Pro Grade Interior Finishes: How To Do-It-Yourself

Achieving pro-grade interior finishes can be challenging; however, it is something that you can do yourself if you learn the right skills and methods. In this guide, we take a look at some of the ways that you can ensure you get that polished, custom look that is achievable when you hire professionals but without the cost. Here is everything you need to know. 

Master the art of surface preparation

If you really want your interiors to look good, then you’ll need to master the art of surface preparation. This means that your surfaces look smooth and clean before you work on them. Usually, professionals start with drop cloths to clean rooms and protect floors. Then they clean the walls with a mild detergent or sugar soap substitute. Sometimes, during the cleaning process, they will discover small holes or gouges in the wall. This is a good time to fix them with plaster. 

Sandpaper also comes in handy during these situations. Professionals have different grades depending on the roughness of the surface and the amount of rough material that they need to remove. Fine-grit sanding is one of the best ways to give rooms a brand new, polished look, even if they’ve been damaged in the past. 

Choose the right primer and paint

During renovations, professionals also make sure they choose the right primer and paint. They ensure that they properly layer paint and tint the primers to the final colour. They also use high-end interior paints that many DIY enthusiasts ignore. For example, they’ll choose flat or matte paint for ceilings and low-traffic walls, while using eggshell for high-traffic areas which are more prone to scuffing. 

Paint in the correct order

You also want to ensure that you paint in the correct order, something else that professionals love to do.

1. Many of them start with the ceilings using a roller first. That’s because even if the ceiling drips down onto the walls, it’s not going to ruin the final look.
2. The next step is to cut in the walls with the brush around the ceiling and then around the edges and the floor.
3. The final step is to fill in the unpainted wall spaces in the middle and then finish the trim elements like the doors and cabinets.

Develop a better cutting-in and rolling technique

Another critical skill is to develop a better cutting in and rolling technique. For cutting in, you’ll want to use a high-quality angled sash brush. Add a moderate amount of paint to it and then cut in 2 to 3 in along the edges and corners of your room. For rolling, you’ll want to use a 3/4 in nap roller for most walls. These allow you to roll in a W or M pattern. When rolling, don’t press hard; allow the paint to do the work. 

Add decorated touches

Lastly, pros like to add panel molding or wainscoting as decorative touches. As a DIY enthusiast, you don’t have to build these from scratch; you can just use peel and stick options.