Most people like to finish up their to-do lists as quickly as possible, which is why we tend to cut corners where we can. When it comes to painting, it might not seem totally necessary to tape down trim, sand down bumps in the wall, or add primer before you paint. Skipping these time-consuming tasks seems like it will help you wrap up the chore faster, but Gaines often finds it does the opposite. “[People] skip the step of using a primer thinking it’s going to save them time in the end. And in fact, it’s generally the exact opposite,” he told House Beautiful. “The prep work on the walls themselves, treating the walls, sanding, getting the walls prepped so that the surface is appropriate, and always a good foundation with your primer. The final coat works a whole lot more soundly when you’ve spent that little bit of extra time in the front end, and it ends up saving you a lot of time in the back end.”
Specifically, Gaines recommends doing two things: devoting time to prepping the walls themselves and then priming them. While he didn’t get into specifics, prepping the walls includes things like patching any nail holes or cracks, sanding down any loose or chipping paint, and washing the walls so they are clear of any invisible dust and grime. Next, you want to tape down any trim, whether that’s baseboards, window trim, or door trim. Once that’s done, you can move on to priming the walls. Doing all of these things before pouring the paint will help you get a professional finish.
