How to Paint on a Budget

Primer

• The fewer coats of paint you use, the better. If you're drastically changing the color in a room, a good way to cut costs is to use a quality primer first. Primer has handy qualities, including the ability to better hide repairs before you paint. It can also help cover any previous coats of paint, making it possible to use fewer coats of the new color. Try using a tinted primer if you have a dark or rich paint color, which will do an even better job of reducing the necessary number of coats than plain white.

Sheen

• The sheen of the paint you use can actually have an impact on how many coats you need for good coverage. Flat or matte paints usually have a higher proportion of pigments in the mixture than other sheens, and so those pigments cover more thickly than other types. Since you need fewer coats, you'll need less paint. Flat paints also hide flaws in the wall nicely. They aren't as durable or washable as other types and aren't very resistant against humidity, so you may want a slightly higher sheen, such as an eggshell or satin paint, if this is a problem for you.

Cleaning

• Though it may seem to have nothing to do with painting, scrub your walls well before you paint, and repair and sand if necessary. The cleaner your walls are and the better shape they're in, the better the paint will adhere and the less paint you'll need. This is especially true if you have any oily or greasy patches on a wall, a phenomenon common to kitchens in particular. Use a cleaning product with a degreaser for best results.

Tools

• If you need to stop painting for the day, chances are good your brush or roller will still hold some perfectly usable paint. Rather than washing it out and putting that paint down the drain, wrap up the brush or roller in plastic, then put it in the freezer. Let it warm up next time you paint, and the little paint left on the tool will be usable. This method also prevents you from accidentally letting paint dry on your tools, ruining them and costing you money. Don't freeze cans of paint, though, since this will ruin the paint. Close the lid back on tightly to protect the paint until you start again.