How to Touch Up Your Interior Wall Paint
There is something in our nature that tends to focus on flaws, isn't there? For example, that one little scrape or nick in a beautifully painted wall. Often we just ignore them, but especially if we have guests coming soon, we sometimes get the urge to repair those spots. The approach to the holiday season is a time when homeowners wonder how to touch up the flaws on their interior painted walls.
Professional Painting Tips: When You Can Touch Up
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to make fresh paint match seamlessly with old paint. The color might be slightly off, or the sheen might not match precisely, or maybe brush marks will be visible. The truth is, small touch-ups can be impossible to blend, even for a professional painter.
There are three situations in which you can probably touch up your paint:
Situation #1 - When there is very low or no sheen on the paint.
Flat paints are much easier to touch up than satin or semigloss. If the paint on the walls (or ceiling) is not faded or dirty, and if you have an exact paint match, you can probably touch it up. The key is to apply the paint to the smallest area possible, then use a brush or small roller to "feather" the edges of the painted area, blending it with the older paint.
Situation #2 - When there is a very small flaw that is not in a prominent location.
If there is a small nick or chip out of the paint, try using an artist's brush (rather than a house-painting brush) to carefully dab the paint exactly onto the damaged spot. Use only a tiny amount, so it doesn't bubble out from the surface, and don't feather the edge.
Situation #3 - When the damaged area is in an area with low visibility.
Sometimes the wall damage is behind an armchair or in a corner that's hard to see. In that case, go ahead and try touch-up painting as described above, even if the paint is not flat or the damage is not tiny. Unless people get up close, they aren't likely to notice the repaired area.
If I Can't Touch Up My Wall Paint, What Can I Do?
The best way to regain a truly uniform look to the wall is to paint the whole thing. You don't have to redo the whole room. When you paint just one wall, the corners make a natural stopping point, where the transition from new paint to older paint won't be noticed.
Of course, if the alternative is to paint the whole wall, you may want to try touch-up painting to start with. If you're happy with how it looks when it has dried, then great! But if the repair is obvious and you need to repaint after all, you haven't lost anything by trying.
In some cases, you might not even need to paint - some scuffs can be removed with gentle scrubbing, either with a magic eraser or with warm water. In the case of scuffs, try this before you try a painting option.
Professional Painting in the Washington, D.C. Area
If your walls are looking less than perfect, you may want to work with a professional house painter rather than trying to patch it up yourself. We can repair any surface damage and touch up or repaint as necessary, leaving you with the beautiful, uniform walls you want.
Williams Professional Painting is based in Alexandria, Virginia. We serve Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C. region with quality residential painting. We also refinish kitchen cabinets, and we provide carpentry services. Call us or contact us online for a free estimate!
