Painting around the home can offer a great change if you do it right—learn about the more common mistakes and how to fix them.

Home painting projects are a common process for many families, but sometimes they don’t quite turn out how you expect them to. If you are looking to paint your home or recently tried to and ran into some problems, you are certainly not alone.

In this article, we will explore some of the more common mistakes and small steps that you can take to address them!

Common Mistakes You’ll See While Painting and How to Fix Them When Something Goes Wrong

When your painting project doesn’t turn out as expected, it can be frustrating, but you can still make the most of it. Learn about common mistakes and how to manage them.

Mistake: The Paint is Overlapping in Certain Areas

Having paint in an area you don’t want it can be frustrating, and it tends to look unsightly too. This is a common mistake that comes up with novice painters. Thankfully, it is also one that is easily managed and avoided. If you have paint where you don’t want it to go, you’re not alone—and this is most common when you are working around edges.

Solution: Using Painter’s Tape

The best way to avoid paint distributing where you don’t want it to go is to simply cover it up. Painter’s tape is easy to use and can offer a lot of protection. Ultimately, this means that paint can’t access the places you don’t want to see it.

To fix up your mistakes, you can outline the proper areas with painter’s tape and then do touch-ups. It’s a simple fix and can help you to avoid mistakes in the future!

Mistake: Uneven Distribution of Color

Color distribution is a big consideration when you’re painting. After all, you want your coat of paint to look like a seamless wall of color.

Many people who are new to painting are surprised and upset when their surface doesn’t look all that smooth when it comes to color. You may notice that some areas appear darker or lighter, even if you used the same color of paint.

Solution: Use the Right Tools and Strokes

Painting is an art, and the simple truth is that there are right ways to do it and wrong ways to do it too. Understanding the right way to paint can ensure that you receive an even coat that looks great.

To make sure that your coat of paint looks even and well-distributed, you need to make sure you use the right techniques and tools. Many people think painting is something anyone can do, but there really are strategies at work with this process.

Make sure you’re doing it the right way!

Mistake: Making Poor Texture

Texture isn’t something most people think about when painting. It often comes up as a consideration after the fact, and by then, it is always going to be too late. If you notice that your paint job is creating an unpleasant texture that negatively affects the look of the paint, it is important to take action sooner rather than later.

Solution: Make Sure You Allow Your Paint to Dry Between Coats and Treat Errors Beforehand

The best thing you can do is recognize these problems early on and prepare to manage them in advance. In some cases, this won’t be an option, but the sooner you notice the problem, the sooner you should take action.

A common cause of poor texture caused by novice painters is not letting paint dry between coats. If you’re painting over a surface that isn’t completely dry, you may end up scraping up paint or carving into it with your tools. Ultimately, this will lead to an unpleasant finish. Take things slow, and let your paint dry!

Sometimes, the problem with texture comes down to the surface itself. If you start to paint and notice texture issues, stop painting immediately. The surface may need to be treated beforehand, whether that means wiping it down or sanding it.

Mistake: Paint is Showing Damage Quickly

So you’ve started to paint, and you notice already that it appears to be showing damage in response to your work. Chips in paint aren’t uncommon, but they are avoidable.

Whether your paint is showing chips or scratches, you can make sure that your next coat looks and feels a lot better!

Solution: Choose High-Quality Paint

In many cases, damage to paint happens because of the quality of the paint itself. When you choose low-quality paints, it is a lot more likely to show these faults. Think of the paint like a cheap pair of pants—the price may be great, but they will tear sooner rather than later.

Avoiding and managing this mistake is easy or hard, depending on how you look at it. To fix it, you will need to go back to the store to get better paint, and you will want to repeat the process.

If this doesn’t seem like an option for you, a simple touch-up can work wonders too.

Mistake: Your Paint Looks Dull

When you look at a swatch of paint and see the color of your dreams, it can be really disheartening when it comes out dull. Some paints are meant to be used alone, but a lot of paints are meant to be paired with other painting materials.

If you’re looking for a great look to your paint, don’t just choose a color—choose the right products and process.

Solution: Consider Adding a Finish

Dull paint happens, but it doesn’t mean you need to go out and buy a new coat of paint. Paint finishes are a simple way to upgrade your current paint job, allowing you to create a look that aligns more with what you want to see.

Finishes can have different effects. Some make paint nice and glossy, while others offer a more flat finish. Find a finish that aligns with how you want your paint to look.

Mistake: The Color Isn’t What You Wanted

Choosing the right color is something that can make or break a paint job. More often than not, simply going by the swatches in the store is not the best solution. It may look one way to you and look a completely different way in reality.

This happens more than you would think—especially when people try to paint their own homes.

Solution: Try Out Small Samples in Advance to Find the Right Match

To make sure that your paint looks exactly how you want it to, you will want to try it out on a small portion of the room in advance. It can be tempting to jump right in when you like a color, but a little patience can go a long way here.

Start with a small sample size, and take time to see it in different types of lighting too.

Mistake: Spots Were Missed

Painting a room always seems easier than it is, and a lot of people find that it is fairly tiring work. The surfaces are always larger than you expect, and managing some of the more complicated areas can be a real challenge.

Like it or not—mistakes do happen, and spots will be missed.

Solution: Use Smaller Tools to Offer a Touch-Up

Missing a spot can be frustrating, but it is a mistake that is fairly easy to manage. Use small tools and a little bit of paint to make sure that you can touch up the small mistakes along the way.

As you address these areas, move slowly and methodically. You want to avoid overlapping with the paint that is already dry. Small brushes and sponges can help you to address these errors just like the experts would.

Mistake: My Home or Business Just Doesn’t Look Right

Sometimes, it isn’t all that easy to nail down one specific mistake. You may just find that your paint job just does not look right and is not what you want.

You are not alone in this—plenty of people are surprised to find that painting a room doesn’t necessarily come out how they want it to. It happens, but it is a problem that can be addressed with support if you need it.

Solution: Work With a Professional Painter

If your home or business doesn’t look great with your new paint job, don’t worry—experts can always help. When you need a complete overhaul on your most recent paint job, you can partner with local painters to make sure that the job gets done right. Even better, they can probably offer you some upgrades that you may not have been able to manage on your own.

Whether your paint looks bad, is the wrong color, has mistakes, or just doesn’t feel right, working with a team of expert painters can get the problem resolved. The good news is that professional painters will be able to do the job more quickly than you in a lot of cases too!

Do What It Takes to Get the Paint Job You Want to See!

Painting is fun, but it is still hard work. Sometimes, you can manage the process and fix mistakes on your own. Other times, you may need more support to get that perfect paint job for your property.

Whether you need insight or support, our Minneapolis painting company is here to help. Contact us today to learn more!