Painting Planning

Prepare for your next painting project by discovering our planning ideas & tips.

Painting_iStock_1286396829

Filed under:

Popular House Paint Apps

Here are our favorite mobile apps to help you choose wall paint colors virtually.
S22 E22: Mauro Henrique shows paint samples to brighten a home
Play

How Paint Color Can Brighten A Room

Paint expert Mauro Henrique helps a homeowner make the most of their natural light by choosing different shades of the same paint color.
Looking through the kitchen at a two tone door

Two-Tone Kitchen Pantry Design

A design-build duo gives their pantry a simple yet striking two-tone paint treatment.
Arched hallway leading into a kitchen with a bold blue/green color

Best Bold Paint Colors for Your Home

Learn how to apply bold paint colors in your home from designers.
A ladder and covered objects in a room being prepared for painting.

Easy Guide to Paint Finishes

Trying to choose a paint finish? Read this guide to learn how to pick the right sheen to make your next interior paint project pop.
Painting Expert Mauro Henrique tapes to begin interior painting.

Interior Painting Tips: Best Practices From an Expert

This Old House painting expert Mauro Henrique shares his best practices for painting, including the right tools and techniques.
old_doors_05

Safe Paint Strippers: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover the key differences between traditional paint strippers and safe alternatives—and why you should consider the safer option.
A bathroom painted yellow

Choose the Right Type of Paint for Your Bathroom

Bathrooms are constantly exposed to water and humidity, so selecting a moisture-resistant paint is crucial.
A freshly painted living room.

How Much Paint Do I Need?

Need to know how much paint to buy? A little math can save you a lot of time when it comes to interior painting.
A man pointing at paint swatches to indicate how to match paint colors.
Play

How To Match a Paint Color

Ask This Old House painter Mauro Henrique demonstrates how to accurately match a paint color. You can match colors using a wheel or paint chips.
Leftover paint cans

What To Do with Paint Leftovers

Finished a major project? Here’s how to deal with a little—or a lot—of extra paint.
A man painting the edges of a window.
Play

How To Prepare, Prime, and Paint a Room Like a Pro

Painting a room is one of the most cost-effective ways to completely transform your living space. Read about how to prepare, prime, and paint a room in our step-by-step guide.
prime_windows
Play

How To Quickly Prime and Paint Windows

Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor works with painter Mauro Henrique to demonstrate a masking primer that leaves clean lines on a window.
paint_answers_xlB

Your Toughest Paint Questions Answered

The TOH pros offer advice on your most difficult interior and exterior paint, painted flooring, and paint-removal questions
Professional painter painting the exterior siding of a house the color yellow.

All About Exterior Paint

Expert advice on choosing the best formulations for your siding type, selecting the most eye-catching colors, and getting long-lasting results
gallery_chair_stain

All About Polyurethane

In this guide, we explain how to choose the best type of polyurethane and how to properly apply it to furniture or floors in your home.
a front patio that has been stained

All About Exterior Stain for Decks and Outdoor Woodwork

This Old House decodes the differences between various types of stain so that you can get the look you want. Learn more here.
A ladder and covered objects in a room being prepared for painting.

All About Interior Paint: A Guide To Painting Your Home

The experts at This Old House help you navigate the paint aisle like a pro so that you can choose the perfect finish for your rooms.
0319_Ask_TOH_Colleen_McQuaid_P1260542_hr

How to Paint a Room

From start to finish, we show you how to give your interior walls a new personality in just one weekend.
main_img_paintbrushes

Paintbrushes

Plucked from a hog or synthesized in a lab, the right bristles are the key to a perfect paint job
painters_x

How To Hire a Professional Painter for Your Home

To get the quality paint job you're paying for, vet your painter and make sure your contract is comprehensive.
Placeholder

Why Is My Paint Peeling?

Bad paint jobs can happen to good people with old houses — even when they listen faithfully to everything the paint salesman tells them. The reason is a surprising revelation about the compatibility of oil and latex paints.