There are many reasons to update your home’s interior paint—whether to refresh the look of a room, repurpose a space, complement new furnishings, revive faded or outdated walls, or prepare your home for sale. However, the cost of painting (or the perception of it) is often one of the biggest factors that hold people back from starting a painting project.
While selling your home can motivate you to tackle a fresh coat of paint, why wait until you’re moving out to transform your space into the home you’ve always wanted?
With some painting tips planning and preparation, it’s possible to achieve beautiful, professional-looking results on a budget when painting your interiors.
1. Plan Your Painting Project:
After watching a home renovation marathon, it’s easy to get excited about a fresh paint job. However, rushing into your painting project without a plan can lead to mistakes and overspending. A little preparation upfront will save you time, money, and frustration.
Start by asking yourself a few key questions:
How many rooms you are going to paint?
If you’re on a tight budget or schedule, focus on the rooms you use the most or the ones that need the most attention. For example, if the living room or kitchen is starting to look worn, those spaces might be your priority.
Consider your lifestyle, too. If you have young kids who love to draw on the walls or crash toys into baseboards, it might not be the best time to paint their playroom. But if you’ve been working from home in your office for a year and it’s starting to feel uninspiring, maybe that room should move up the list.
Planning will help you stay focused and ensure you get the best results without going over budget.
What colors will you choose for your space?
Be sure to think about every detail, from doors and ceilings to baseboards, window trim, accent walls, and closets. When planning your interior painting, it’s easy to overlook areas like closets or ceilings, but painting these can make a big difference in the final look. Skipping these details can reduce the overall impact, and it’s best to tackle them while you’re already buying paint and prepping the space.
This is also the perfect time to decide if you’d like to add an accent wall to make a room feel larger or to highlight a feature like a fireplace. Planning these details now will help you achieve a cohesive and impressive finish.
2. Calculate and Purchase Quality Tools And Paint:
Once you know how many rooms you’re painting and have chosen your colors and finishes, it’s time to shop smart! While you might be tempted to estimate how much paint you need by eye, this often leads to buying too much or running out, especially if you don’t factor in doors and windows.
Taking the time to measure first will save you both money and effort. A helpful paint calculator from Sherwin Williams can guide you. If it looks like you’re going over budget, this is a good moment to prioritize which rooms to start with.
Although it might seem like a good idea to save money by buying cheaper paint, this can backfire. High-quality paint covers better, meaning you’ll need less and might not need a primer for some walls. Plus, it lasts longer, so you won’t find yourself repainting in just a few years. Investing in good paint now will save you money and effort down the road.
3. Save Money with Smart Painting Choices
- Using The Same Color:
Consider using the same color in multiple rooms to save money. For example, a versatile greige might work well in your hallways and living room, or a soft blue could look great in both your powder room and child’s bedroom. Reusing colors helps reduce waste and makes buying paint more efficient.
- Touch Up:
Touch up areas instead of repainting entire rooms when possible. If some rooms can hold off on a full repaint but just need minor touch-ups, you’ll save both time and money.
- Paint Samples:
Invest in paint samples before committing to a color. Testing several colors on your walls under different lighting conditions can prevent costly mistakes. It’s better to find out now if a color isn’t right than to regret it after buying gallons of paint. If you’re eyeing popular neutral shades, a neighbor might even have samples or leftover paint you can try.
- Sales And Promotions:
Take advantage of sales, promotions, and coupons. Hardware stores often have sales around holidays or weekends. Following your local paint store on social media is another great way to catch deals.
Also read, Step-by-Step Guide: How to Paint Your Kitchen Cabinets
4. Buy Only the Essentials:
Painting requires the right tools—think brushes, rollers, ladders, and tape. (Sure, you could try balancing on dining room chairs and painting over unprotected floors, but we don’t recommend it!) To make the job easier and mess-free, here’s what you’ll need for interior painting:
- Brushes, rollers, roller trays, and extension poles if necessary
- A sturdy ladder
- Drop cloths to protect your floors
- Painter’s tape for clean edges
- Wall repair supplies like spackling, a putty knife, and sanding sponges for filling nail holes or patching
When shopping, stick to your list to avoid impulse buys and stay within budget. (For example, you might not need that fancy paint key on which tools are unnecessary.) Save all your receipts and keep items in their original packaging until you’re ready to use them. If you find you bought too many brushes or rollers, you can easily return the extras and save even more money.
Also read, Plastering & Painting- The Perfect Duo for a Flawless Finish
5. Prepping Saves You From Trouble (And Money)
When tackling a multi-room painting project on your own, it’s easy to start with enthusiasm and then rush as you go. You might be tempted to skip important steps like taping and covering surfaces just to speed things up.
But skipping prep work can lead to drips, spills, and even damage to your furniture or floors. These mistakes can be costly in both time and money. Taking the time to prep properly ensures a cleaner job and saves you from headaches later on.
Should You DIY or Hire a Pro When Painting on a Budget?
Now that you’ve chosen your rooms, picked your colors, and tallied up your expenses, you’re probably feeling one of two ways: either “Ready to go!” or “Oh no!”
If you’re in the “Oh no!” camp, you might want to refresh your space but feel overwhelmed by the idea of choosing the wrong color, finding time to buy supplies, or handling the entire painting process and getting the results you want. The good news? Many residential painters provide free, no-obligation estimates. If you’re on the fence about doing it yourself, it costs nothing to see what professional house painters in San Antonio would charge to take care of it for you.
DIY painting techniques aren’t just about saving money—it’s about weighing other factors like time and quality. Hiring a residential painter can take a lot of pressure off your shoulders. A professional can measure your space, assist with color selection, and ensure the job is done efficiently and beautifully, giving you peace of mind and a polished result.
6: Paint in Good Lighting:
Good lighting is essential when painting a room. It helps you spot any missed areas more easily and reduces eye strain while you work. But don’t worry if, a week after finishing, you notice a few missed spots—especially on textured walls.
Just keep a bit of leftover paint and a brush nearby for quick touchups whenever you find areas that need more coverage. Little touchups here and there can make all the difference for a flawless finish!
7. Prep The Surface:
Prepping your walls before painting is crucial for a long-lasting, smooth finish. Taking the time to prepare properly can save you from applying extra coats and helps prevent peeling or lifting paint.
- Previously Painted Walls: For previously painted walls, sand down any rough spots and wash them with sugar soap. Once cleaned, use water to sponge off any soap residue and let the wall dry completely before painting.
- Newly Plastered Walls: For newly plastered walls, ensure the surface is clean, smooth, and dry. Sand any imperfections to create an even surface. For surfaces like concrete, cement plaster, asbestos, fiber cement, or rhyolite-plastered walls, start with a coat of Build It Water-based Plaster Primer. This primer helps seal the surface, resists alkalinity, and allows the paint to adhere properly, preventing peeling. Once the primer is dry, you’re ready to apply your topcoat. Following these steps will give you a flawless, durable paint job that stands the test of time.
Trust the Experts for Flawless Results
A successful home painting project starts with smart planning and preparation. By carefully selecting which rooms to paint, using quality tools and paint, and focusing on essential supplies, you can achieve professional-looking results without breaking the bank. Prepping your surfaces and working in good lighting will also save you time and avoid costly mistakes down the line.
If managing a painting project on your own feels overwhelming or you want a guaranteed polished finish, consider enlisting professional painting services. Our skilled team can handle everything from color selection to surface preparation, giving you peace of mind and exceptional results. Contact Mr. Fixer today and schedule a consultation!
