Color (Better Homes and Gardens) (Better Homes and Gardens Home)

Tips and Tricks for Painting

• Primer is your friend. Primer seals in stains, blots out old paint, and provides a surface that paint can easily grab. It's especially important if you're applying a light color over a deep, rich one. In that case, primer can be tinted to your wall color to provide better coverage.

• Trim or walls? When using a semigloss paint for trim, paint the trim first. If you accidentally get wall paint on your newly painted trim, the semigloss finish makes it easy to wipe off.

• Let paint dry. Paint needs to dry for at least 24 hours before you pile your furniture back into the room to prevent smudging the walls. Allow drawers and doors ample time to cure so painted surfaces don't stick together.

• Mix it up. When using two or more gallons of a paint color, mix all gallons together in a 5-gallon bucket. Called boxing, this will ensure that the color is uniform throughout the application. Boxing is particularly worthwhile if you're using a custom-mixed color.

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