What I Wish I Knew Before Painting a Room

I really started my DIY journey after we moved into our current home, and I’ve learned so much by trial and error along the way. There’s something kind of magical (and mildly chaotic) about figuring things out as you go, but I’ve also spent so much time scrolling Pinterest, searching blog posts, and watching YouTube tutorials. At some point, I thought—why not share the things I wish I had known before starting all these projects? So that’s exactly what I’m doing here.

I figured it would be good to start with painting because 1) paint is literal magic – its power to transform a space makes it a great way to make a big impact in your home with low cost and skill, and 2) painting requires few tools and can be done relatively quickly. You can easily paint a room in a weekend!

So, here are a few things I wish I knew before painting a room:

DON’T SKIP THE PREP WORK.
You’re going to want to jump right in and start painting, but I promise, taking the time to prep your space will make all the difference in the final result and how long it lasts. What does prep mean? It’s anything and everything from patching holes, sanding down rough patches, and making sure you start with clean walls. It also means taking the time to tape off any areas you don’t want to get paint on, such as window casings and baseboards, and laying down a tarp to catch any drops of paint you don’t want to have to try to get off your carpet or flooring. I also recommend taking off any outlet or light switch covers as well.

QUALITY MATTERS.
Whether it’s your tools or the paint itself, choosing the right products makes all the difference. Not all brushes and rollers are created equal, and cheap ones will leave behind lint, streaks, or just don’t hold paint well. Spending a few more dollars on high-quality brushes, rollers, and painter’s tape saves a lot of hassle later (and additional trips to the store!). Use tools made for the job you’re doing, whether it’s walls, trim, doors, or furniture.

Likewise, pick a paint that’s made for what you’re painting. Cabinets and doors get touched all the time, so they hold up better with a urethane enamel. For walls, it’s the finish that matters. Flat or matte paint is great for spaces that don’t get a ton of traffic, like bedrooms or ceilings, because they’re not very forgiving when it comes to scuffs or fingerprints. Eggshell has a little bit of sheen and is easier to clean, so it’s perfect for rooms like living rooms and home offices. Satin is a good option for areas that see more action, like kids’ bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways. It’s durable and wipes clean, but isn’t too shiny either.

Spend a little time thinking about the project before going to the store – how is the space used, what surfaces are you painting – to make sure you grab the right products the first time!

YOU MIGHT GET IT WRONG.
Shortly after we moved into our home, I decided I wanted to give our exterior doors a pop of color. Sherwin Williams had announced that Cavern Clay was their Color of the Year, a terracotta earthy color. Boho design was trending so I thought it would be the perfect color to add to our home! Well, as you can see here, the paint looked very orange, and with green cabinets and yellow linoleum floor, our kitchen was now screaming 1970s. This color just did not work in our home or with our home.

But the good news is paint is relatively inexpensive and, honestly, I would say it never hurts to try a color. If you’re anything like me, once you get an idea you won’t be able to change direction until you see it play out. That was definitely the case with these doors. I really thought Cavern Clay was going to be it. I even tried living with this decision for a few weeks thinking maybe the color would grow on me. But, in the end, I had to acknowledge it just wasn’t right. Because of the darker color of the cabinets and because I didn’t want to accentuate the old linoleum flooring in any way, I ended up going with a muted, more neutral color and it worked much better for the space.

Sometimes (hopefully most of the time!) you’ll get the color right, but just know it’s ok if you get done painting and just feel a sense of hmm, what have I done? Sometimes you just won’t know until you see it. To avoid some of this headache, you can buy samples and test them out in the room. Paint them on different walls and take a look at them at different times of day. It’s incredible how much a color can change depending on light!

PAINT IS MAGIC.
I didn’t know how to use power tools (not even a drill) when we first moved into this house. I really only knew how to paint. But I set out to start making this house our own through painting, and it never fails to amaze me how much a fresh coat and color could change the entire feel of a space.

If you’re ready to start painting, know this—it’s totally okay to not know everything at first. I sure didn’t. I made messy edges, used the wrong tools, and skipped steps I thought didn’t matter (they did). But every mistake taught me something, and that’s how you build confidence. So don’t stress about being perfect—just get started. Take your time, learn as you go, and remember to enjoy the process of making your house your home.

Happy painting!