Interior
The Prep Work That Makes the Difference
The best paint job begins long before the first brush touches the wall.
If the last post was about getting ourselves pointed in the right direction, then this one is about what always seems to happen next at 173... slowing down just enough to make sure we don’t get it wrong.
Choosing a Direction
If It Amounts to a Committee…
Every project here eventually runs through what, for lack of a better term, amounts to a bit of a committee. Not a formal one, just the back and forth between us, a few outside opinions, and the accumulated lessons (and mistakes) we’ve gathered over the years working on 'ol 173. Which, of course, is how probably every homeowner ends up with shelves full of paints and stains!
We had a general direction coming out of Part 1, but “general direction” doesn’t cut it when you’re staring at four full walls of 100-year-old plaster.
So we worked through the spectrum, light to dark, warm to cool, safe to... “what were we thinking?”
And naturally, we didn’t pick one color.
We picked five, six, ummm - maybe 10.
Living with the Samples
Instead of guessing, we went right to the walls. Decent size swatches. No shortcuts.
Each one got its own space, its own lighting, its own time of day.
And here’s the thing about test patches, they tell you the truth whether you want to hear it or not.
What looked great on a chip sometimes fell flat on the wall. What we almost didn’t try started to grow on us.
And at least one of them looked completely different every time the sun moved.
So we left them up. Lived with them. Walked past them a hundred times a day.
Years ago, I probably would have picked a color after looking at the sample for fifteen minutes and declared the matter settled. Old houses have taught me to slow down. The room isn't going anywhere, and neither is the paint. Living with the samples for a few days costs nothing, but it can save years of wishing you'd chosen differently. Sometimes patience is every bit as valuable a tool as a paintbrush.
And that’s usually when the right answer starts to show itself.
Meanwhile… The Real Work
While we debated colors, we kept moving on everything else, the kind of work that doesn’t show up in the final photos but makes all the difference.
Plaster & Lath Reality Check
Old houses don’t give you perfect walls, and ours is no exception. We leaned into fixing what we had rather than pretending it was new construction.
Every crack got opened up and patched properly.
Every old nail hole, picture hanger, and mystery divot got filled.
Some areas were quick. Others… not so much.
And by the end, the walls were as solid, and as honest, as they’ve probably been in decades.
One Repair Leads to Another
This was one of those “while we’re here” moments that you ignore at your own peril.
We replaced every outlet in the room.
Not glamorous. Not visible.
But now everything is properly grounded, and that’s one of those upgrades we’ll appreciate every day without really thinking about it.
Caulk: The Unsung Hero
If there’s a quiet MVP of this entire phase, it’s caulk.
We went around just about everything:
- Trim to wall
- Baseboards
- Door frames
Just about anywhere two surfaces met and time had created a gap, we closed it.
It’s amazing how much tighter, cleaner, and more “finished” a room starts to feel before a single drop of paint goes on.
Where Things Stand
At this point, the room is ready.
- The walls are patched.
- The outlets are updated.
- The gaps are sealed.
And the color decision?
We’re close.
And if experience has taught us anything here at 173, it’s that when we finally stop second-guessing and just go with it, that’s usually when it turns out right.
Next time: committing to a color (for real this time), and finally getting paint on these walls.
Hey, thanks for stopping by - see ya' next time!
I used to think painting began when you opened the can. Experience eventually taught me that painting begins when you decide you're willing to spend two hours fixing something no one will ever compliment you on.
Nobody walks into a room and says, "Look at those beautifully caulked baseboards.". They simply say, "Wow... this room feels nice."
That's because they aren't seeing individual repairs—they're seeing the cumulative effect of dozens of invisible decisions.The best part of this post is that it quietly argues for something our culture rarely celebrates anymore: taking your time. Not because you're slow, but because you care enough to get it right. Reading it felt less like following a renovation and more like watching someone practice a craft they've spent years learning. That's one of the reasons I keep coming back to House 173. - A Perfectionist Who Finally Learned Better
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should you test paint colors on the wall instead of relying on paint chips?
Lighting dramatically changes how paint appears. Natural light, artificial light, nearby furnishings, and the direction a room faces can all affect color perception. Large test patches viewed over several days provide a much more accurate representation than a small paint chip.
Should you repair plaster before painting?
Absolutely. Paint highlights imperfections rather than hiding them. Repairing cracks, filling holes, and sanding smooth surfaces before painting produces a more durable and professional-looking finish.
Why replace electrical outlets during a remodel?
Painting is an ideal time to replace worn or outdated outlets because the room is already empty and trim plates have been removed. Updating outlets also improves safety and provides a cleaner finished appearance.
Why is caulking so important before painting?
Caulk seals gaps where trim meets walls, preventing shadows and uneven paint lines. It gives a room a crisp, finished appearance while helping prevent future cracking.
How long should you live with paint samples before deciding?
Whenever possible, leave samples on the wall for several days. Observe them during morning, afternoon, evening, and artificial lighting. Colors that seem perfect initially often change dramatically as lighting conditions change.
Keywords
living room renovation, paint color testing, plaster repair, wall preparation, DIY painting, old house plaster, interior painting, House 173, Sherwin Williams, paint samples