DIY Guide to Home Painting
You just moved into your new home and you are ready to make it yours. Or maybe years have passed with you staring at the same paint color on the walls and it is finally time to change things up. Painting a room can be rewarding and bring new life into an area. But it is a process that takes time and attention to detail. Done the wrong way, a project that takes hours to complete might need to be repainted all over again. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to make a DIY painting project look like there were professionals in the room.
Choosing a Color
Before going into the store, a person should think about which colors appeal to them. Be aware of the colors already in the room as well in pieces of furniture. An easy rule to follow is match colors that appear on opposite sides of the color wheel. Many paint stores offer a manufacturer’s sample, where people can test the color on a wall before committing. With paint samples it is recommended to wait a few days for it to dry, as the color can look slightly different than the fresh coat.
Once the color is selected, plan how much is needed to cover the space. One gallon of paint usually covers about 400 square feet. To figure out how much is needed, multiply the space’s length by height and add up each wall. Or use a handy online paint calculator. Mix large amounts of paint in a five-gallon bucket to maintain a solid consistency.
Preparing to Paint
It is important to protect a room before painting. No one wants to finish the project only to find a new stain on the family couch. First, move all large pieces of furniture to the center of the room. Cover them with plastic drop cloths. If the room has a ceiling fan, cover it with a plastic drop cloth as well. Then place canvas drop cloths on the ground to protect the floors. Take off all light switch and outlet covers and use tape to protect what is left visible.
Make sure the wall is in good shape before applying paint. Repair any holes and wipe away any cobwebs or dust. Not all paint jobs require primer. But it is needed on a bare drywall, stained areas, bare wood or for drastic changes in color.
People should invest in proper paint tools before starting a new project. The right tools will make the project physically easier and produce better looking results. Paint brushes work for the finer details and paint rollers help with covering large spaces. Skip using the paint tray for larger spaces and instead try a paint grid. The grid makes it easier to cover the roller while getting rid of excess paint. It’s recommended to use an extension pole for the paint roller for ceiling projects, while wearing protective goggles on the face.
Painting the Room
Plan to paint a room from the top down. Do the ceilings, then the walls and cover the wide open spaces before doing detail work along the trim. Paint in vertical sections, and don’t be afraid to overlap. It helps to work in sections at a time. Most paint jobs require at least two coats.
It is rare that a paint job can be done in one day (unless you hire a painting company that specializes in it). Make sure to protect paint brushes and the paint itself, so a job can easily be picked up again tomorrow. For breaks, use plastic wrap around the brushes and rollers. Also, simply cover the paint with a lid. Protect paintbrushes and roller tools overnight by wrapping them in plastic and sealing them with tape. Before you wrap them, douse them in some paint so your tools are nice and wet. This will prevent you from finding dried out tools the next morning.
When your project is finished, clean your tools for later use. For brushes, place them under warm water and use a comb to remove the paint. Stuck-on paint usually comes off with regular hand soap. Before scrapping the rollers, use a 5-in-1 tool to scrape out any excess paint. A little extra paint is always handy for when touch-ups are needed. Written By: Haley Kieser
