Walls exude cleanliness and freshness when recently painted. It can make any room feel new, but conversely feel unkempt and dated when not properly cared for. Maintaining your walls doesn’t begin or end when you cover it with paint. To keep the paint job and color appealing to the eye, there are certain tips you should keep in mind.

The longer you allow a stain to stay on your walls, the longer it has to penetrate into your paint and stubbornly stay there.

Select the Right Paint for the Room's Purpose

First off, consider the room’s purpose before you even go to buy paint. Are you painting the room for a young child or a room you like to change often? Not all paints are created equal, consider sheen, wash ability and color, Diamond Vogel can assist in selecting the right finish for your use and budget.

Prep Your Walls with Primer

There are some steps you should do to prepare your walls, even when you have change in mind.  Often priming is a good idea. You want the room to look good, whether it’s for one or multiple years.  Primer helps you achieve your selected color and helps your finish coat adhere to the walls. This will give you rich colors and an even finish. Again keep the purpose of the room in mind. A flat finish is for rooms that don’t require much cleaning. Glossier surfaces are easier to clean and should be used in highly utilized rooms.

Don't Forget Paint Maintenance

When the prepping and painting are complete, maintenance is the task many homeowners neglect.  Hang objects with nails not tape. The tape will tear off your hard work. Handle stains on walls as soon as they happen rather than letting them sit. Always initially clean the surface with a mild detergent using a sponge or soft cloth.  Harsher cleaners should only be used when necessary, since alkaline cleaners often dull the gloss of the paint.  Washed surfaces should be rinsed thoroughly because residual cleaner can interfere with adhesion of paint applied later.  More information on maintaining interior paint can be found on our website.

Avoid furniture placement that can result in scraped walls. If you need to touch-up previously painted walls, try and use paint left over from the job and apply it with the same technique, brush or roller.  Though this is difficult to do, even try and paint the wall at the same temperature originally painted.  Yes, even the temperature of the paint and wall can change the color of the paint and affect how well the paint matches your wall!

Your home is a reflection of your personality and style. Don’t let a stain, scratch, or color bleed overpower your color and design choices. Make a conscious effort to maintain your walls and everything else will be positively reflected.