alkyd-based paint and plain old water for latex.
Roll off any excess. Fill the roller well about half way and lower the roller into the middle.
Roll up and down the slope of the pan to saturate the roller and roll off any excess.
Painting
Other Painting Links:
- Interior Painting Tips
- Using Brushes and Rollers
- Selecting Painting Tools to minimize Clean-Up and Waste
- Painting Ceilings and Walls
- Choosing a Paint Finish
- Selecting Paint to Minimize Waste
- Using Interior Wall Epoxy
- How Much Paint Do I Need?
- Storing Paint
- Disposing of Left-Over Paint
- Recycling
- Interior Decorative Painting Tips
- Brilliant Metals How-to Guide
- Brushed Pearl How-to Guide
- Brushed Suede How-to Guide
- Color Washing How-to Guide
- Crackle Effects How-to Guide
- Dragging, Linen Weave How-to Guide
- Granite How-to Guide
- Metals and Patinas How-to Guide
- Rag Rolling How-to Guide
- Sandstone How-to Guide
- Sponging How-to Guide
- Textured Stone How-to Guide
- Tuscan Accents How-to Guide
- Venetian Plaster How-to Guide
More information about proper surface preparation, and advanced techniques.
Beauty and performance
Choose Valspar interior and exterior paints and primers.
Comfortably classic
Traditional interiors combine classicism with comfort.
Explore the opportunity
Try thousands of paint color combinations online in a range of rooms.