I have finally finished painting my hallway. As I type this, my back is a little sore from all the bending over! While I’m not completely done yet, painting the walls was one of the largest tasks that needed doing.
One of the things I like about doing home DIY’s is what I learn. Now, let’s be real….the lessons aren’t always fun. But they are usually quite helpful.
A few things I learned while completing this paint job:
- Textured walls are no joke. I like the way they look but painting them requires a bit more effort. It’s easy to miss spots or think you’re done and then you see spots that need a little more coverage. It was especially challenging in my hallway that doesn’t really get any light.
- The paint edger and knee pads are LIFE SAVERS. These two tools really made a hard-ish job A LOT easier and I will never paint without them again.
- There are always things you don’t think about and find need doing along with your planned tasks. I did not even consider refreshing the trim but while prepping and painting the walls it became clear very quickly that the trim needs a new coat of paint. There are lots of dings and scrapes that have occurred over the years and pretty, new walls should not have to sit against old, scratched up trim! I probably should have thought about the trim considering that I have lived here for 14 years and had it painted before I moved in way back then (the trim was brown). But I didn’t so another task was added to the list.
- There are more nooks and tight spaces than you realize. On a day-to-day basis, this is not an area I ever give any thought to. I didn’t even really consider what it would take to paint the area around the door jambs. I just saw big, flat walls and thought it would be a relatively “easy” job.
- There always areas that need painting that didn’t get any consideration. The inside of the hallway closet, laundry room and pantry all have spaces that require the new paint colors.
Remaining Tasks:
- Paint the trim
- Make sure all of the inside spaces have been painted. I know that a post inside the laundry room needs to be painted
- Mop the floor where the hall tree goes and return the hall tree to its location
- Gallery Wall-decide on the photos and replace the gallery
- Figure out the other wall decor
- Clean the laundry room, linen closet, and pantry doors
- Clean the mirror doors on the hallway closet
- Shampoo carpet
- Get new switch plate and outlet covers. The old ones are cute but no longer match the new paint color.
It’s so frustrating because every time I touch up an area or paint another space, I find something else that needs to be done!! This is also why it’s so important to be reasonable with timing. I can’t believe I thought I would get this done not only in one month but in November!!! Silly me!
How are your projects going? Are you happy with your progress and time lines?
