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10 Painting Tips and Tricks near Columbia, TN 7:25 AM 27.08.2025
10 Painting Tips and Tricks near Columbia, TN
For over 75 years, since 1946, the families of Maury County, Williamson County, and beyond have trusted our family-run business at Columbia Paint & Wallcover for advice on their painting projects. Whether you’re freshening up a farmhouse in Pleasant Grove or building a new home in Spring Hill, we’ve learned a thing or two about what separates a good paint job from a great one.
Here are ten of our most trusted tips and tricks to keep painting projects pleasant experiences, save you time and energy, and leave you with a stunning finish.
1. Clean Your Walls Well
Dust and grime are the enemies of a smooth finish. Cleaning your walls before you paint them will ensure your primer and paint adheres properly and prevents small hairs or dust from marring the final finish. Use a damp cloth with a mild, phosphate-free soap or a mixture of 1 parts distilled white vinegar and 3 parts water to wash dirt, wallpaper glue, and other debris off your walls. Let them dry completely before paint application.
- Pro Tip: The acetic acid in vinegar bonds with odor molecules, trapping them and making the “new paint smell” less overpowering.
2. Test Your Paint
That beige color may look completely different in your space than it does in our showroom or online. Before you decide to paint the whole room that color you’ve had your eye on, paint a small test patch with several samples.
- Pro Tip: Any paint color can look quite different depending on lighting conditions, so it’s good to check that you like how it looks before you go all in.
3. Tape Carefully
The professionals apply painter’s tape properly to avoid paint leakage and achieve the crisp edges you want in your space. When using painter’s tape, ensure it adheres properly and covers everything you don’t want painted on.
- Pro Tip: Use the edge of a scraper, putty knife, or credit card to push down the tape for even better adhesion and less bleed-through.
4. Use Primer
Paint-Primer combination Benjamin Moore paints are a great pick and can work well on surfaces that are already smooth. But if you’re painting on a stained surface, have a drastic color change between your old and new paint, or are painting a lighter color over a darker one, using separate paint primer will lead to a much better result and save a lot of headache.
5. Choose the Right Tools
Having the right tools for your painting jobs makes it much easier. Whether that looks like buying or renting a paint sprayer for large, tall dining room or some precise brushes for touching up a bathroom, we have all the high-quality painting tools you need.
6. Choose the Right Paint
Besides choosing a color you like, getting high-quality paint that will look good when it’s new and for years to come is crucial. Benjamin Moore paint is the highest quality on the market and will provide a lasting, beautiful finish.
- Pro Tip: Kitchens and bathrooms need paints that can handle moisture and be scrubbed clean (we recommend Benjamin Moore Aura® Bath & Spa).
7. Cut In First
Before you roll paint on your walls, cut in first. This just means painting the corners and edges of the room, and it helps to get crisp edges and prevent paint from getting on the trim.
8. Feature Paint with an Accent Wall
It may sound hard to figure out how to feature your favorite paint colors, but creating an accent wall is pretty simple and makes a stunning addition to any room. The key is choosing the right wall (often the one with a fireplace or behind a bed) and a coordinating wallpaper or paint color that complements your existing scheme.
9. Remove Tape at the Right Time
The best time to remove your painter’s tape is not when the paint is fully dry, but when it’s still somewhat tacky. This will prevent the paint and Tape from peeling off.
- Pro Tip: Pull tape off slowly, 1-2 hours after application, at a 45-degree angle.
10. Clean Up Promptly
Paint is much easier to clean when wet, so don’t wait to wipe up spills, correct any spots, and wash your painting tools immediately after use. It’s a chore, but it saves your tools and your sanity for the next coat or the next project.
- Pro Tip: For water-based paints, use warm, soapy water. For oil-based, use the appropriate solvent.
Contact Us for Benjamin Moore Paint & More
For more painting tips and tricks near Columbia & Spring Hill, Tennessee, visit our two showroom locations! At Columbia Paint & Wallcover, our team of home improvement pros would love to help you with your next painting project—or with selecting the perfect custom window treatments to cap off your space. Contact Us with any questions.
