When we bought our first home, I had never painted a wall in my life. Fast forward six years and I would venture to call myself a painting expert. Five houses in, I’ve painted a LOT. And I’ve learned a lot along the way.
So maybe not a painting expert. But a LAZY painting expert.
As I was painting the barn apartment, I got to thinking about all of the ways I save time while painting. I feel like I’ve become pretty lazy efficient in painting, and thought I’d share some tips to make your painting go fast, too. Some of these tips have been shared here and there, but I thought it could be good to have it all in one place. Especially since I get a lot of questions about painting.
These are not the “best” way or even the “right” way. And they are in no particular order. But, for someone who has a lot to do and needs time on her side, they’re good ways to save time and money.
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Go in with a plan.
I think the key to being efficient is to thinking through a painting project before you start it.
Before I ever pick up a paint brush, I know HOW I will be painting a room.
My way? I typically start with trim so I can be messy on the walls. Then I cut in the walls. Then I roll the walls. If ceilings are involved, they always come first, because I’m cutting in the walls anyhow.
Why does this matter?
Because I don’t have to think about it while I’m painting. I don’t have to hem and haw about what I should paint next. I just do it. I don’t worry and wonder what would be the most efficient.
You can waste a lot of time if you don’t know the order you are going to follow when painting. Just make a decision beforehand and go to town.
Don’t tape.
I am a pretty fast painter. There are a lot of reasons for that, but one major reason is that I never use painter’s tape on walls or ceilings. (There are times when I have to use it, but for ceilings, it’s just about never.)
Instead, I use a short angled brush and go carefully along the ceiling. I was tipped off to the beauty of these small angled brushes when YHL posted about them back in 2009 and I’ve been using them every since. I actually end up with a better line and there’s no real prep work involved. It takes a little practice, but I think the end result is better than taping.
Use paint+primer.
You know I love Behr Ultra Premium Plus. But seriously, I LOVE IT and I loved it well before I started working with Behr last year. I often get questions from friends in real-life about the need for the paint+primer. Is it really necessary?
Necessary? No. Worth it? Yes.
I rarely have to put a second coat of paint on a wall. And on ceilings, I get away with two coats. Trim – I usually get away with two coats, too. (Which is a miracle, because painting trim and ceilings is horrible and can take tons of coats if you don’t do it right. Note: On trim, I typically start with an oil-based primer as well because I think it holds up better.)
Don’t be afraid to get messy.
I believe that doing all kinds of work to limit the mess is just a losing battle. Painting is messy. Embrace it. (Picture above is when I painted our master bedroom trim in our current house. I still wear those paint pants, because I’m very classy. I actually think I’m wearing those pants in every single picture in this post.)
I am typically completely covered in paint by the end of a project. And that’s okay. That’s what showers are for.
I have paint clothes for a reason. I have drop cloths for a reason. (Although, I rarely use drop cloths either, because I’m lazy and typically painting before the floors are finished. See next tip.)
Embrace the lazy.
“There is absolutely nothing wrong with being lazy.” Kim Woodward, 2014
The truth is, I’m willing to give up perfect for the sake of painting faster. This tip probably should have gone first, because most of my tips are just lazy. 😉
For example, here’s a tip for quick (and lazy) cabinetry painting – I took all the drawers out first to paint the outsides. Then, I added the drawers and painted the fronts right there. To dry, I just pull the drawers out like below, which prevents dripping into the drawers below.
I am not painting the interiors of the cabinets or drawers because they are laminated and will hold up better without paint. And I’m not worried about this being perfect because I’m not a perfectionist and I’ll never notice.
Limit distractions.
The less stuff you have to deal with in a room, the better. I’m pretty lucky because I almost always paint rooms before we had any furniture in the space. But, if you don’t have this luxury, it’s just better and easier to move everything out of the room that you can. Or take everything outside to paint (like the windows above). Then, you don’t have to worry about getting anything important messy or not being able to get around fixtures or furniture.
I promise you that it will take less time to just move everything out before you start painting. Seriously. Just do it.
Also, limiting distractions goes for other things, too. I don’t paint with Henry around. I usually don’t even paint with Ryan around. I just need to be alone with my book on tape and my paint brush or sprayer.
Use aluminum foil and plastic bags.
Sometimes, you have to wait a day (or a week) to get a second coat on the walls or trim. Instead of cleaning brushes – which I dispose – I simply wrap the brushes and rollers in aluminum foil and then store in plastic bags. They will keep for an embarrassing long time. Then, you only have to clean them once, when the whole project is done.
I also use aluminum foil to line roller trays, or you can be a high roller and buy the tray liners at the hardware store. Whatever suits your fancy. But cleaning roller trays is annoying so I avoid it at all costs.
So, those are a few of my tips. I mean, clearly we look like experts – the LAZY PAINTING experts. You should totally take our word for it. (Hello, painting sweatshirt, old friend.)
Do you have any tips for painting efficiency?
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Wanda Rhiner says
I paint a LOT!!! I’ve painted every room in our house at least 2Xand most 3X and I have over the years become a lazy painter. I agree with you on the not taping anything if I don’t have to. I use the same trim brush; aren’t they just the greatest little paint brush? I also have painting clothes; an old pair of painting overalls that at least still fit after all these years!! Yay!! I also paint alone; will not let my husband anywhere near a paint can b/c painting is a skill he never acquired! He’s great at a lot of things but painting is not one of them!! I also use the disposable tray liners and will throw out a roller after 1 use most of the time. I do have 1 roller that I really like so I will rinse that one when I use it. It’s one of those things that is a lot of work but I really like the change that a coat of paint makes in a room.
Kim Woodward says
Thanks so much for sharing your expertise, Wanda!
Becky says
Love all your tips, I’ve been painting in showrooms for years, and drop cloths and furniture covers weren’t possible so the key is using good quality paint, not the bargain stuff. Sherwin Williams and Home Depot Behr or Benjamin Moore are really the best quality for this. One tip I have to add is…If your painting the baseboard trim, it’s a pain to keep moving your body every few inches. So if your working on floor that you can slide on (no carpet) I kneel on a towel and keep my painting supplies on another one, so when it time to move, I just slide my knees and slide the supplies so easily. I also use those cheap plastic containers for the container that I use to carry around with me to cut in. This way I just seal with the top for later, I also store the left over paint in these rather than the can, the cans rust and leak and fall over and look ugly. I just write info on top of container, they stack really nicely too. One last thing I do is inside the closet with pencil I write the paint company color number and sheen. For example If it’s Sherwin Williams I’d write Walls SW6004 Flat, Trim SW 6076 SG. I’ve been so mad at myself for loosing the info and not having a touch up color info. In the showrooms I always wrote the info on the very bottom of the wall, this way I could touch up the million holes I’d made with all the pictures I’d hang over time, but the sales people loved it too, cause customers always wanted to know what color a wall was.
Kim Woodward says
Becky – these are amazing tips! Thank you for sharing. I love the idea of writing the paint IN the room. That is so smart if you can find a spot out of the way. I have forgotten too many times to count. And I have been meaning to transfer paint into other containers.
Kari says
I feel weird commenting on this post, since it’s so old. Ha! But I just read through these comments after you linked to it today, and I saw this and had another tip to go along with it. 🙂 I had read that you could write the paint colors on the inside of the light switch covers and thought that was a great idea!
Lara says
I am an extremely lazy painter and also I have no patience!! If I get an idea or want something done I just get up and do it right then. I bought this painting edger….it is PERFECTLY AMAZING!!!! You dip and run down the wall on the edge, no cutting in, no paint brushes, no tape….never paint without one. It will cut your time in half. I only tape the floor when I paint and that is if I do the trim. Also a short cut is mini rollers. I have rollers that are only about an inch to normal rolls for the hard to get spots…..anything to keep a paint brush out of my hands bc of the brush marks and the time it takes using a brush compared to a roller.
Those are my tips I hope they help and the extra $5-$20 on the edger and rollers are so so worth it!!!!
Happy painting everyone!!! 🙂
Lara
Kim Woodward says
Great tip on the edger. I definitely gotta try it.
Megan says
Hi! I have a ?… so I’m renting a house built in the 20s, and I’m helping do alot of the renovation work for cheaper rent. I still have to paint the outside of the kitchen cabinets (already finished the inside) the kitchen trim and door, as well as the trim and door to the bathroom. My problem/? Is how do u suggest I do it when I have a 9mo puppy, I don’t have a way to quarantine the kitchen (I can always shut the bathroom door)???
Please help!lol
Stacy says
I love your suggestions. I am a lazy painter too! I’ve painted a lot over the years. I always have baby wipes on hand. I’m too lazy to tape and my hands shake really bad, so I use baby wipes for all my mistakes. If I paint on baseboards by mistake, I just wipe it off. You have to do it asap or it won’t work. It is a must for me when I paint and it has always worked!
Kim Woodward says
This is an awesome idea! Totally trying this next time.
Carly Sullivan says
Love this post. You’ve inspired me to give it a try without tape, but most of all, it’s good to know there are other folks out there who are OK with good enough. But do you have any tips on spackle and sanding? That’s the reason my painting projects don’t get moving. If I could move out the furniture and paint, I’d be good, but the thought of spackling, letting it dry, sanding, and cleaning away the dust — especially on the ceiling — before I even start to paint just makes me want to see what’s on TV. My house is over 70 years old, and except in a few spots where renovation has been done, walls and ceilings are plaster, and the house has more sags and cracks than I do. Any suggestions? Thanks!
Kim Woodward says
Aww… I totally feel you on all the extra steps before painting getting you down. My husband mostly takes care of the prep, which makes it easy for me. Good luck! I hope you get painting soon!
Sara Dunn says
Great comments from all, I can only add…why pay for foil when you can turn a grocery bag inside out ( no printing towards the paint, it may transfer) and wrap it around your tray and dispose of it after each day. As far as rollers go, take your plastic wrap and roll the roller on it so it is covered and put it in the freezer works as well as the plastic on brushes and you don’t have to clean until you change the color. I am old and a stickler about saving. Save your pennies and they will become dollars.
Kim Woodward says
This is a great tip, Sara. I always have bags lying around.
Susan says
great suggestions! I have one for you, get some Press and Seal your life will change! Best stuff ever for sealing paint trays, brushes and rollers. I’ve had them sealed for a week without any problems! Just one blogger tip to another! And BTW I have several pairs of yoga pants that are strictly painting pants now ☺️
Kim Woodward says
Thanks for the tip, Susan! I gotta check this stuff out.
kim sowden says
If the whole room including the ceiling needs a repaint I paint it out in the same colour as walls, saves a whole load of time.
Kim Woodward says
Kim – this is a great tip. I’m a bit picky and like ceilings to be a different color, but it does seem like it would be a great timesaver.
Nicol says
I paint exactly as you do! Totally works well. We are in the process of flipping a house and the new drywall will be going in soon and that means I will be painting a LOT. I put my brushes in Gallon Ziploc bags and seal the whole thing shut. Use over and over til the end of the project. My best painting tip is to teach your kids to paint with you! We have six and my 13 year old daughter painted the inside and outside of our flip garage. Took her a long time, but she sure learned fast! Then they painted the basement with dryloc. A learning process, but now they’re gaining confidence. I saw Geneseo on your shirt – we’re in Greece almost neighbors, hahaha! Love your tips and so great that you took the time to post them online!
Kim Woodward says
I can’t wait until my two-year-old can help me! Great tips!
Michele Parkinson says
Loved this article. Thanks for the tips. I use many of your tips already and am currently on our fourth home and remodel in 7 years. They have been as huge as a complete gutting to just painting and flooring. This one is somewhere in the middle. Cleaning up after a long day of painting is the worst and I do whatever I can to avoid any of it by tossing rollers and liners. Two remodeling projects ago I had a guy help with some drywall projects. I normally do that myself but there was a fair amount this time (including ceilings) so I brought in help. He showed me a few things that would improve my paint job. One of which is a light sanding (and I mean very light) over your old painted walls before painting will make your walls look fresher, cleaner and newer than if you just painted over the old paint. It helps avoid that “17 coats of paint look”. I cannot skip this little step because I know what a beautiful difference it makes. He also shared that a spot light or flash light to scan your walls before painting can avoid missing wall imperfections. Nothing is worse than seeing that dried drip of paint or wall dimple just after you’ve taken a roller to it. The spot light reveals things you would never see (I’m lazy but very picky) Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) is also helpful to get rid of very dirty walls but should only be used if you are going to paint because it removes a bit of the sheen too. (This one is an oldie but a goody) I have also learned that if you have a lump or bump in your wall, it’s much easier to pound it down with a hammer (to create a dimple of sorts) than to try to sand it down. I have even done this on really bad drips to avoid sanding them out. Afterward, just fill it with joint compound and sand appropriately after it has dried. This is a huge time saver and arm saver.
Kim Woodward says
These are some really great tips! Love the idea of sanding, but I am so stinkin’ impatient, I don’t know if I’d do it. but it’s great for those who are more of a perfectionist than me. Thanks for stopping by!
Rhonda says
Glad Press N Seal is even better to line trays & wrap brushes & rollers…I converted several years ago. Kilzcasualcolors.com has awesome 1 coat coverage paint. Believe it or not, the ceiling paint is also 1 coat coverage, too!! Paint as directed for 1 coat coverage, & you save a ton of time, paint & aggravation 🙂 Only bad part, if you don’t have a store that sells it, you have to order online, no shipping charge, though.
Kim Woodward says
This is a great tip!
Pam Bironas says
I have painted many of my homes for over 30 years plus and did have professional painters in the family, I like the way you explain and do things. However, I would like to know why you would paint over such beautiful trim as in one of the pictures you show? Or is it not as nice as the picture looks.
Again, thanks for sharing!
Kim Woodward says
It wasn’t in great shape and I had no desire to strip and stain it. Plus, the rest of the house was all painted. I wanted it consistent.
Thank you for stopping by.
RJ says
Love your tips…doing things the lazy way too..but I REALLY love saving $$$ so I thought I would mention this: I work with my husband in his contracting business and I end up painting a lot…sometimes everyday for weeks at a time…We have spent lots of money on rollers & brushes in the past. What we have discovered is that the small rollers, the large roller covers(but not the large rollers themselves), and the brushes at the Dollar Tree are actually pretty darn useful. They work just as well as the mid-priced variety you find at Lowes or Home Depot…and for that price who cares if you clean it…just toss it! However, don’t waste your money on the large rollers (frame with handle) at Dollar Tree..spend the extra money on a sturdier version elsewhere.
Kim Woodward says
This is a great tip! I’ll have to check that out. I also have had good luck finding new roller covers at ReStore!
melissa says
This is so great! Thanks! I’m terrified to paint, but I NEED to get it done! Do you have any tips on all the different kinds of paint?! I have NO idea where to even begin! Do I use Glossy? Matte? Satin? Semi-gloss? I have 4 kids so I need something that’s easy to clean!
Kim Woodward says
For walls, I typically use satin on almost every wall. Semi-gloss is a bit glossy for my taste (and also shows every little imperfection in walls) and satin cleans up a little better than matte. Good luck with your painting! Nothing to be afraid of!
Mariana says
Hello!
I can´t find chalk paint where I live… do you recommend any DIY chalk paint?
thanks!!
Kim Woodward says
I’ve never tried DIY chalk paint myself, but I’ve seen chalk paint recently at Home Depot at Michael’s.
stacy says
Ahh Paint on the beautiful wood trim? ?
Kim Woodward says
We did paint the wood in this room. It was not in great condition and most of the other trim in the house was already painted. We are really happy with how it turned out.
Laurie says
Baby wipes! I always keep a fresh pack of baby wipes right next to the paint tray to wipe up any stray drips, especially on trim. By the end of the day, I have a pile of wipes, but no mistakes (at least not on the trim). I also have paint clothes: a pair of scrub pants that have ripped up the inseam. I don’t have the heart to throw them out (each color is a memory!), but I’m too lazy to sew them up, so I whipped out my stapler…good as, um, old? How’s that for lazy?
Kim Woodward says
This is such a great tip! And I ALWAYS have baby wipes around. I usually just use a rag, but I’m totally doing this next time. Thanks for sharing.
(And I’m with you on the paint clothes. I can’t bear to part with them. They look HORRIBLE but I love them.)
Amanda says
I’ve found that not only is cleaning and reusing rollers is time consuming, but the rollers start to ‘eat’ the paint and you have to use more if you reuse them! There went my efforts of being cheap!
Kim Woodward says
Oh no! I don’t ever reuse rollers, so I haven’t had that problem. 😉
Jessica says
Since ‘Lazy’ is my middle name, this article caught my attention & since I have a house that needs every bit of the trim, the kitchen & a cabinet (that covers an entire dining room wall) repainted, the lazier the better. So, do you have any lazy tips for painting trim that is peeling & flaky, without scraping/sanding? My hubby says I can’t get away with it, but I was wondering about this awesome chalk paint I’ve been hearing about lately. I heard you can paint over anything with it.
Kim Woodward says
Interesting question. The beauty of chalk paint is that you don’t have to prime or sand (usually). In theory, you can paint over flaking/chipping paint with it (or any paint). bUt you’ll only have painted chips and flakes. So, you probably can’t totally skip the step.
My lazy girl approach would be to sand it enough to get it smoother and remove any major flakes. And then I’d paint. I wouldn’t stress too much about perfection because when it comes to old trim, it’s okay to have a little character.
Another note – not sure how old your house is, but you may want to check for lead paint before you begin. Sanding lead-based paint is never recommended.
Good luck!
Sarah says
I don’t know if you started your project yet, but Home Depot also sells a primer that seals down flaking paint so you don’t have to sand. 🙂
stacey says
Great tips! I am stealing the foil liner one. My tip is, I never use drop cloths. I keep 2 or 3 wet rags laying around to quickly mop up a spill or drip. I use a trash bag under my paint can and pan because that’s where a big spill might (and has) happened. Can’t wait to explore the rest of your projects!
Kim Woodward says
Great tip on the drop cloths and rags. I often have a rag on me for drips.
Jenn says
I start with cutting in the walls. If some gets on baseboards no big deal! After rolling walls, then paint baseboards. The trick is caulking around your baseboards after you paint them. The finished product will blow your mind! To keep your fingers caulk free just use a bag over your finger to smooth the caulk. And I am also all about the one time use rollers. Who has time for cleaning that??
Kim Woodward says
These are great tips! I love the caulk tip and have heard that a lot – never tried it, though!
I actually prefer to do the trim first and then cut in the walls, but I suppose it’s just preference.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experience. I love getting new tricks.
Kat says
Start with an empty room, start from the ceiling downward, that way as soon as you’re done with the highest parts you can quit using the step ladder ASAP. Get an apron with pockets, and line one pocket with a plastic bag with a few damp rags in there, so that you can immediately wipe up drips and mistakes right away, that way you don’t even need a drop cloth.when I am edging things like painting right up next to trim or the edge of the ceiling, I use a big wide flat masonry trowel as a painting shield, I just hold it up against the line I want to paint to keep any smudges from happening. and then I wipe it off after every section with one of the damp rags to keep it from transferring paint to the wall. That’s really only needed for tricky areas that you don’t want to tape off because you can use those chunky angle brushes freehand with great accuracy as the original post said. and especially along the ceiling border don’t stress too much about perfection you’re probably going to end up adding ceiling molding, or a wallpaper border, or a stencil border anyway, so who cares if there’s a couple mistakes that will be hidden anyway.
Kenz @ Interiors By Kenz says
Ain’t NOBODY got time to tape. People are always shocked to hear that I never tape off a room. It must be a DIY blogger thing 🙂 Or maybe it’s that we are all just room-painting pros by now. I agree 100 with all your tips.
Alyssa says
Great tips Kim! I am painting my living room, kitchen, and bathroom this week, so these tips are going to come in very handy. My favorites are the angled brush, and the plastic bag trick. Love it!! Seeing what a happy painter you are helps me not dread this huge project so much, so thank you for that also! Happy Painting:)
Kim Woodward says
Good luck this weekend! Hope your painting goes well.
Leigh says
LOVE your tips! Quick question though….how do you work that spray paint gun thingy? I’m wanting to paint my kitchen cabinets, but I think it would be so much easier with one of those!! I think you need to do a post on that! 🙂
Kim Woodward says
I’ve written a little bit about it – you basically fill it with paint and spray. =)
https://newlywoodwards.com/2013/10/painting-windows-with-the-wagner-flexio-sprayer.html
Caroline says
Oh, and I have 2 sets of painting clothes! My winter set and my summer set!
Caroline says
My mother once told me how “smart” I was to come up with all my tricks. I told her that contrary to the popular saying ,it really should be “Laziness is the mother of invention”!! My trick- I caulk AFTER painting trim. I know, I know- sacrilege! But caulk covers up a multitude of painting ‘sins’!! I LOVE to paint. My husband likes to tell people that our living room used to be 4 feet bigger- it has shrunk after all the times I have painted it! Happy painting!
Dellen says
One person’s “lazy” is another’s “efficient” either way, I loved your painting tips, thank you.
Cindy@TheFlippingCouple says
I may or may not have had a roller of navy blue paint in the fridge (wrapped in foil) for the last 3 months. The world will never know.
[But if I DID have a roller wrapped in foil in the fridge for the last 3 months, you should know that it would still be perfectly soft and usable to finish the final coat of paint in the office. Purely hypothetical, obviously.]
Kelly @ View Along the Way says
I love it! I’m all about the lazy, especially when it comes to painting. (I’m also not a perfectionist. It’s much better this way.)
Linda says
Lazy?? How about BUSY & efficient?!!
Cathy says
Love the lazy tips. I do most of these, but you had few new ones! And I thought I was the only one who didn’t tape. 😉 It’s pretty useless with my heavily textured walls anyhow. Thanks for the great tips.
Sarah says
You had me at lazy. Great tips!
Kim Woodward says
Fist bumps for the lazy gals. 😉
Jordan says
Love them! The shorty angle brush recommended by YHL also changed my life forever- it makes me feel badass that I can paint without using tape ;). I think your foil plus bag tip may have just changed my life even more–brilliant! Thanks 🙂
Kim Woodward says
I actually used this trick today.
Megan says
I love the aluminum foil trick, definetly going to use that as I get started painting in a couple of weeks. Did you paint the exterior of your home? Do you have a post or any tips on that?
Kim Woodward says
I have posted about painting our exterior – here it is.
https://newlywoodwards.com/2011/10/painting-aluminum-siding.html
Tarah says
My sister-in-law painted the inside of her 2 story house(2800 sq feet) and finished basement by herself with 3 boys under the age of 5 in less than 2 months. My brother worked nights, so before he left for work he would move the furniture away from 1 wall. She would paint the wall (and trim) after the kids were asleep and in the morning he would put the furniture back. After each floor was finished, she painted the doors. They did that until the whole house was painted!
Pretty good plan if you have small ones at home and can only paint when they are not around !
Kim Woodward says
Such a great plan. I’m more of a DO IT ALL RIGHT NOW instead of taking it little by little. But I love the idea of taking it all in bite sized chunks.
Jessica @ Run Your Mutt Off says
I buy nice brushes and just wrap them in saran-wrap between coats of paint (usually just a few hours) and only rinse them clean when I’m done painting.
I also use ‘ceiling paint’ to paint my ceilings. It’s a Behr product and it’s white (hello, love it) and is a little thicker so there is less dripping and splattering than if you use regular (read: wall) paint.
Kim Woodward says
I’m really picky about my brushes, too. And I totally second your ceiling paint rec. The premium plus ultra ceiling paint by Behr is my favorite. You are totally right – nearly no drips.
Hillary @ The Friendly Home says
Here’s my lazy girl (or lazy guy, in this case) tip. We paint our ceilings the same color as the room, unless the room is a dark or startlingly bright (as in when my 5 year old picked highlighter orange) color. My husband does both the rolling and cutting in on walls (I do trim) and it’s just simpler for him. He’s (rather enthusiastically) embraced painted ceilings. 🙂
Kim Woodward says
Smart tip! And if I could get my husband to enthusiastically embrace painting ceilings, my life would be complete. #hateceilings
Gretchen says
See, this is why I like you, Kim….a lot of bloggers whom I love and admire like to talk about their perfectionist tendencies….and I cannot relate to that all. Your laziness is like a breath of fresh air ;). For real–great tips!
Kim Woodward says
I aim to please, friend. 😉
cassie says
these are awesome tips! i need to make a plan- i tend to just get the paint and brush out and dive in. right into the paint can. i have get messy down pat.
Kim Woodward says
If anyone’s a painting expert, it’s you. You can probably teach me a thing or two (or ten).
Kristin @ Bliss at Home says
You look like such a happy painter 🙂 I start off looking like that and then about half way thru I’m over it! xo Kristin
Kim Woodward says
You make a good point. By the end, I’m a sweaty, paint-covered mess.
Katja | Shift Ctrl Art says
SUPER tips 🙂 I think the only super duper lazy thing I can add to that is when I call my handyman to do the painting for me 🙂 But other than that… 😀
Kim Woodward says
I wish my handyman painted. But he’s pretty cute. (BTW – my handyman is my hubby.)
Stephanie @ Sandpaper and Glue says
I had never painted a room before moving into our house either- now I’ve painted every single room (3 of them twice… which taught me to buy test pots). The brush in a plastic bag was SUCH an awesome discovery for me, and also buying my primer in bulk (5 gallon buckets at a time) so it’s always handy for big and little projects.
Kim Woodward says
Great tip on the primer. Just don’t do what I do and store it incorrectly which leads to it all going bad. 😉
Renee Hopkins says
Embrace the lazy! I’m glad I’m not the only one that’s proud of it. I don’t even line my paint trays, I just leave about a 1/4 of wet paint in there at the end. Next time around I can quickly just lift and edge a peel it out. Also rollers are so inexpensive they are only one time use in our house – trash and relax!
Kim Woodward says
Totally with you on the one and done roller trick. And I’ve never tried to just peel the paint out of a tray. But, I totally will next time.
Mandy @ This Girl's Life says
Great tips Kim! I need to paint the trim in our family room and I’ve been putting it off for like…ummm… 4 years. 🙂 When we had our wood floor refinished, the tape he put on the trim peeled lots of the paint off…not a good look. I usually don’t tape either but I suck at painting floor trim so I’ll probably have to use it. Wanna come over for a painting party? 😉
Kim Woodward says
Hmmm… I think I’m busy that day. 😉
Good luck painting friend! You’ll wonder why you waited so long once you’re done.
Southern Gal says
This is timely for me. I’m always the one painting, but I can always use tips. I will be painting my sewing room next week. It has wood trim and a built in corner hutch that I want painted white. It’s been a while since I’ve painted over wood. Thanks for the links and tips.
Kim Woodward says
Good luck! Hope your painting goes well (and fast!)