How to Paint Without Making a Mess

One of the biggest reasons people avoid painting their homes themselves is because of the potential mess they can end up making. However, by properly planning, having the right supplies and knowing the right techniques, you can avoid making the huge mess that most inexperienced painters end up with.

You will need:

• 1-inch blue painter's tape


• Drop cloth, canvas, tarp or old sheets


• Painter's plastic


• 3 damp rags


• 6-inch and 12-inch sheetrock finishing knives


• 2-inch professional grade, angled paint brush made for all paint types


• 3-inch all purpose paint brush


• Rolling pan


• Paint roller, with extension

No-Mess Painting:

• Choose the paint color and finish. Finishes are rated from the least shiny to the most shiny, flat, satin, semi-gloss and gloss. Keep in mind that gloss paint will show imperfections, while flat paint helps to hide them. Also, semi-gloss works great on trim, doors and window frames and adds contrast to the room. Latex-based paints are among the easiest to cleanup.


• Having everything you need at hand and cleaning up as you go along will make the project go much quicker. You do not want to have to stop painting because you do not have everything you need.


• Cover everything. You can use old sheets, canvas drop cloths, tarps or painter's plastic. Paint can bleed through thin fabrics, so if covering things with an old sheet, be sure to use plastic as the base layer. If you have a special finish on the walls or have wood or brick walls, you will need to cover them before painting the ceiling. No matter how careful you are when painting the ceiling, the roller will still cause paint to splatter.


• Tape off the trim in the room, such as the window and door frame before you begin painting the walls. Peel off the tape as soon as you are finished painting. This will help to make sure that the new coat of paint does not peel off with the tape and create a straight line.


• When painting the trim, watch for paint running. Applying the paint in thin layers will help to avoid this issue. Also, keep a few damp rags handy to wipe off drips of paint as you go along.


• Dispose of the tarps that you used to cover everything as soon as you are done painting. Do not walk around on them because this will lead to you tracking the paint somewhere else. Clean the lids of the paint cans so that they fit properly. If they do not properly fit, the paint will go bad. Check the items in the room for paint. You can use soap and water to clean latex paint off just about any surface.