6 Painting Mistakes to Avoid Next Time You Do a Refresh

Few design tweaks hold as much potential impact and power as paint. The right color can transform any room, helping you maximize light, boost inspiration, or channel a calming, zen-like atmosphere. Paint also happens to be one of the easiest home projects to tackle on your own, but the results you end up with depend largely on prepping like a pro—and avoiding a few common painting pitfalls along the way.

That’s where we come in. To help you manage your mini makeover like a true expert, we went straight to a few of the most knowledgeable pros in the biz to get their take on common painting mistakes and how to avoid them. From the surprising way temperature can affect your hue to the annoying prep work that is (unfortunately) really worth the effort, these expert-backed tips will ensure you end up with a fresh and inspiring space that looks even better than you imagined.

You Skimp on Prep & Supplies

“The right painting tools and proper prep are the winning combo for a perfect paint job,” says Nicole Gibbons, founder and CEO of Clare. In most cases, that means taping off any trim, baseboards, or doorways, using a proper primer, and repairing, patching, and cleaning your walls before starting. “It might require a little more work upfront, depending on your space, but if done right, the rest of your paint job will be a breeze,” she adds.

You Don’t Sample First

“Color is so nuanced—the only way to be sure you’ll love the color in your home is to try before you buy,” says Gibbons. Companies like Clare and Samplize make peel-and-stick color swatches you can buy before committing, or you can buy sample pots from the hardware store to see how the hue looks in real-time. “Before you stick your paint swatch onto your wall, hold it up alongside the furnishings and other decor elements in your space to make sure you like how they all work together,” Gibbons suggests.

You Don’t Mind Your Temperature

You may not think that the temperature has any impact on painting indoors, but you’ll be surprised to find that, just like refreshing the exterior of your home, care should be taken to maintain a proper temperature indoors, too—especially when doing touchups. “When doing paint touchups on a space, you want to mimic as much about the original paint session as possible,” says Mike Mundwiller, product experience expert with Benjamin Moore. “When using the same paint from your original session, ensure that the room temperature is within 20 degrees Fahrenheit from when the original paint was applied. Temperature can affect the color development with acrylic (latex) paints, resulting in a space that looks a little off if temperatures vary too much.”

You Take a Heavy Hand With Touchups 

“For touch-ups, the key is to ensure the new paint blends seamlessly with the existing color and finish, so using the same color, brand, and finish is critical,” says Natalie Ebel, co-founder and creative director at Backdrop. “Our touch-up kit includes a half gallon of paint, a brush to feather out, and a paint pail. Using the small brush and feathering the edges helps you avoid noticeable differences and works really well for touch-up jobs.”

You Cheap Out on Your Roller

Next to premium paint, a good quality roller cover will help you achieve the best results possible in your room. Aim to buy the best your budget allows and always consult an expert at the paint counter to match your surface to the material and “nap” of your roller (there are different options for both the finish of paint you’re using and the type of surface you’re painting). “Low-quality roller covers will shed hair, leaving fuzzy lint to dry into your paint and ruin your finish,” explains Gibbons. “Cheap roller covers also have a weak inner core that will start to dissolve when it comes into contact with your paint, causing it to slide off the roller frame during application, which slows you down and can be a major annoyance,” she adds.

You Don’t Consider the Room’s Light

“When choosing paint colors it’s important to consider how the light in your space will affect how the color appears,” says Gibbons. “The amount of natural light in your space, the direction it’s coming from, and the time of day can impact the way color is perceived. Make sure you love your color both under daylight and in the evening when the sun is down and the artificial lights are on in your home.”