7 Tips on Painting a Room
Just about this time of year, in time for the holidays, people call to ask me to suggest a new paint color to make an easy, painless transformation in a room. As a professional Interior Designer in Bergen County, NJ, here is what I say:
Many people don’t have the time or patience to paint the room themselves and they decide to hire a professional to paint for them. But there are others who may think “How bad can it be?” and want to try it themselves. Here are some tips to follow if you decide to do it yourself so you will have success.
#1. Color
The first step is to decide on the colors you will use for the ceiling, walls and trim. If you want, you can select an accent color for one of the walls too.
You should pick out a few colors in the spectrum to test on the wall to see how they look at different times of the day and how they look at night in the lighting of your room.
#2. Tools
Every project is different but here are the basics of what you must have before you begin:
Drop clothes and plastic sheeting,
Painters tape,
Paint,
Stirrers
Paint roller
Extension pole
Paint brushes
Paint tray
Putty knife
Rags
Quick dry Spackle
Spackle knife
Sandpaper
#3. Paint
You will need two coats of paint on the walls depending on the color that was there before and the color you are going to use. Make sure to purchase all of the paint at the same time to avoid needing a new batch later which may not match exactly.
If you are going from a dark to a light color, you will likely need more paint. You could reduce the number of coats if you first apply a whitewash cover-up first.
You need to decide which finish of paint to use: matte, eggshell, semi-gloss, or glossy. Each has a different result.
#4. Preparing the room
If you can’t move out all the furniture while you are painting it is a good idea to pile it all into the middle of the room, cover and seat it with plastic sheeting so there is no damage. Don’t forget about the floors! Cover them too. Then be careful so you don’t slip on the plastic.
Paint splatters.
Use painters tape to seal the edges of the plastic around the baseboards. Remove outlet covers and switch plates. Protect out lets and switches with painters tape to avoid paint drips. Same with window and door hardware.
Now is a great time to patch any cracks or fix seams that may have opened. That’s why I listed the spackle. It may add some prep time due to sanding and spackling some more. But it is worth it in the end.
#5. Strategize.
Tackle one wall at a time. Use a brush to “cut in” paint along the moldings and corners from top to bottom. Use the roller for the main span of the wall. Use a “W” pattern with the roller so you don’t miss any spots or have any roller marks on the wall.
When dry to the touch, repeat with the second coat. Continue around the room. Wait for the walls to be dry before you do the trim.
Tape off the walls next to the trim so that the trim color doesn’t bleed into the wall color. Begin with the trim closest to the ceiling moving to the door and window frames and finally to the baseboards.
#6. Open the Windows.
Make sure the space is well ventilated while you work. Use fans. A warm room speeds up the drying process.
#7. Clean up. Ugh!
Yes, you have to remove the drop cloths, plastic sheeting, and tape. You have to clean the brushes and let them dry to use for another day. You have to clean up the paint pans and store the left over paint. Don’t forget to be environmentally correct in your paint cleanup!
Last step! You can put the furniture back to where it was, re-hang your art and display your accessories to get back to your beautiful, refreshed room!
I know, it sounds like lots of decisions and work.
Don’t worry—if it’s too much, just call me! We can get it done for you!
