Five painting ‘mistakes’ to avoid making or risk a ‘lumpy’ finish

Phil Spencer’s advice on making your house presentable to sell Painting is a great way to spruce up any area of the home, including kitchen cabinets or even upcycling furniture. However, according to Sarah Lloyd, paint and interiors expert from Valsparpaint.co.uk, Britons should be careful when painting to avoid some common errors. 1. Not preparing The expert explained: ‘As with most DIY jobs, the prep work is just as important as the painting, however, this is something that is regularly skipped. ‘Always protect your floor with dust sheets, and use masking tape to keep everything neat, you don’t want to have to repaint the ceiling or skirting board again if you can help it, so masking off is essential. ‘Finally, you should ensure your room is well-ventilated before you begin to paint – an open window should suffice.’ Five DIY ‘mistakes’ to avoid making when painting your home or risk a ‘lumpy’ finish 2. Choosing the wrong colour According to the paint expert, the ‘worst mistake’ of all is choosing the wrong colour, but it can be hard when choosing because there is so much to think about. Sarah recommended choosing a core colour while considering the room’s lighting, accessories and furniture. She added: ‘You don’t need to follow trends too strictly. Once you have your core colours you can then either go for a monochromatic scheme (singular colour scheme with light and dark shades), analogue (use colours that sit next to each other on the colour wheel), contrasting (three colours that are evenly spaced around a colour wheel) or a complementary colour scheme (two opposing colours on the colour wheel). ‘Follow this method and your colours are sure to stay chic for a long time.’ Looking for a new home, or just fancy a look? Add your postcode below or visit InYourArea SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info 3. Painting radiators Painting radiators is a great way to spruce up any room, although many people do it wrong. It is important to turn the radiator completely off before painting it, cleaning it and using a primer. Make sure to paint in the same direction as the grooves in the metal, but don’t overload the brush as this could result in some dripping or lumpy areas. Britons should wait at least 24 hours before turning it back on, to help let it dry fully so the paint doesn’t turn tacky. 4. Incorrect equipment The paint pro continued: ‘Rollers are a really easy way to paint your home. However, you need to first pick the right roller. Short pile provides a great cover for smooth walls and flat surfaces. Trending Five jobs to avoid DIYing