How to paint: our 30 best paint tips ever

How to use colour

Decorating with colour can feel like a big commitment, but — trust us — it’s totally worth it. The trick is to balance bright, saturated shades with light touches, like pale wood and a neutral sofa.

Make pastels look more sophisticated

Love pastels but want to avoid making your living room look like a nursery? Inject some black into a pastel colour scheme to dial up the sophistication.

Avoid the nursery look

Soft sherbet shades like peach, mauve, mint and yellow are commonly used in kids’ rooms. To temper the sweetness, choose colours with a muddy or grey undertone, like Sea Glass by Beuti-Tone or Design Time by CIL. 

Pair pastels with some punch

Pairing softer shades with accessories in crisp whites and neon brights will also keep the room from appearing too childlike.

Prep for success

Take the time to prepare your walls. Your paint job will be only as good as your prep job. Cover your floors with canvas and tape down the edges. Be sure to use painter's tape — most work on a number of different surfaces and won't leave residue or cause damage when you peel it off.

Best tool for: stucco ceilings

Segmented foam rollers are made for painting textured surfaces.

Best tool for: interior walls

Drywall rollers are perfect for interior walls. Look for a good-quality roller that won’t shed.

Best tool for: tricky turns

Use a detail brush to navigate around doorknobs and light switches.

Best tool for: sharp corners

Use an angled brush for cutting in to ceilings.

How to store your tools overnight

If it's a two day job, don't bother cleaning your rollers and brushes. Wrap them in plastic bags and store them overnight in a cool area. (Paint pictured is Sensuous Gray by HGTV Sherwin-Williams.)

Don't rush

Don’t hurry the first coat. Let the paint dry completely before applying the second coat to avoid streaks and uneven colour. 

Grey paint: warm or cool?

Like white, grey paint can skew cool or warm. Warm greys create a comfortable vibe — use in a bedroom or living room.

Grey paint: warm or cool?

Cooler-toned greys can appear more crisp and tailored. Great to keep a kitchen, dining room or bathroom looking fresh and airy.

Look to your furniture when picking a grey shade

When deciding which shade is right for you, look to your furniture. Got a white sofa and blue or purple accessories? A cool grey will complement those items nicely. A beige sofa and earthy accessories (in soft or punchy orange or sage green, for example) are better suited to a warm tone.

Choosing the right paint finish

There are many interior paint finishes avaliable, each designed to work in different areas of your home. Choose your paint finish based on what kind of room you are painting — what it will be used for, how much it will be used and how much moisture the room will see.

Choosing a paint finish: eggshell

Eggshell is one of the most common paint finishes, and is great for most moderate-traffic spaces like living and dining rooms becuase of its velvety finish.

Choosing a paint finish: semi-gloss

Semi-gloss finish is great for bathrooms, kitchen cabinets and trim because of it's sleek shine and ability to stand up to moisture.

Choosing a paint finish: flat matte

The finish to use on your ceilings — it has a low sheen and is non-reflective. 

Pair warm and cool colours

Pairing cool colours, like a vibrant blue, with hints of warmth, like a pinky red, will energize your overall palette.

White paint: test several shades

The best way to find your optimal white is to try out a few colours. Paint 24-by-24-inch foamcore boards and place them throughout the room to see what the finished product will look like.

White paint: understanding undertones

White paints are tinted with tones of blue, yellow, black, green and red to give them depth. Hold up several different shades to a sheet of white paper to determine their true undertones.

White paint: takes cues from light

Take clues from where the windows in your room are located in choosing a shade of white paint. Whether your room faces north, south, east or west will affect how your white paint presents. 

South facing room? Choose a warm white.

South-facing rooms tend to be sunnier, making a warm, yellowish white a better choice. Try Eggshell Cream by Behr or Antique White by Dulux.

North facing room? Choose a cool white.

North-facing rooms generally have a cooler, bluer light and are therefore better suited to cool, bluish whites. Try Super White or Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore.

White paint: evaluate your furniture

Select a shade of white paint that matches the overall colour scheme (and warmth or coolness) of the objects in the room.

Best paint colours for small rooms

These three Beauti-Tone colours are airy and fresh and are sure to make any small space feel expansive. “Go for a pale, cool hue like a light green, icy blue or mauve and your room will instantly feel larger. The right colour can visually expand a room’s dimensions for just pennies per square foot,” says Bev Bell, creative director of Beauti-Tone Paint.

Tie it together with accessories

Use leftover paint to personalize your accessories. Baskets, stools, chair legs and magazine files are all fair game. Get a clean line by using painter's tape.

Pair bold colours with bold accessories

Select a stand-out accent piece to tie a room’s vibrant colour scheme together, like pillows or throws.

Do the math

Calculate how much paint you’ll need. It’s best to have it all mixed at one time.

Storing your paint

When you’re ready to store your paint, place a piece of plastic wrap over the can before you put the lid on. Store the paint upside down — the paint will act as a seal against the lid. (Paint pictured is Pewter Grey by Dulux.)

Related:
The best neutral paint colours that aren’t white
How to paint a room in 5 easy steps
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