Winter is the best time to paint interior walls.

When we think of interior painting, it’s easy to assume your home improvement project should be done in the spring or summer months. But did you know there are benefits to interior painting in the winter months? Because there is less humidity, your paint will dry noticeably faster and better in the colder months, winter is the best time for painting your home’s interior.

Don’t wait for the hot temperature, and high humidity months. Freshen up your home now with a fresh coat of paint by following these 5 simple interior house painting tips for the winter season.

1. PREPARATION

When preparing for an interior paint job, it’s critical to take the time to prep your space and materials. Avoid costly mistakes and spend time protecting your surfaces and equipment. Here are just a few painting project preparation tips:

Before painting your house, make sure your surfaces are clean from dirt and dust. We know you’re eager to start painting, but removing these particles with a simple rag or tack cloth can help ensure a smooth surface, and keep the protection materials in place.

After you’ve cleaned your surfaces, take the time to protect them with these products:

• Drop cloths to protect furniture and floors
• Surface protection board works well for hard surfaces such as countertops and floors
• Masking film and masking paper are great for baseboards, windows, doors, and cabinets
• Painter’s tape for trim, baseboards, electric sockets, or any other small, detailed space

To help keep a consistent paint color for the entire duration of your interior painting project, we recommend mixing a few cans of paint in a large 5-gallon bucket. Using a 5-gallon bucket roller tray will keep your waste and mess to a minimum.

Once your paint is mixed, strain your paint to remove any impurities with a strainer. This will ensure a smooth, clean finish.

2. TRIM, CEILING, THEN WALLS

When painting a large space, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, and not know exactly where to start. It’s almost inevitable that you’ll drip, spill, or splatter, so it’s important to paint the room in the correct order. As a rule of thumb, we recommend painting the trim first, then the tape, then the ceilings, and finally the walls.

If you plan on painting your floors as well, save that for last!

3. EVEN STROKES

For large spaces and walls, we recommend using a roller. Using an extension pole will also speed up the paint project dramatically. To ensure a smooth and even surface make sure you:

1. Completely cover the roller with paint before beginning
2. Remove all excess paint to avoid drips
3. Using the roller to apply paint, follow the same pattern throughout. The most common pattern is in the shape of a œW or œM. Without lifting the roller, fill in the unpainted areas.
4. Once you’ve painted the area completely, carefully pick up the roller so it does not leave a mark. Reapply the paint on your roller, move to another unpainted area, and repeat the process.

4. KEEP CALM & LET THE PAINT DRY

Once you’ve painted your room, it’s tempting to start applying a second coat of paint. Don’t! Make sure your coat is completely dry before adding any additional coats. To help expedite the drying process, open up windows for airflow. You’ll be surprised that winter air will improve drying times.

Not all paints are created equal though- different types of paints have different drying times. For oil-based paints, let the walls dry for at least 24 hours before re-applying. However, if you are using a latex based paint you can begin your second coat in 4-6 hours.

5. CLEAN UP

We know, that cleaning up is the least fun part of any job. However, clean up and proper disposal of paint wash out is an extremely important part of the painting process. Latex paint can simply be washed out of brushes with soap and warm water. Dispose wash out in a government-approved area that will not seep into groundwater. Alternatively, invest in an environmentally friendly, paint wash-out system.

Oil paints are a bit more tricky. To remove paint, use a paint thinner or solvent to wash out. Again, dispose of paint washout in a pre-approved area. Improper disposal can harm the environment and can pollute groundwater.

Lastly, store your leftover paint in a safe place for future touch-ups! The cold weather can be the perfect time for a fresh coat of paint.

Of course, if you want to avoid the hassle of DIY completely, you can always rely on our Professional Interior Painting Service for your Chicagoland Painting needs.