Embarking on a do-it-yourself project can feel overwhelming, regardless of its size. The fear of making a mistake looms large, as a misstep could result in unwanted paint marks or the need to call in an electrician due to accidental damage to your home’s wiring.
Fortunately, in today’s digitally connected world, a wealth of tips, tricks, and tutorials are easily accessible online to assist with a wide range of tasks. Recently, a woman who single-handedly painted her entire house shared some valuable painting hacks she wished she had known before undertaking her extensive project.
Molly Miller, known for sharing home hacks and do-it-yourself tips on her Instagram account, revealed four hacks that she recommends to anyone painting their home’s walls. One particularly useful tip involved a paint roller trick that she claimed helped prevent patchy-looking walls.
Molly confessed her aversion to using painter’s tape and instead devised creative methods to achieve clean edges around skirting boards and doorframes. One simple alternative she discovered was using an A4 file folder to catch excess paint while painting skirting boards, eliminating the need for time-consuming taping processes.
Additionally, Molly highlighted the effectiveness of an edging tool for creating perfectly straight lines, especially in areas where rollers struggle, such as where walls meet window or door frames. She shared her preference for using the edging tool at the top of walls where they meet the ceiling, particularly in the absence of coving that would complicate roller application.
A key trick Molly credited with saving her walls was running a paint roller over a strip of painter’s tape before dipping it in paint. This method is crucial when using a new paint roller, as the tape acts as a lint roller to catch loose fibers that could otherwise mar the paint job.
To combat the strong paint odor that often pervades a home during painting, Molly suggested adding a few drops of essential oil to the paint tin to mask the smell. She cautioned against adding oil to water-based paint, as it could affect its adhesive properties. Alternatively, specially formulated paint fragrances are available, but adequate ventilation and wearing a mask can help mitigate fumes.
Viewers of Molly’s video expressed gratitude for her helpful tips, with many planning to incorporate her suggestions into their own home redecorating projects. One commenter praised the tip about using tape to remove fibers from a new roller, citing their own experience with paint fibers causing issues that required redoing walls.
Another commenter appreciated the advice on removing loose fibers, showcasing the positive reception and practicality of Molly’s painting hacks.