Sometimes we get asked such a great, in depth question that can be helpful to so many others we have decided to answer such questions (with permission, of course) right here. Today’s question comes from a couple that just moved into military housing–their first place they are allowed to paint:
Julia,
I am in need of some help, and since I have been going through your blog posts for about 2 hours, I now know more than ever JUST how experienced you are in painting walls (among other things :)) So, I just moved into military housing, and discovered the wonderful joyous news that I am ALLOWED TO PAINT! I have dreamed (dreamt?) of living in a place with painted walls for oh about 5 years now. The catch: I’ll have to REpaint it all back to white before leaving. But we will be here for at least 2 years, and it is worth it to me! But, it does make me want to be selective with how much I paint. maybe an accent wall here and a bedroom there. anyway…the whole purpose of this: What is essential? brushes, rollers, tape, newspapers, primer, best types of paint, foolproof techniques…please, TEACH ME!
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What is the brand and name of the neon paint?
Ooh, I am not sure. This was just an inspiration photo–not mine. Sorry!
Great advice! I’m in the same boat (having to repaint our walls back to white). Love all your inspiration images. I’m a huge fan of white walls!
great post – I loathe painting, but I’ve been trying to invest in better tools to make me hate it a little less.
Do you have a preference on spackle when you’re filling nail holes?
Also: Where do all these people in the inspiration photos live with their ridiculously high ceilings? Clearly not Southern New Jersey as my house will demonstrate ;-)
Haha! Not in Idaho either! For spackle, I swear by DAP Fast ‘N Final Lightweight Spackling. It is really airy and dries super fast. It’s low oder, low VOC and patches and primes in one step. I’ve picked it up at every hardware store and even Walmart for $2-$5 depending on size.
This was such a great post. I can’t wait to get to this point of painting, but I know I’m going to second guess myself. Basically, I’m going to fly you out when that day comes and we can spend all our time discussing paint. :-) well and other things of course!
Tiffany,
My husband and I both grew up with Navy Dads, and he spent far more time in Navy housing than I did. As a result, his Mom painted each house and then repainted it white again. To her, it was *their house* and she wanted it to feel like home.
Julia,
I appreciate the timing of this, as I decided in the wee hours of the morning that we need to paint a few rooms before Christmas. (Hopefully the hub will agree once he awakens.) Our living room and the bottom half of our daughter’s room is a very, very, very dark green. We’re planning on priming it first, so I’m wondering do you have an suggestions for a good primer over extremely dark colored walls?
Many thanks.
Wendy,
We have had great success with going with a good quality paint and primer covering dark paint. Really. But if you’re set on priming first, Benjamin Moore’s Fresh Start or Zinsser’s Bull’s Eye Zero Primer are our go-tos. Good luck! The mention of Christmas in your question got me so excited.
Julia,
Thank you!
We’re not set on anything- other than saving money, making it live-able (the previous owners chose the colors…not us!), and working around my hub’s life as a writer (sometimes words come before paint in our home).
We have a big hope of one day building a house on the center of our property and removing this one. As a result, we’re constantly on the “how much do we invest in this house?” thought process mode. We’d love to go with top-of-the-line paint, but it seems silly if we’re going to be removing the place in under a decade.
Thanks again.