Painting a room seems simple until you’re halfway through and realize your walls look like a toddler went wild with finger paints. After working with Aranda Painting Service on multiple projects, I’ve learned the hard way that the magic isn’t just in the brush strokes—it’s in the prep work most of us try to skip.
1. Picking Your Color (Those Tiny Chips Lie)
Picking the right paint colour is not easy. It can be harder than choosing what to watch on Netflix again. You might think you have the perfect warm grey on a small swatch. But once it’s on the wall, it can look very different—sometimes even like purple. The color consultants at Aranda Painting Service really drove this point home for me. They emphasized that you should always test large samples on different walls because lighting can transform a color in ways you’d never expect.
Here’s a game-changing tip I picked up from the crew at Aranda Painting Service: Those tiny paint chips at the store? Basically useless. Instead, grab sample pots and slap on some big 2×2 foot squares on different walls. Live with them for a full day – you’ll be shocked how that “perfect gray” turns bluish in morning light or weirdly pink under your lamps. Trust me, I learned this the hard way in my own living room.
Now about finishes – unless you enjoy spending your weekends wiping down walls (no judgment), skip the high-gloss drama. The painting service pros all swear by eggshell finish. It’s like the Goldilocks of paints – hides those little wall flaws better than flat paint but doesn’t show every fingerprint like semi-gloss does. My cousin didn’t listen to this advice and now her hallway looks like a crime scene of smudges.
2. Clearing Out the Room (AKA Why You Suddenly Own Too Much Stuff)
Let me tell you about my first DIY painting disaster—I thought I could just “quickly” move the furniture myself. Two hours later, I had a bookshelf wedged in the bathroom doorway, a coffee table balanced precariously on the couch, and a mysterious new scratch on my hardwood floors. That’s when I learned why smart people call pros like Aranda Painting Service.
These painting service teams show up like moving ninjas—they’ve got those grippy furniture sliders, thick moving blankets, and a system for clearing rooms that doesn’t involve swearing or hernias. Last time they painted my place, they had everything relocated and protected faster than I could make a coffee run.
3. Covering Surfaces (Paint Has a Mind of Its Own)
Paint has a sneaky way of finding its way onto surfaces you don’t want it on. That one tiny drop can somehow end up on your favorite rug or brand new couch. Quality painting services, such as Aranda Painting Service, know this all too well and use canvas drop cloths instead of that slippery plastic stuff. Canvas drop cloths stay put better and soak up spills. This helps protect floors and furniture.
When taping off trim, windows, and doors, pros have a useful trick. After putting on painter’s tape, they run a putty knife along the edges. This seals the tape and stops paint from bleeding underneath. It saves you from cleaning up messy, uneven lines later. Small details like this can make a big difference in how your paint job turns out.
4. Fixing Walls (They’re Never As Smooth As You Think)
You know how your walls look fine from a distance? Yeah, run your hand over them and suddenly you’re feeling every bump, dent, and patch job from the last decade. When the Aranda Painting Service crew came through my place, they showed me how the pros tackle this stuff—turns out I’d been doing it all wrong.
For those little nail holes and dings? Lightweight spackle is a game-changer. The stuff dries so fast you can practically watch it happen—I timed it once while eating a sandwich, and it was ready for sanding by the time I finished. But here’s where most DIYers (including past me) mess up: with bigger cracks, we glob on too much at once. The painting service guys taught me to do thin layers with a putty knife, waiting a full day between coats. Yeah, it’s annoying, but it beats having those ugly shrinkage cracks show up later.
And about sanding—that 120-grit sanding sponge is worth its weight in gold. The first time I saw an Aranda painter use one on my curved trim, it was like watching a magician. No more awkward angles or uneven spots—just smooth walls ready for paint.
5. Sanding (The Step We All Want to Skip)
I’ll admit, sanding is one of the least favorite parts of the painting process for most of us. On my first DIY attempt, I thought a quick once over with the sandpaper would be enough. Big mistake. By Christmas, the paint was already peeling in places. Now, I know better.
After sanding, wipe the walls with a tack cloth. This removes dust and debris that might stop paint from sticking well. Glossy spots on the wall need extra care. They can block paint from adhering, so sand these areas to create a rough surface. This helps the paint grip better. For ceilings, a pole sander is very useful. It saves your neck and back from strain and makes sanding quicker and easier.
6. Cleaning Walls (The Secret Weapon)
You might be surprised by how much dirt, grease, and grime build up on your walls, especially in the kitchen. I once thought my kitchen walls looked clean until I wiped them down. What I thought was the “eggshell” finish was really years of cooking grease.
Some painting services use harsh chemicals to clean walls. Aranda Painting Service chooses TSP alternatives instead. These are strong on grime but gentle on walls and the environment. If you are cleaning yourself, try a simple mix: a quarter cup of white vinegar in a gallon of warm water. It works well. Just be sure to rinse the walls thoroughly to remove any soap or vinegar left behind. Even a little residue can affect how paint sticks and looks.And be patient—let the walls dry completely before painting. Rushing this step can lead to bubbling or peeling paint.
7. Ceiling First (Because Gravity Doesn’t Care)
I learned the hard way that painting the ceiling first is a must. On one of my early projects, I painted the walls first and then the ceiling, and those inevitable drips ended up ruining my freshly painted walls. Professional painting services like Aranda have mastered the art of ceiling painting.
They use thicker 3/4″ nap rollers, which are better at holding paint and creating a more even texture. Using extension poles lets them reach high ceilings without leaving ladder marks or smudges on the walls. They also use special ceiling paint designed to resist splatter. This keeps the job cleaner and more efficient.
8. Trim Work (Where the Pros Earn Their Pay)
Watching the painters at Aranda handle trim work is like watching artists at work. They use angled “sash” brushes for surgical precision cuts along the edges. Their technique uses long, confident strokes. They avoid going back over wet paint, which can cause streaks and uneven spots.
Another key tip is to remove the tape right after painting, while the edges are still wet. This helps create clean, sharp lines. If you wait too long, the paint can dry and stick to the tape. Then, removing it might peel off some paint.
9. The Tape Hack You’ve Never Heard Of
Here’s a pro tip from painting experts: after taping off areas you don’t want to paint, paint a thin line of the existing wall colour along the tape edge. This seals the tape and stops the new paint from leaking underneath. It keeps your bold new colour exactly where it should be.
Final Pro Tips
When painting, cut in one wall with a brush and then roll the paint on immediately. This helps to avoid visible lines between the cut in area and the rolled area.
Keep a “wet edge” while painting. Always work on areas where the paint is still wet. Don’t stop at corners. Instead, let the paint flow smoothly around them.
Use a “W” rolling pattern. Start by making a W shape with the roller on the wall, then fill in the gaps. This pattern helps to ensure even coverage and prevents roller marks.
Whether you hire Aranda Painting Service or DIY, remember: The difference between an “okay” paint job and a stunning one is in these prep steps. As my favorite painter told me, “Proper prep prevents poor paint performance”—words to live by when that paint can opens.