Painting your interior walls with a fresh coat of paint is probably the best and easiest way of bringing life to it. You can easily paint your interior walls in the way you like. But, if you have decided to do the job yourself, then you should know the proper prep. Before you can paint your walls there are several things that you have to do first for a professional paint job.

Preparing walls before painting them is crucial. If you want your walls to have the professional finish we all want. But, we are aware that it is not always the case that people know about preparing walls before painting. That is why we have combined and collected some crucial, yet easy steps to preparing interior walls before you start bringing life them!

7 steps to prepare your interior walls for painting

Walls are like a canvas for the visions of your mind. So, to make painting easier for you and to ensure that the colors you put on the wall turn out as you want them to be. Read the following steps to prepare your walls for a fresh coat of paint.

Scrub the walls clean

We have to start to clean the walls that you want to paint on. By cleaning them, we mean remove any dirt or dust from them. To clean your walls, you can either use a vacuum cleaner or a wet towel. But, if you are painting your kitchen or bathroom walls, you should clean them with a mild and soluble soap solution. Because both these places have residue (rust, water, and grease stains) on them, which can’t be cleaned with only a towel and water. After washing or cleaning the walls, let them air dry completely.  

However, if you have  wallpaper on the wall, then we should remove it. Painting over wallpaper creates a much larger project in the long run. However, much more preparation is required which we will review in another article. After the wallpaper is off, then wash the walls completely. Similarly, if your walls have mold on them, then apply the mold solution after cleaning the walls. Also, in case of mold, some companies like Sherwin Williams offer specific anti-mildew products if it is a concern.

Get rid of the old chipping paint

If you decide to apply a coating of new paint on the chipping and weathered paint, then in a few days, the paint will see the same issue of cracking and chipping. You need to remove all or some of the old paint so that the new coat properly adheres to the wall.

To get rid of the old paint, you can use a paint scraper or sandpaper. If you are painting a large wall, then you can use an electric sander. This will help you in smoothing the surface of your wall.

Repair the damages on the walls

Repairing the damages on the walls goes way beyond the notion of cleaning them. To paint your wall in a classy yet elegant way and to also get your desired result, repairs are required. You must find and fix any damages or issues to your wall. Some of the most common damages are caused by old plaster, settling cracks, cracks around window sills or door frames, cavities, etc.

To prep and fix your wall, you can either take help from a professional or inspect it yourself after getting rid of the old paint. Fix these damages by preparing a fresh mix of compound and applying it to those areas. 

Prime the walls

If previously your walls had water-based paints, you can paint over the old paint without any issues. But, if you want to paint over an oil-based paint then use a primer. A primer is crucial if you don’t want your newly painted walls to have cracked or chipped paint.

Cover the marks using stain-blocking primer

Primer for walls is just like primers in makeup. They help you in hiding small flaws of the surface. Sometimes, a regular wall primer will be enough to hide small and minor imperfections. However, most primers can’t cover all the marks like those that appear on the wall because of water or markers. These marks may be visible from the new paint that you apply.

Therefore, it is important that you first remove all the stains and marks on the wall. And if the basic primer doesn’t do the job, then try the ultimate stain-blocking primer.

Finally, let the primer dry completely before moving to the next step.

Time to paint

The final step is the one we have all been waiting for! It’s now time to paint, as your walls are ready for it. Choose any paint you like and any color that complements your interior decoration. Choosing the correct sheen is as important as well. We have covered this in another article here. If you have difficulty choosing the base of paint, you can contact a professional painter or an interior decorator near you.

Final wall painting tips to ensure the best results

Now, we are going to mention some of the lesser-known tips to help you achieve flawless results.

·         Always spread plastic sheets before you start preparing or painting walls.

·         Use masking tape around the edges or anywhere where you don’t want to paint accidentally.

·         Use self-sticking material to fill or cover the holes and cracks of the walls.

·         If you are reluctant to prime the whole wall, then prime the spackled areas, or else shiny spots will be visible once the paint dries. Using a flat sheen is a great option.

·         Use the best quality of tape to cover the adjacent areas, woodworks, or switches because low-quality tape will make the paint seep through it.