Despite seeming simple, residential indoor painting is not intuitive. Painting is a skill one learns very young but a true professional interior paint job is a very different story. 

Hiring a professional can ensure that your home has the best quality paint job possible. 

If, however, you’re looking to get the job done yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind. 

Remember that preparation is essential for a good paint job, and so is a significant amount of time and energy. 

So act on the following suggestions with your upcoming interior painting project to speed up the process and get a neater, more appealing result.

1. Wait for low humidity

You should avoid painting on a rainy day since humidity causes dripping and slow drying. 

If you must paint in a humid environment, take your time and make use of the slow-drying paint to fix any mistakes before applying the next layer. 

Don’t overwork the paint job though, or it will become apparent once you’re done.

2. Use the duct tape test to check for loose paint

Will the previously painted surface absorb fresh paint and retain it for a long time? 

Using a strip of duct tape to evaluate a surface will give you a good idea of its quality. Place a fresh strip of duct tape over the weak area and peel it off. 

If larger than microscopic paint flakes fall off, you might need to scrape the area first before sanding.

3. Wear gloves made of latex or nitrile

When painting, latex gloves are excellent for keeping your hands clean. 

It’s simple to remove water-based interior latex paint from your hands. Cleaning enamel or oil-based paint, however, might be difficult. 

Use nitrile gloves; nitrile is a type of material comparable to latex if you dislike or are allergic to latex.

4. Apply low-tack painter’s tape generously

Painter’s tape, also referred to as blue tape, has a low-stick adhesive that’s simple to remove and doesn’t easily peel off priming or old paint. 

Painter’s tape can be pricey but it’s well worth the investment to use it generously along the edges of all surfaces that won’t be painted, such as the joint between walls and ceilings.

5. Keep your edge wet to prevent overlap marks

As you paint, always maintain a moist edge and move away from it. 

The likelihood of revealing overlap markings increases with paint gloss. In particular, glossy and semi-gloss paint require close attention paid to keep a wet edge. 

Focusing on the little details for your residential interior painting is what takes your painting project from good to great. 

If you’re using flat or matte paint, the risk of developing overlap marks is nearly nonexistent, so you won’t have to worry if you opt for such types of paint. 

6. Wrap your brush or roller

You must deal with cleaning and picking up after your painting session. 

Cleaning the brushes and rollers is the task that many people hate and is why many prefer a painting company over a DIY residential indoor painting project. 

Although brushes are challenging to clean, a paint comb is a huge assistance. 

Roller cover cleaning is more challenging; the roller tends to dry up and becomes too stiff to use again, no matter how much you wash it. 

A good tip, however, is to wrap your roller or paintbrush in clear plastic—ensure the plastic is airtight. 

The brush or roller cover should remain intact for the remainder of the day so that you can continue to use it for your residential indoor painting. 

If the wrap is extremely tight, you might even be able to postpone it until the next day.

Transform your home with these residential indoor painting techniques

Even though residential indoor painting can be a time-consuming operation, it can be carried out seamlessly if you take the right precautions. 

You won’t have any trouble painting as long as you prepare!

Just keep in mind that a professional painter can often deliver great work in a shorter period. 

With the cost of hiring a contractor also only marginally more expensive when considering the costs of equipment and pain, it might be a good idea to consider hiring a painter.