HANDY GIRL
DIY Q&A
Gardeners have a green thumb; DIYers have a painter thumb.
This issue, we dive into hacks, best tips, and fun ideas.
WORDS KELLY ROBERSON ILLUSTRATIONS ANKE REGA
FRIENDS,
I LOVE PAINT.
Paint is where a lot of us got our
Handy Girl feet wet and where
a lot of us keep ticking up our
home remodeling skills. Read on
to see what I’ve learned from the
thousands of strokes and swipes
I’ve trialed over the years on my
walls, furniture, and more.
GLOSS
ADDS SHINE—LOTS
OF IT. IT’S EASIER TO
CLEAN THAN FLAT
FINISHES BUT HARDER
TO APPLY.
great for...
TRIM AND CABINETS.
SEMIGLOSS
AGAIN, EASIER TO
CLEAN.
great for...
WALLS IN HIGH-
TRAFFIC SPACES SUCH
AS A KITCHEN OR
MUDROOM.
SATIN
SUPER POPULAR AND
LESS SHINY.
great for...
WALLS THAT AREN’T
PITCH-PERFECT
BECAUSE IT’S MORE
FORGIVING THAN
GLOSSY FINISHES.
EGGSHELL
SOFTER AND LESS
SHEEN THAN
SEMIGLOSS. HARDER
TO CLEAN, THOUGH,
SO NOT GREAT FOR
KITCHENS AND BATHS.
great for...
LESS-THAN-PERFECT
WALLS.
FLAT
LESS SHEEN SO HARD
TO CLEAN—NOT SUPER
RESISTANT TO STAINS.
great for...
CEILINGS, WHICH ARE
OFTEN PAINTED IN FLAT.
FIND YOUR SHEEN
WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT FINISHES, HOW IS ONE TO CHOOSE?
LET’S BREAK DOWN YOUR OPTIONS SO YOU’RE NOT STUMPED
ON YOUR NEXT TRIP TO THE PAINT STORE.
