6 DIY Painting Tips for Busy Moms

Every 10 weeks, I enjoy a week-long break between graduate school terms. This past week, I promised my kids I would finally paint their bedrooms, but I needed some painting tips. Both of my older children have attic rooms with great character, including awesome nooks. My daughter’s room was a dark pink, making the large room feel closed-in. My son’s room was two shades of orange to match a faded, outdated carpet (that is sadly glued to original hardwood floors). I invited them to choose paint colors – with a bit of direction – and new colors transformed their rooms. We will be adding finishing touches, such as wall decals and new lamp shades, but here are 6 DIY painting tips that made my painting project easier.

6 DIY Painting Tips

1. Use Frog Tape for Edging. Not all painter’s tape is created equal, as I’ve experienced first-hand. Frog Tape is meant to adhere to just about any surface, without becoming too sticky. It has PaintBlock Technology to keep lines crisp. I did have some issues with Frog Tape tearing when it was time for removal. This meant areas of the tape with paint on them were more difficult to remove.
2. Cover Wet Paint Brushes with Plastic Bags. If you’re like me, painting a room does not happen in one day. You can’t leave wet brushes overnight – unless you cover them with plastic bags and tie them securely. Just save up some plastic grocery bags next time you go to the store. This trick made it possible for me to paint periodically with a two-year-old underfoot.
3. Wear Disposable Gloves. This step will keep you from endlessly scrubbing your hands between painting sessions. I recommend buying latex-free gloves for this step to avoid allergy. Latex gloves are also uncomfortably warm, but I’m not certain if other disposable gloves solve this issue.
4. Grab the Color Booklets. While color swatches are fun, they can also be overwhelming. Showing my kids color family booklets with pictures of decorated rooms in complementary colors helped my kids narrow down their choices. My son ultimately picked two colors from a sample photo, while my daughter better understood how complementary colors work.
5. Buy Sample Paint. If you are uncertain about how a color will work in a room, spend a few dollars on sample paint. This allows you to test the color at home and see how you like it under your home’s lighting and woodwork and to decide if you will need one coat or two.
6. Use Paint Primer When Going from Dark to Light. We skipped this step in my daughter’s room and regretted it. This proved especially important on dark, textured walls. Primer is an extra step, but less expensive than multiple coats of paint.

Here’s a look at my daughter’s room before and after a fresh coat of paint. I love how the bright yellow/green she chose for the main room and the cheery yellow she picked for her nook opens up the space!

We are currently waiting on Harry Potter decals to give more character to the rooms and I’ll share an update after they are applied. What are your favorite DIY painting tips?

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