How To Get a Smooth Paint Finish Every Time

Painting is often one of the first tasks we take on when decorating our homes, especially when it comes to smaller rooms. 

The cost of hiring a professional painter can seem unnecessary, so we tend to grab our overalls and commit to figuring out this ‘painting thing’ all by ourselves.

However, you might find that achieving a flawless, smooth finish is more challenging than it initially appears. Which is why I have created this guide on how to get a smooth paint finish to ensure the walls in your home always look great!

How To Get a Smooth Paint Finish When Painting Walls

Here are my top tips for painting walls!

Use a High-Quality Paint Roller

The first step to getting a smoother finish is to use a paint roller and not a paintbrush.

A paint roller covers more surface area and creates an easy flawless finish whereas a paintbrush can leave brushstrokes and even paintbrush bristles.

However, be sure to keep your paint brushes handy, as they’re essential for painting corners and other tight spaces.

Use Painting Tape

To achieve a smooth finish at the corners of your walls, apply painter's tape to the adjacent surfaces. This will prevent the paint from bleeding onto areas you don’t want painted.

Oh, also, be sure to invest in high-quality painter's tape to avoid damage to the walls.

This may feel like an unnecessary step but your future self will thank you for it!

Frog Tape is a really good option here. 

Purchase High-Quality Paint 

The paint that you use plays a huge role in the application process.

Opting for cheaper paint can often mean you need to do more coats which will only result in more opportunities for brush strokes.

Check out our top neutral paint colours that look good in every home.

Always make sure to get a sample in first to check the colour and how well it paints on your wall. 

Stir The Paint

Before painting your walls, you should spend some time stirring the paint and potentially even adding water to the paint.

By doing this, you can avoid applying thick globs of paint that dry quickly and become difficult to remove.

How To Get a Smooth Paint Finish When Painting Furniture

Now that you know how to get a smooth paint finish when painting walls, here are my top tips for a seamless paint furniture application.

Lightly Sand Between Coats

When applying paint to furniture, you should consider sanding the furniture between coats.

However, you need to make sure that you’re using a 220-grit sanding sponge and lightly sanding. A huge emphasis on the ‘lightly’ here as you don’t want to risk removing the paint or scratching the furniture.

Use a Paint Additive

If you’re using latex paint then you should consider using a paint additive like Floetrol.

Simply read the instructions and apply it to the paint. It won’t change the colour at all but it will create a glossy paint that applies smoothly.

Just be careful not to use too much as it can make the paint runny creating drips and affecting the paint's texture. 

Also, if you add too much, it will extend the drying time.

Use a Paint Sprayer

Again, if you’re painting furniture, you can get a smooth application with a paint sprayer.

Whilst this is a guaranteed method that you won’t get any strokes it can also be a lot more expensive. I would only recommend investing in this if you paint furniture often. 

Key Takeaways on How To Get a Smooth Paint Finish Every Time

From investing in high-quality tools to properly preparing your walls, these simple steps are the key to achieving a smooth, professional paint finish.

Once everything is in place, you might find that painting is not only satisfying but can also be a therapeutic and enjoyable experience.

For more tips, be sure to explore the rest of our interior design guides!