How to Paint Your Interior Walls like a Pro

Home From Christina Donnelly, your About Home Editor Why hire a professional interior painter when you can do it yourself … and wear your 1970s painter pants one last, glorious time? Whether your walls need a simple touch-up or a major facelift, we've got the tips, tricks and ideas to make your interior painting fast, safe and totally stress-free. Now, paint on, Picasso! Choosing Your Paint Finish Matte, flat, satin or textured? There are so many choices when it comes to paint finish. I recommend choosing a finish based on the style of your space. For example, rustic style pairs well with flat finishes, while glam, modern styles work well with glossier finishes. But a word to the wise: use those glossy finishes sparingly on wall features or trim—too much gloss can feel cold. Decorating with Chalkboard Paint How to Create a Faux Venetian Plaster Finish The Top 10 Painting Tips and Tricks Choosing Your Wall Color Did you know the color of a room can affect your health, mood and behavior? Not to mention, changing your wall color is a simple—and effective—way to experiment with a bold, new color or completely change the mood of your space. So, whether you want to spice up your living room with an accent wall or give your bedroom a major dose of color, we've got plenty of ideas to ensure you'll find the color that works for you. How to Create a Neutral Color Scheme Color Ideas for Your Kitchen Paint Colors for Your Guest Room Choosing Your Pattern or Design Hear me out: you may be a bit hesitant to add a pattern to your interior walls (it's not the easiest thing to reverse!), but it'll add tons of character to your space. Accent walls create a dramatic focal point in a room; painting with an ombre effect adds depth and dimension to your walls; and stencils are super fun for kids' rooms or nurseries. How to Paint Designs on Your Walls Paint Your Own Wall Mural Decorative Painting Techniques Painting Tools and Prep Okay—you've picked out a finish and a wall color or design. But before you start working on your masterpiece, you'll want to make sure you're fully prepared for the project; that means tracking down the right tools, taping off your space and following the proper safety procedures. Make sure you patch and seal any cracks or holes in your walls, too—we want a nice, smooth finish here, people! How to Make Painting Cleanup Easier (You're Welcome!) How to Make Your Paint Dry Faster Everything You Need to Know About Painting Your Home Related Searches Interior Painting Interior Paint Colors Wall Colors Neutral Color Scheme Featured Articles Follow About Home on Pinterest! How to Attract Bluebirds to Your Yard Finding the Right Apartment for You 10 Tips for Growing Terrific Tomatoes Why We Love Colorful Dining Tables 9 Yard Sale Finds You Shouldn't Pass Up   More from About.com Sign-up for Shareables! An every-morning rundown of the day in history, headlines and trends produced by your pals at About.com. Please sign up it's free (of course), we think you will like it! Want More From About.com Check out our social page tailored to your interest!   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Healthy Eating newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If you would like to unsubscribe from all newsletters sent from About.com, please send an email to optout@about.com with "Unsubscribe" as the subject line. Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2014 About.com   Advertisement