How To Paint Walls

It’s no secret that painting a room can be expensive. So before you even start, it’s important to figure out how to paint walls on your own so you can save some money while still getting the look you want for your space. This can also help you paint other rooms in the house like bathrooms and kitchen, and repainting bathroom, how much paint to paint a dresser , concrete basement floor paint ideas or deciding on the best finish for kitchen cabinets.

There are many different ways that people use when painting their walls, and each has its pros and cons. Some of these methods might work better for one person than they would for another, depending on what kind of results they want or need.

In this article, we’ll go over a few different ways to paint your walls so you can choose the method that works best for you.

Let's dive deep into this topic. 

Use an eggshell or semi-gloss paint for a smooth finish

Many people who use oil-based paints and spray paints swear by their results. They will say that nothing beats the look of a fresh coat of paint sprayed on smoothly with a nice finish.

If you want to achieve this look, there are two different types that you can use: eggshell or semi-gloss. These finishes provide a smooth, glossy look that’s clean and professional-looking.

As far as price is concerned, eggshell paint will generally be the cheapest option on your list since it is available at most home stores. It isn’t quite as glossy as semi-gloss or high gloss paints, but it still gives you a nice finish to work with.

Semi-gloss paint will cost you a little more than eggshell paint, but in return, you get a little bit of extra shine in your finish. This can give whatever color you choose an even a shinier look than if painted with eggshell alone.

The downside to using these methods is that they are not very forgiving; any mistakes that are made during application will likely show up in the result. In addition, these paints do not dry as quickly as other types, so you must be careful when using them to avoid smudges or bubbling. 

High gloss paint

If your goal is to make your walls look slick and shiny with a high-gloss finish, then this is the best paint type for you. It’s very oily and dries to a smooth finish that can be easy to clean.

Unlike semi-gloss or eggshell paint, high-gloss does not give off much shine at all; however, it still has enough of a glossy sheen to give any room an extra bit of distinction from regular flat paint.

This type of paint is only recommended for painting bare walls or when you are looking to change the color of a room drastically because it can be easily ruined by any imperfections in the wall. If your walls have imperfections that you would like to cover up with a new coat of paint, then this isn’t the type for you.

In addition, high-gloss paints may not be ideal if you will be basing your design style around lower maintenance and fewer cleanings; however, they do make excellent choices for children’s rooms or living areas where there will likely be more messes made than usual. You might also want to give them a shot if you like the look of glossy surfaces.

Consider any wood paneling that needs to be painted

Painting wood paneling can be tricky, but it’s certainly not impossible. If your walls are covered in wood paneling, you will want to consider that before choosing which paint type to use.

If the wood has been treated with something such as a stain or polyurethane, then you should stick to paintbrushes instead of rollers. Using too much pressure on the roller can cause bubbles and smudges in the finish when using this method.

The same goes for any wall art or decorations that might be mounted directly onto the wood panels; if they have been stained or painted previously, then don’t try to change their color with new coats of paint unless you know what you are doing.

Depending on what the paneling is made of, you can try using a fishtail paintbrush so that you can get the most out of your paint without leaving brush strokes behind.

If the wood has not been treated with anything else, then rollers might be the best way to go when it comes to painting it. However, this will depend on how much texture there is on its surface and whether or not it has been sanded as well.

If it hasn’t been sanded at all, then rolling will give a smoother finish than brushing; but if it has been sanded before, then brushing may leave fewer streaks and marks behind since the bristles are softer than the roller. 

Paint any unfinished cabinets you might have

An unfinished cabinet will make the general look and feel of your cabinet feel off. By painting unfinished cabinets, you will make them feel more like a cohesive part of your home.

While it’s possible to paint the insides of cabinets, it’s much easier and quicker to cover them with contact paper before painting the outside. This method will give you a smooth surface that is easy to clean without worrying about accidentally damaging the paint on the inside by doing so.

Just make sure that the cabinets are empty when trying this type of finishing technique; otherwise, things might get messy quickly.

How do I paint over existing wallpaper?

Paint can only be applied to wallpaper when it is in good condition. If the paper itself is too weathered, then applying paint isn’t going to work. You will need to remove the wallpaper and start over from square one for this to work.

If there are bubbles or discoloration on top of your walls due to existing wallpaper, you should first carefully scrape them off with a razor so that they don’t fray your new paint job as you apply it on top of them. 

Once those things are taken care of, use a mixture of water and wood glue instead of normal water so that the plaster underneath doesn’t get damaged by moisture. You should then let the paper dry overnight before painting over it.

Once this is done, you can paint directly on top of your wallpaper as long as you do so in light coats using a roller instead of a brush, and don’t try to go back on top of any already painted areas before they have completely dried. Once again, this will depend on whether or not you used wood glue underneath.

If you did not use wood glue, wait a full 24 hours between coats, otherwise only wait about 3 to 4 hours if you did use it. It may be helpful to apply an additional coat of primer to these newly painted sections to ensure that the color lasts longer and helps prevent fading. Make sure not to apply the primer directly on top of your wallpaper, only in newly painted areas.

How do I paint over an existing wall tile?

If you are painting over an existing wall tile, you should first remove any discoloration or bubbles on top by scraping them off with a razor. There is no need to go back and forth across them, simply scrape it downwards once or twice and that should be enough. If there are any cuts or breaks in the tiles themselves, then lightly sanding them down first will make sure that your new paint doesn’t chip off easily later as well. Another good idea is priming all of the tiles ahead of time so that your paint job lasts much longer.

How do I paint over my fireplace?

Before you start painting, make sure to cover the sides of your fireplace with either thick cardboard or plastic drop cloths. Make sure that no part of them is glued or taped to the wall itself, as this will cause problems later on once you are ready to paint. This might be a good time to switch out any broken tiles too before you get started. Once all of those things have been taken care of, follow the same steps for preparing new walls and painting over wallpaper. You can even go back and redo an area if needed by using a primer first and painting last.

How do I paint over my windows? 

Before you start, make sure that all windows are in the open position so that any moisture from your primer or wet-on-wet layers won't damage them later on. You may also want to tape off the upper parts of the window with masking tape. If there are small gaps between the trim and opening itself, then you should fill those up with some extra spackle before you begin your project. You will also need to prep your freshly painted surfaces ahead of time before repainting the windows since they will stick out once the sun's UV rays come streaming through.

Final thoughts on how to paint walls

In conclusion, it is up to you to decide which one of the above-mentioned painting techniques will be most suitable for your walls. If you plan on making some further improvements in your room, make sure that paints will be compatible with all other types of finishes used in the rest of the room.