Interior Painting: 7 Tips for a Professional-Looking Finish

Ask any professional painter and they'll tell you the same thing: painting is 80% preparation and 20% painting. If your last paint job showed roller marks, drips, or patchy coverage, one of these steps is almost certainly why.

1. Clean the walls first. Dust, grease, and fingerprints stop paint from bonding properly. A quick wipe-down with a mild detergent solution — especially in kitchens — makes a bigger difference than any premium paint.

2. Patch and sand, then sand again. Fill nail holes and dents with spackle, let it dry fully, and sand it flush. Run your hand over the wall with your eyes closed — if you can feel a bump, you'll see it under a fresh coat.

3. Don't skip primer on repairs. Spackled spots and bare drywall absorb paint differently, which shows up as dull 'flashing' patches through your finish coat. A spot of primer on every repair keeps the sheen even.

4. Cut in before you roll. Paint a two-inch band along ceilings, corners, and trim with a brush first, then roll while the cut-in is still wet. This blends the edges and eliminates the visible picture-frame border.

5. Use quality tools. A cheap roller sheds lint into your paint and holds less product, so you work harder for a worse result. A good 3/8-inch microfibre roller and an angled sash brush pay for themselves in one room.

6. Keep a wet edge. Work in sections and always roll back into paint that's still wet. Stopping mid-wall and coming back later guarantees lap marks.

7. Respect drying times. Recoating too soon pulls up the first coat and leaves streaks. If the can says four hours, give it four hours — or overnight in humid weather. And if you'd rather skip all of this and just enjoy the result, that's what we're here for.