Neat painting ideas

DIY Interior Wall Painting Tips & Techniques (With Pictures)

Use these tips for how to paint interior walls to make your painting projects go faster and smoother.

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To Avoid Lap Marks, Roll the Full Height of the Wall and Keep a Wet Edge

Lap marks are those ugly stripes caused by uneven layers of paint buildup. They occur when you roll over paint that’s already partly dry. (In warm, dry conditions, latex paint can begin to stiffen in less than a minute!) With these tips learn how to paint interior walls.

The key to avoiding lap marks when learning how to paint interior walls is to maintain a “wet edge,” so each stroke of your roller overlaps the previous stroke before the paint can begin to dry. Here are some painting tips:

To maintain a wet edge, start near a corner and run the roller up and down the full height of the wall, moving over slightly with each stroke.
Move backward where necessary to even out thick spots or runs.
Don’t let the roller become nearly dry; reload it often so that it’s always at least half loaded.
Keep the open side of the roller frame facing the area that’s already painted. That puts less pressure on the open side of the roller, so you’re less likely to leave paint ridges in your stylish wall painting ideas.

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Family Handyman

Mix Several Cans of Paint in a Large Bucket for a Consistent Color Throughout the Room

Paint color may vary slightly from one can to the next. If you have to open a new can in the middle of a wall, the difference may be noticeable. Mixing the paints together eliminates the problem. It’s best to estimate the amount of paint you’ll need and mix it in a 5-gallon bucket (a process called “boxing”).

Here are some good painting tips:

When coverage is difficult to estimate, add more rather than less when learning how to paint interior walls. You can always pour the leftover back into cans.
For large jobs, use the bucket and a roller screen rather than a roller tray. It’s much faster to load your roller with the screen than to use a roller pan.
Simply dunk the roller into the paint bucket, then roll it along with the screen until it stops dripping.

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Family Handyman

Let the Paint Dry, Then Cut the Tape Loose for a Perfect Edge

Once the paint is dry, you can’t just pull the tape off the trim. Paint forms a film between the wall and the tape and removing the tape tears pieces of dried paint off the wall. So before pulling off the tape, cut it loose.

Wait for the paint to completely dry, at least 24 hours, then use a sharp utility knife or box cutter knife to slice through the film. Start in an inconspicuous area to make sure the paint is hard enough to slice cleanly.

If you cut the paint while it’s still gummy, you’ll make a mess. As you cut the paint, pull up the tape at a 45-degree angle.

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Painting Techniques: Paint the Trim First, Then the Ceiling and Walls

Pros usually follow a certain order when learning how to paint interior walls. They paint the trim first, then the ceiling, then the walls. That’s because it’s easier (and faster) to tape off the trim than to tape off the walls. And you certainly don’t want to tape them both off.

When painting the trim, you don’t have to be neat. Just concentrate on getting a smooth finish on the wood. Don’t worry if the trim paint gets onto the walls. You’ll cover it later when painting the walls.

Once the trim is completely painted and dry (at least 24 hours), tape it off (using an “easy release” painter’s tape), then paint the ceiling, then the walls.

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Prime and Texture Wall Patches To Avoid a Blotchy Finish

Freshly painted walls often look blotchy. The color is uniform, but the sheen isn’t consistent. This usually occurs over the holes and cracks you patched with a filler or drywall compound. The porous fillers absorb the paint, dulling the surface (a problem called “flashing”).

When light hits these dull spots, they stick out like a sore thumb. The smooth patch also stands out in contrast to the slightly bumpy texture of the rest of the wall. A quick coat of primer is all it takes to eliminate ﬂashing and texture differences.

Primer seals the patch so paint won’t sink in and look dull. To match texture, prime with a roller, feathering out the edges. Choose a nap thickness to match the surrounding wall texture (a 3/8-in. nap roller for smooth walls; 1/2-in. for textured).

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Family Handyman

Clean Dirty Surfaces So the Paint Can Form a Strong Bond

If you paint over dirty, oily surfaces, the paint will easily chip or peel off. So to prepare before painting, clean grimy areas with a deglosser or heavy-duty cleaner intended for prepaint cleaning.

They work well to clean painted, varnished or enameled surfaces to improve the adhesion of the new paint. They’re ideal for cleaning greasy or oily areas like kitchen and bathroom walls and removing hand marks around light switches and doorknobs.

Wipe on the cleaner in a circular motion using a lint-free cloth or abrasive pad. Start at the bottom and work up. After the surface is clean, fill in any nicks and holes, then sand them smooth before painting. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and eye protection.

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Family Handyman

Roll Paint Along the Edges for Consistent Texture

Corners and areas next to trim that are painted only with a brush have a noticeably different texture than the surrounding paint. To ensure the finished texture will be consistent in these areas, brush on the paint, then immediately roll it out before the paint dries.

Use a 3-in. roller with a nap that’s the same thickness as the roller used for the rest of the wall. Roll as close as you can without bumping the opposite wall or slopping paint onto the trim. Finish brushing on the paint and rolling it out in one area before moving on to the next section.

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Family Handyman

Use Cotton Drop Cloths Rather Than Plastic

Spills and spatters happen, regardless of how careful you are. It’s a lot easier to prepare for them than to wipe them out of your carpeting or off your wood floor later. All it takes is canvas drop cloths in your work area.

The thick canvas stays in place, so you don’t need to tape it, and you can use it to cover any surface. Plastic drop cloths are slippery to walk on or set a ladder on and don’t stay in place. Even worse, paint spills on plastic stay wet, and they can end up on your shoes and get tracked through the house. Canvas is slippery on hard ﬂoors, so rosin paper is better over vinyl, tile and hardwood. Tape the sheets together and to the ﬂoor to provide a nonslip surface.

But even with canvas or rosin-paper drop cloths, large spills still need to get wiped up right away or they’ll seep through. Clean spills with paper towels or cloth rags. Likewise, if you splatter paint on any other surface, wipe it up immediately.

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Family Handyman

Feather Out Paint Where You Can’t Keep a Wet Edge

You can’t cover large areas like ceilings, extra-tall walls or stairwells in single, continuous strokes, so the best way to minimize lap marks on these areas is to feather out the paint along the edges that you can’t keep wet. The thinner, feathered coat of paint will avoid the buildup that causes the lap mark.

To paint a large section without leaving lap marks, roll the nearly dry roller in different directions along the dry edge, feathering out the paint as you go. After completing the entire length of the wall or ceiling, move to the next section and paint over the feathered edges.

For the second coat, apply the paint in the opposite direction. This crisscrossing paint application sharply reduces (if not eliminates) lap marks.

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Family Handyman

Sand Trim Between Coats for an Ultra-Smooth Finish

One coat of paint usually won’t hide the underlying color and sheen on trim. And if you don’t sand the surface smooth between coats, the finish may have a grainy texture. For a smooth finish, sand the trim before applying each coat of paint.

Sand the trim with a fine-grit sanding sponge. Sponges get into crevices where sandpaper can’t go and let you apply even pressure.

Then apply the ﬁrst coat of paint, let it dry at least 24 hours, lightly sand it again for a completely smooth surface, and apply the second coat. After each sanding, vacuum the trim, then wipe it down with a tack cloth to remove the dust.

Originally Published: February 09, 2021

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642 ideas for creativity or How to develop creativity

Ekaterina Ushakhina

You don't need reasons to start creating. All you need is a desire, and, for example, paper, a pencil and one of our new products - depending on what you like more - to draw or write.

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642 ideas for a pencil

If you draw everywhere and always, or your sketches are scattered in notebooks and notebooks and it seems to you that you have already drawn everything that is possible, and there are no new ideas left, then this book is definitely for you .

Its pages contain 642 original and witty ideas of what to draw... and, of course, space for drawings.

10 ideas for unusual drawings

1. Van Gogh's ear2. air castle

3. Charlie Chaplin

4. Human Anatomy Diagram

5. Stalagmite or stalactite

6. Mirage7. Time Machine

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And this is what can come of it:

Cat in a poke:

Crystal ball:

what is written?). Or invite friends and family to draw in your book - and then you will receive an invaluable notebook with drawings as a keepsake from the most beloved and dear ones.

642 super ideas for those who love to compose

This book is a creative "simulator" for practicing creativity. It will come in very handy for anyone who wants to develop their imagination and learn how to express their thoughts succinctly.

There are 642 beginnings of stories on its pages — funny, funny, sad, fantastic and even a little strange… They need to be developed and turned into finished stories.

Unusual characters, unexpected situations, amusing circumstances… What kind of sequel can you think of? What will come of it? You will be surprised how fun the creative process can be.

Sherlock and Prince Myshkin

How would you answer, for example, the following question: “Imagine that two of your favorite characters from different books, films or series met. How and what can they talk about? Write a dialogue.

This can be done like this:

Sherlock plays a gentle melody on the violin.

Prince Myshkin (thoughtfully): "Beauty will save the world."

Sherlock: Boredom! You're stupid".

Prince Myshkin: “I must tell you that before I really was so unwell that in fact I was almost an idiot; but now I've recovered a long time ago... Is it possible to smoke here? That’s why I’m used to it, but I haven’t smoked for three hours.”

Sherlock: “Try the nicotine patch. Kislovodsk or Switzerland?

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Prince Myshkin: “Such flour! Soul abuse! Isn't it horror? No, that's not possible."

Sherlock: “He deserved it. And it was fun, by the way.”

Prince Myshkin: "Crazy!"

Sherlock: " No, a highly active sociopath ".

Write about a person who loves the color yellow

Here's what you might end up with:

An easel with work in progress was in the middle of the room. The picture, although it was not finished, shocked to the core. It seemed impossible to look at these fabulous yellow elephants, golden firebirds, a sunny fairy with a kind, unearthly face - and not experience happiness.

It was not only the picture that was amazing in the room. Lemon wallpaper, a mustard-coloured sofa, a canary table, and an amber chandelier dazzled everyone who entered. There were many visitors that day.

The black suits and dull pale faces contrasted strangely with all the objects, and the mistress of the room would probably laugh if she saw this discrepancy.

That day she was given a lot of yellow bouquets, which could no longer please her.

A fairy tale in reverse

« Retell any fairy tale from the point of view of a minor character « - such a task for those who love fairy tales:

this is for those who love fantasy stories:

And some final ideas

1. You meet a girl who can close her eyes and see the whole universe. Tell about her.

2. Try to fit a person's entire life into one sentence.

3. Take an article from a fresh newspaper. Write down ten words or phrases that caught your eye.