Whether you just want to freshen up old or cracked paint or to transform your living space, think carefully about your Interior painting ideas before you begin so you can get the look you want.

Some key areas to focus on are:

  • Colours
  • Finishes
  • Feature walls
  • Painting techniques
  • Eco friendly paint

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to really bring new life into some tired walls. What’s more, if you’re thinking about some property market dabbling, updating your interior painting could push any potential buyers or tenants over the edge to wanting your place. It’s the number one thing any real estate agent will tell you and one of the cheapest home improvements you can make before a sale.

Read this interior painting guide for ideas, tips and costs for DIY painting or hiring an expert.

Interior painting ideas

Whether you just want to freshen up old or cracked paint or you want to transform your living space, think carefully about your interior painting project before you begin so you can get the look you want. Some key areas to focus on are:

  • Colours
  • Finishes
  • Feature walls
  • Painting techniques
  • Eco friendly paint

Colours

With so many options to choose from, deciding on a colour scheme for each room of your home can seem daunting. Looking to your existing furniture and decor could give you some cues to work from, or you can think about the types of mood you want to set in the room and look into the psychology of colours. If you want a professional opinion, consider a colour consultation in-person or online.

Finishes

As well as colour, the type of paint finish you choose will have a big impact on how your walls and other surfaces look. Flat, matte and eggshell finishes can cover up some imperfections in walls and leave a sophisticated finish, but they can also be harder to clean than reflective gloss or semi-gloss finishes. If you want something more interesting than a plain colour, look into special paint effects.

Feature walls

If you’re worried that your room might look bland in a uniform colour, choosing a contrasting colour for a feature wall or accent wall can add drama to any room. You can also highlight accents and mouldings of furniture for striking effects.

Painting techniques

If paintbrushes and rollers seem too time consuming, there are other options. Spray painting walls has become a popular alternative, though it can take some practice to get an even finish and the spray painting equipment can be expensive to rent.

Eco friendly paint

If you’re concerned about the environmental impact of paint, there are now plenty of eco friendly options to choose from. These include low-VOC water based paints rather than oil based paints, 100% natural paints and chalk paint.

How to prep a room for interior painting

Preparation is essential for interior painting to be successful. Without taking these steps, you risk damaging your valuables and getting disappointing results from your paint, which is unlikely to last for as long.

To prepare a room for painting:

  • Remove all furniture and furnishings, or cover those that can’t be removed
  • Lay drop cloths to protect the floor from paint spatters
  • Remove light switch and outlet covers if possible
  • Cover trims, mouldings, outlets and other fixtures on the walls with painter’s tape
  • Open all windows and doors to ventilate the room and speed up drying

Now you’re ready to gather your supplies and start your project.

Interior painting tips for beginners

Even if you’ve never painted a wall before, it’s possible to get a professional finish when you know what you’re doing. Here are some tips to help you paint your walls like a pro and make the job easier.

  • Paint on a dry day. Paint takes longer to dry and is more prone to drips when the air is humid.
  • Smooth out any imperfections by sanding bumps or filling in gaps.
  • You should also sand down any shiny surfaces you’re painting on, such as old gloss paint.
  • Clean the walls thoroughly to remove dust and grease that could stop the paint from sticking.
  • Prime before painting if you’re painting on a bare wall or using a lighter colour over a darker colour.
  • Buy test paint and use it on a small area to see how it looks in your room before you commit.
  • Buy good quality paint and supplies if you want a high quality finish.
  • Only load your brushes and rollers about half way with paint.
  • Paint from top to bottom to avoid drips, moving the roller in a ‘W’ pattern.
  • Stir the paint regularly while painting to keep its consistency and colour.

Interior painting cost

If you’re considering hiring an interior painting professional rather than doing it yourself, you need to find out the cost to paint interior of house and consider whether this is worth the convenience, time saving and guarantee of a good quality finish. Remember that even if you’re doing it DIY, you still need to buy paint and other supplies.

Interior painters in Australia charge between $10 and $30 per square metre, depending on your location, their experience and other factors. The total cost of your project will therefore be based on how large your rooms are, keeping in mind that two coats or paint will probably be needed, along with a coat of primer.