Looking to DIY an interior paint job? Make sure you’re prepared with our how-to checklist for a professional-looking finished product.

First, the preparation.

Preparation is as important – if not more so – than the paint itself. Start by clearing the area and covering floors and furniture with drop cloths. Then sand and clean all the surfaces you intend to paint. Next, fill any cracks or holes with with high quality spackle. Lastly, line the edges with painter’s tape to keep errant strokes off surfaces you don’t mean to paint. Check out our blog post on wall prep for more details.

Next, ceilings.

Once everything is put away and properly covered, start painting the ceilings. This is partially to get the hard part out of the way, but also because ceilings can dry without worry of being touched or smudged while you work on the rest of the room.

Then come the walls.

Now you get to the meat of the project – the walls. If the paint you’ve chosen doesn’t have a primer in it, prime the walls first (same with the ceiling) and allow time for that to dry before diving into the color. Once color has been applied, make sure everything looks even and apply further coats if necessary.

What about trim?

Completely depends on the job and where the trim is located. Either way, ceilings will still come first, followed then by either walls or trim.

The finisher.

Once the paint is on, let the room do its thing. Avoid opening windows – this may seem counterintuitive, since open windows means free-flowing air to help paint dry, but it can also mean bugs, dust and other particles landing on the wet paint and finding a permanent home on your freshly colored walls. Once all areas of the room have dried, check to make sure everything is coated properly, pack up and clean your tools and accessories, uncover your furniture, and leave your room looking brand new.

Sound like too much work? Bring in the professionals to do it for you! Blue Door Painting is a five-star rated, highly experienced professional interior painting contractor that has been transforming homes in the Chicago area for over 35 years. We’re experts in complete, full-service interior painting for existing homes, gut rehabs, home renovations and new construction projects. Get a FREE quote today!