Since starting my DIY journey a couple years ago, I’ve learned a few tips and tricks along the way and I’m here to spill the tea! No gatekeeping here! I’ve made plenty of mistakes so you don’t have to and I’m sharing it all! My most recent projects included painting my kitchen tile floor and painting my kitchen cabinets. This was my first time doing this type of project and spoiler alert, it turned out great!
Here are my TOP 7 paint tools and tips that can help make your DIY projects even better and give you a professional looking finish! See anything missing from this list? Let me know and I’ll add it!
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Number 1: Properly cleaning your paint project is a must! In order for paint and primer to adhere properly, you need a perfectly clean surface. My go-to degreaser is Krud Kutter. Even after mopping my floors with my wet/dry vacuum mop, I was amazed how much more dirt and grime came off my kitchen floors after using Krud Kutter. I also used Krud Kutter to degrease and clean the kitchen cabinets before priming.
Number 2: Prep work is half the battle when it comes to paint projects and this pre-taped painters film is a lifesaver! When I decided to spray my kitchen cabinets, that meant taping everything off and this product made it so much easier and saved a lot of time. The coolest part is that it uses static cling to stick to the walls and ceiling!
Number 3: Speaking of spray painting, this was the first project I’ve used a paint sprayer for and I will never go back to paint rollers. It is a total game changer! Not only does painting go way faster, the paint finish is so much nicer. My kitchen cabinets look professionally done all thanks to the paint sprayer. There was one panel on the lower cabinets under the sink that I used a roller and brush and you can really tell the difference! Highly recommend investing in a paint sprayer if you’re going to be doing a project like kitchen cabinets or furniture flips. This particular sprayer has two different attachments so you can do large areas like walls and ceilings and another attachment for more detailed work like cabinetry and furniture. Another little tip with the sprayer is to get these spray liners for easy clean up!
Number 4: Ok, here’s where you can learn from my mistake. If you’re using a paint sprayer indoors, don’t do what I did. Get a paint suit that covers your entire body including your hair and wear a respirator mask and eye protection. I had the respirator and glasses but failed to wear a paint suit and this is what I looked like after painting. Thankfully it all came out of my hair, but I will definitely be investing in a hazmat suit for next time!
Number 5: If you’re using gallon paint cans for your project, these Pour and Store lids are great! It saves you from having to take the metal lid off and on a bunch of times during your project and it makes pouring the paint into your tray way less messy! the pour spout folds down so you can store the cans on top of one another to save space. When you’re done with your project, you can remove the lids and they clean off really easily!
Number 6: On that same note, if you’re using paint rollers, these roller covers are great to use during your project. The cover goes over the roller with the handle on and keeps the roller wet with paint between coats. I also store it in the refrigerator although there is some debate as to whether or not that is necessary. Either way, these roller covers are awesome!
Number 7: Last but not least, I recommend these touch up paint pens! When you’re done with your project, it’s great to have these filled and labeled and easily accessible if you get any nicks or scratches in your paint. After painting my cabinets, I scratched the paint when installing the cabinet doors while I was adjusting the new hinges. These little touch up paint pens came to the rescue! So before storing your leftover paint when you’re done, fill up one of these paint pens, label it and keep it handy for when you need to do little touch ups.
I hope this was helpful! Do you have anything to add to this list? Let me know and I will add it for next time!
In my next post I will be sharing things from my kitchen renovation that just make sense. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!
Until next time, happy DIY-ing!
-Selene Builds Things
