First Time Homebuyer? Here’s Everything You Need to Know Before Painting Your Space

You’ve closed the deal, gotten the keys and are raring to go on turning your first house into a home. But before you crack that first can of paint, read through these painting tips – it’s always better to be prepared upfront than have to fix mistakes later.

A hand paints white primer with a paint roller onto dark painted wall

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Primed and Ready

While you may be really excited to get those new colours on the walls ASAP, do not skip the primer – it preps walls for pigment and hides any discolouration. For panelled or super-stained walls, opt for an oil-based primer, while walls with new drywall should get a coat of water-based primer instead.

Painting the room, empty apartment ready for renovation

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All in Hand

Painting walls is a lot of work, so you won’t want to lose momentum once you’ve started. To cut down on hardware-store runs, make sure you have all the supplies you’ll need beforehand, especially the less obvious items such as a paint can opener, stir sticks, and a roller extension pole.

White staircase and baseboards painted in BEHR Polar Bear 75, light wood flooring, and area rug with subtle pattern, a wood bench topped with potted plants near a wall painted blue in BEHR Voyage PPU13-07

Behr: Voyage PPU13-07, Polar Bear 75

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Tough Mudder

Before you buy any paint, think about the area where you’re putting it and what its needs are. Walls and trim in high-traffic area, such as the mudroom or entryway, are going to have to contend with muddy boots and dog paws, so having a product made to withstand wear and tear, such as BEHR ULTRA SCUFF DEFENSE Interior Paint & Primer, makes sense.

Young woman applying adhesive tape on wall while sitting at home surrounded by painting accessories and tools

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Roll Tape

To help protect architectural features you’re not planning on painting, pull out a roll of painter’s tape. Stick it along baseboards, wall trim or sconces to keep drips from going where they’re not welcome. Tip: Fully remove power outlet covers rather than taping them.

Mother, father and son pointing at paint samples on wall during renovation of home

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Colour Wheel

If you really want to see how a paint colour will look in a room, it’s best to test it out directly on the wall. Pick up at least three sample pots of different shades of the same colour family – your favourite might surprise you. Tip: Check out the room throughout that day to see how the light changes the colours.

Close-up of a black vacuum cleaner on pink wall to show cleaning walls before painting

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Squeaky Clean

To avoid getting dirt, fluff or cobwebs stuck in the paint, make sure the walls are super clean before starting. Use a vacuum or thick cleaning cloth, paying particular attention to the kitchen and bathroom, where you should wash the walls with a soapy solution to breakdown built-up grime.

Beautiful kitchen dining area with peninsula table, lower cabinets painted in BEHR Painter's White PPU18-08 with a butcher’s block countertop, wall painted in BEHR Battleship Gray N360-4, and upper cabinets filled with serving dishes and painted in BEHR Charismatic PPU6-14

Behr: Battleship Gray N360-4, Charismatic PPU6-14,...

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Get the Specifics

Investigate what types of paint work best for different surfaces – if there is a product that is formulated specifically for that area, invest in that. BEHR PREMIUM Cabinet & Trim Paint creates a smooth, durable finish and dries very quickly, so you can reinstall those doors and get into your new (and newly revamped) kitchen faster.

Covered couch with a ladder and wall half painted in red paint

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Clear the Decks

If doable, get all your interior painting wrapped up before moving in any furniture into your new home. If that timing doesn’t work, remove as many pieces as you can from the room and cover the rest in a protective drop cloth or plastic sheeting.

A paint roller with yellow paint painting in a W shape

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WWW Dot Com

When it comes to painting a wall with a roller, one of the most useful painting tips out there is to apply the paint in large “W” shapes. Move your way from one side to the other, filling in the gaps as you go – this technique is aces at hiding unseemly seams.

A woman wearing casual clothing and a head tie in her living room painting her wood panelled wall with white primer paint while standing on a ladder

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Starting Line

To know how to paint a wall, you need to know where to start – and the place you should always start is the ceiling corner. Use an angle brush to pull the paint down the wall from the top corner, and work your way along the entire ceiling line.