Paint gives you the fastest upgrade to a room of any project, but it can sometimes feel like more work than it’s worth. Learning just a few tricks can shave hours off your process while still producing smooth results.
Paint Rooms in Order of Impact
If you’re on a time crunch, paint rooms that impact your everyday experience first. Entryways, living rooms, kitchens, and main bedrooms offer the biggest visual payoff since they are used frequently and define the mood of your home.
Complete one room before starting another, whenever possible. It is more rewarding to walk into a finished space than to look at three half painted ones. Cleaning up between each room also helps you pace your process instead of running ragged at the end. Paying attention during these projects will help you see which shortcuts truly work.
Take Care of Prep Work Instead of Doors
Painting takes more time stuck on edging and correcting mistakes than on straightforward wall sections. Fixing walls before you begin lets everything go on easier and prevents frustration with multiple touch ups. Taking care of preparation will save you time later.
- Wipe down walls with a damp microfiber cloth before you open any paint cans.
- Fill in any nail holes and light dents with quick dry spackle.
- Use painter’s tape only around windows or where straight lines are necessary.
- Take outlet covers off before painting instead of carefully painting around them.
- Keep a small trash bag next to your tape so you can discard trash and scraps easily.
If you prep walls properly, you can even get away with cheaper paint. Preparation isn’t about being fancy or using special tools. It’s making sure your wall doesn’t have distractions that make paintjobs look cheap.
Invest in Tools That Help
A good toolset makes every step of painting quicker and easier, especially if you hate cleaning up afterward. Invest in a high-quality roller cover, angled brush, tray liner, and handheld paint pail. You’ll be able to work quickly without worrying about slopping paint or missing edges.
- Purchase a roller with a nap that is close to the texture of your wall.
- Purchase an angled sash brush to cut in at corners and along trim.
- Buy an extension pole to reach ceilings and high areas faster.
- Keep a damp rag nearby to wipe up accidental drips.
- Transfer paint from the can into a smaller bucket for easier use.
Buying tools that fit your painting style is important. Small frustrations add up throughout a project. If each brush stroke feels good and each trip to the can involves less wasted paint, you’ll complete painting sooner. Your energy will be better reserved for details that might feel tedious after climbing a ladder all day.
Trim Only as Perfectly as Necessary
Trimming doesn’t have to be perfect to look professional. Painting in small sections helps you maintain a better hand for cutting in straight lines. Avoid loading your brush up all the way so you have better control as you go.
Below is a quick comparison of trimming tips and tools to make the process efficient.
| Technique | Purpose | Tool | Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light brush strokes | Edge control | Angled brush | Straighter lines |
| Roll over trim lightly | Blend brush marks | Paint roller | Smoother finish |
| Avoid overloading brush | Control paint application | Trim brush | Reduced drips |
| Skip excessive taping | Save time | None | Faster trimming |
With these techniques in mind, you can streamline trimming and maintain a professional-looking result.
Stroke along your edge lightly, and then use your roller to lightly go over the paint you just applied with your brush. This technique is much faster than trying to tape everything you plan to paint. It also tends to leave straighter lines once it dries.
Painting Walls Vs. Trim: What Should You Do First?
You can go faster by painting in a consistent pattern. If it’s easier to cut in your trim without getting paint on walls, do those sections first. Next, tackle walls one larger section at a time.
Having a system to your painting helps you avoid retracing steps. You can also see missed spots sooner rather than letting them dry behind layers of fresh paint. Paint from the top down so that drips land on unpainted areas. Always roll next to your wet edge before the first section completely dries. Painting in this method helps you avoid lap marks and can enable you to cover more wall faster because you aren’t doubling back.
Pick Colors That Do Double Duty
Dark colors hide less imperfection while lighter colors make a space feel brighter and bigger. Some colors inherently have more forgiving qualities than others. Light, warm whites and greiges, muted cool blues, and blue greens will serve you well.
- Paint large swatches on different walls to make sure you actually like the color on your walls.
- Look at your paint color during day and night to make sure it works with your lighting as well.
- Satin and eggshell finishes tend to look better for living spaces.
- Paint adjoining rooms the same color to create harmony when doors are open.
- Pick brighter accent colors for small rooms that need some energy.
Choosing the right color not only makes your job painting easier, but it can help tie together your entire space. Using matching or complementary colors between rooms can help you avoid making tricky painting decisions on trim. Contrasting colors take more time to get perfect, and they won’t make your overall space feel larger.
Use Dry Time to Multi Task
Don’t let dry time slow you down. Use the time that paint is drying to clean brushes or roll in another room. If you need to go back and cut in more, that’s a task that can be done while you wait. You can also use dry time to gather screws and fixtures for the reinstallation process.
You shouldn’t rush painting just because you want to get started on something else. Ignoring dry time limits may seem like you are getting ahead, but issues with sticky paint can come back to bite you. Slow down between coats if the paint can says to. You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to sand down areas where your tape pulled up paint.
Don’t Be Afraid to Call in Reinforcements
Painting can actually be less expensive when you hire a professional to do certain areas. Painting your stairwell, ceilings, patched drywall, orintricate trim is often faster for a professional. In most cases, their experience will save you time and they will likely do it safer.
Hiring help is worth it if your schedule doesn’t have room for error. Painting errors take even more time to fix than they did to make. Professionals can cut in often faster than beginners can roller. If you’re short on time, you can save time by letting someone else take care of part of your project.
Take Time to Finish Edges
Paintings looks worst when walls meet trim. Taking an extra few minutes to finish off your painting project can leave it looking professional. Change knobs and hardware back on carefully. Remove your painter’s tape while paint is dry but not cured. Areas that touch trim are easy to miss, so take a closer look before walking away.
Store leftover paint in a dry place with the room name and color clearly marked. Matching paint colors take too long and you will likely never get the color quite right. If you plan on doing another project soon, clean your brushes correctly and store them in your paint can. This way the brushes won’t dry bent or wonky.
Instead of watching weeks of your life disappear into renovations, use this guide to paint smarter. Your wall will thank you by looking finished when you know you actually spent very little time on them.
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