Interior Painting Done Right: What a Professional Finish Actually Requires

Paint is the most visible finish in any room. It is also the most frequently done wrong — not because the application is difficult, but because proper preparation is time-consuming and easy to skip. Here is what a professional interior paint job actually involves.

• Fill all holes, cracks, and nail pops with appropriate filler — two coats on larger repairs
• Sand smooth after filling, feathering edges to avoid visible patching
• Caulk all joints: baseboard-to-wall, casing-to-wall, crown-to-ceiling
• Clean walls with TSP substitute to remove grease and contaminants
• Prime all repaired areas — skipping primer causes sheen variation in the final coat
• Tape only after priming, not before — tape over primer stays cleaner

Premium paint products are genuinely better — they have higher pigment loads, better adhesion, and more durability than contractor-grade products. For walls, a good eggshell or satin finish in a premium line (Benjamin Moore Regal, Sherwin-Williams Emerald) provides washability without excessive sheen. For trim, a semi-gloss or high-gloss finish is both practical and traditional.

• Ceilings: Flat — eliminates light reflection that reveals imperfections
• Living and dining rooms: Matte or eggshell — sophisticated with minimal reflectivity
• Kitchens, bathrooms: Satin or semi-gloss — washable and moisture-resistant
• Trim, doors, millwork: Semi-gloss or high-gloss — defines edges and is highly durable

Two finish coats over properly prepared and primed surfaces is the minimum for a result that holds up. Rushing to one coat is visible within a year as the underlying colour starts to show through, particularly in high-traffic areas.