Hello everyone!
Planning Pretty HQ is getting a fresh coat of paint! Huge thank you to Devine Color for sponsoring the paint in my studio. I love their colors and quality. So far every wall is painted with primer aka “concealer” and now we’re ready to paint. I’m still planning to do at least one pink wall :)
Adding primer was definitely a lesson and I wanted to share some of the tricks my husband and I learned with all of you! I hope this helps the next time you need to paint your home, office, or any other space. Wall primer is so important. These steps saved us several headaches, time and money.
10 Tips for Applying Wall Primer
- Start early – This is a big one! We had a late start Monday and struggled to get through the first couple of walls. Shadows appeared and we couldn’t what the heck we were doing. Luckily we planned apply a second coat of primer anyways and the final result was fine.
- Patch any holes – Don’t just paint over nail holes or any other damage to the wall. Use spackling paste and a metal scrapping tool to fill in any holes. After it’s dry, use a fine sandpaper to smooth over the patch. Sandpaper any rough patches you find on the wall.
- Dust & Clean – I have a feeling most people forget this step. After you finish any wall repairs, grab a swifter, duster, paper towel, dust mitt or any other dusting tool to wipe the walls. Never paint over dirt or dust. You’ll discover strange dust streaks, lumps and other unattractive residue on your newly painted wall.
- Always use a drop cloth – Protect your furniture and floors by covering with a canvas drop cloth. They are a little more expensive, but the plastic or disposable versions are very destructible. They tear easily, terribly absorb paint and can’t be reused.
- Painters tape is your friend – I love painter’s tape! Make sure you choose the correct adhesive strength and protect your trim, ceiling, and windows. Did you know there’s even painter’s tape for freshly painted surfaces? You could create wonderful patterns like stripes without waiting hours!
- Cut-in – A little painter’s terminology for you. It’s simply going around the tough edges with a brush before using a paint roller. Don’t try to roll all the way to the ceiling, floor or corner, it just doesn’t work. Paint a border and you’ll avoid a headache.
- Have two roller sizes – Choose a standard 9 inch roller and smaller 3 inch roller. That way you’ll be able to cover any wall surface you need to tackle.
- Add a second coat – Do this step especially if you’re priming over a previously painted wall, like dark colors. The first coat of wall primer may not completely conceal the purple paint you now despise. A second coat usually does the trick, but go for a third if you really need to. It’s to prime a wall as close to perfect as you can get before applying your paint. Bonus tip: primer is usually cheaper than paint :)
No more random green-ish wall! 
- Sand any lumps, wipe with damp cloth – Straightforward, but wait till the primer is dry before using this trick. If you have a textured wall, like I do, you’ll probably be able to skip.
- Get ready to paint! – Once your primer is all set and dry, get your paint ready! Clean all your rollers, paint buckets and anything else you used to apply primer. That way you don’t have to purchase another set of supplies.
Happy painting!
*Note* I did receive product from Devine Color to complete this project. I love sharing brands and products that align with Planning Pretty’s brand + mission. All opinions expressed are my own.
