10 Painting Myths Busted

Are old-fashioned ideas about house painting holding you back from creating the cozy, colourful home of your dreams? A fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest, most cost-effective ways to update your home decor, but – thanks to some myths about how to paint a room – the idea of putting brush (or roller) to wall can be a bit intimidating. To give you the confidence to bring new hues into your home, we’re debunking 10 of the most common painting myths.

dark grey bedroom with black headboard and dresser

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Myth: Certain Colours Make Spaces Feel Smaller

While we’ve got colour-themed myths on the mind, let’s talk about what paint colors make rooms look bigger or smaller. Though you may have heard that dark colours always make a small room feel tiny, that isn’t necessarily true (and shouldn’t scare you away from trying the paint trends you love). In reality, factors like a room’s lighting can impact whether a darker hue will work (tip: rooms – even compact rooms – with little natural light pull off saturated shades well).

eclectic blue living room with painted fireplace

Behr: Dangerously Elegant S540-6, Teton Blue N490-4

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Myth: Dark Colours Need a Million Coats

Love the elegance of deep, moody hues – but heard that painting darker colours takes forever? Nowadays, that’s a myth. You don’t need to spend time and energy on dozens of coats to achieve a rich interior colour. Instead, choose a paint formula that delivers the effect with less effort. BEHR MARQUEE® Interior Paints, for example, combine paint and primer in one. When you use this advanced, stain-blocking formula along with a hue from the MARQUEE One-Coat Colour Collection, you’re guaranteed coverage in just one coat.

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Myth: Trim Must Be White

From molding to trim to baseboards, there’s a common assumption that you have to pull out the white paint – but that isn’t always the case. Paint trim in the same shade as the wall for a sleek, pared-back look or choose a contrast interior paint hue for a bold effect. When it comes to trim, there really are no rules. Not sure if you should paint trim or walls first? If you’re using tape, it’s a safer bet to paint trim first (because trim is easier to tape off).

wooden table and chairs in modern living room with large window

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Myth: It’s Always Best to Leave It to the Pros

When it comes to home decor and renovations, there are definitely times when you may want or need to call on professionals (here’s looking at you, plumbing), but painting your walls doesn’t have to be one of them. With the right preparation, materials and technique, taking on interior paint jobs yourself can save you money and bring you a lot of satisfaction.

purple bedroom with white bed with white night stands and lights

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Myth: Paint is Paint

While this is technically true (paint is, after all, paint), it’s definitely a myth that you can brush any old paint onto anything and expect optimum results. From formulas featuring paint and primer combined to stain-blocking paint to one-coat formulas, today there are different options to suit your project and budget.

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Myth: Prepping is Optional

Seeing a fresh coat of colour splash across a wall is the fun part of house painting, so it can be tempting to skip straight to it – but taking the time to prepare walls and surfaces for paint (like filling in any holes, sanding where necessary and washing walls) is essential to success.

person holding supplies preparing to paint room

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Myth: You’re Going to Make a Mess

Paint is inherently a messy business, but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed to a chaotic experience. The secret is in the preparation and tools you use: lay down drop cloths, stick to proper painter’s tape and be careful when pouring paint (a pour lid can help keep things clean).

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Myth: Drips Are Inevitable

Does the thought of globular drips and messy drops scare you away from painting projects? Be brave: it’s a myth that drips have to be part of the DIY painter’s experience. If you want to learn how to paint without drips on the wall, start by changing how you pour. BEHR®’s new Simple Pour Lid is an easy solution to unnecessary drips, mess and wasted paint. The BEHR® Simple Pour Lid is all plastic (which means no rust) and comes with an attachable spout for more precise, convenient and drip-free pours. Just remove the cap, install the Simple Pour Spout and slowly pour the paint into your tray. When you’re done, you can replace the twist cap to keep your paint fresher for longer, too.

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Myth: Spray Paint is for Graffiti

When people think of interior paint projects, they tend to turn to visions of brushes and rollers – delegating spray paint to graffiti-art territory. However, despite these spray painting myths, spray paint can be a quick, efficient and useful way to apply paint in situations where a brush might make achieving an even finish more difficult – like when painting furniture.

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Myth: The Ceiling’s off Limits

Despite what you may have heard, you aren’t stuck with that old white ceiling (especially if it’s suffering from the wear-and-tear stains of time). Learning how to paint a ceiling is actually quite similar to how you would paint an interior wall. A few ceiling painting tips? Be sure to prep and protect the whole room (in case you drip paint) and work in grid-like sections. Have a retro popcorn ceiling you need to deal with first? Here’s how to remove it.