Top 5 Mistakes When Painting Walls and Tips to Avoid Them

Many believe that painting walls is very simple: all you need is primer, roller, and paint. But in reality, the process involves many hidden pitfalls: if you don't account for them, the surface will quickly lose its polished look and everything will have to be redone.

We recommend learning from others' mistakes: here are the 5 most common errors made by beginners and tips on how to paint walls correctly.

Mistake 1: Poor Surface Preparation

All dust, grease spots, and uneven areas affect the painting result: they will be visible in the end. Cleaning and sanding are not enough for surface preparation.

Design: Studio DA

How to Fix the Mistake:

Proper wall preparation relies on two key elements. The first is ambient light, which helps you see walls as they truly are. The second is using tools with dust extraction. Special units with a vacuum and hose allow you to remove dust instantly.

Mistake 2: Applying Two Coats of Spackle for Finishing

Often, newcomers think that two coats of spackle is the optimal amount for finishing. But this isn't always true: the number depends on the base surface — some may only need one coat, others might not even have enough with five.

Design: Zarkua Design

How to Fix the Mistake:

Consult with a specialist and consider the initial wall quality.

Mistake 3: Ignoring a Second Check of Walls Before Applying Paint

If you think that finishing spackle and subsequent sanding are enough, you’ll be disappointed. You might still miss imperfections — the wall won’t look perfect.

Design: Natalia Karentyeva

How to Fix the Mistake:

Use ambient light: even after basic spackling and priming, small defects can remain on the wall. Before painting, always ensure surface uniformity using professional lighting.

Mistake 4: Painting Stripes Directly on the Wall

Online advice often suggests painting stripes directly on the wall. This is harmful advice: a square will inevitably show through the main layer — it’s impossible to cover it up.

Design: Ekaterina Loskutova

How to Fix the Mistake:

Use a large piece of drywall for testing stripes: just place it against the surface to see how the chosen paint color looks.

Mistake 5: Painting Haphazardly

When you apply paint haphazardly to the wall, the surface will definitely not look neat or beautiful.

Design: Alina Valiulchina

How to Fix the Mistake:

Learn to paint in a specific technique so that you form the desired pattern — this is the main goal of wall painting. Remember to apply paint from the center of the wall so that it distributes evenly.

Photo on cover: Shiba Design Bureau project.