How To Paint A Room Like A Pro

A fresh coat of paint is an easy way to dramatically change a room. The mood and attitude of a room can be altered dramatically with the paint colors you choose.

It’s easy to call in the pros (we have great recommendations if you choose to go this route), but it’s fun to feel like a weekend warrior and do it yourself! The monetary savings are great and the sense of pride is unmatched. Read through these simple steps to learn how to paint a room with ease and confidence.

• Choose a high quality paint- There are hundreds of paint options in each store! Research paint brands before heading out to buy your first batch of paint. A good, high quality paint will cover evenly and quickly. This could save you hours of work time and actually cost considerably less in the end. We recommend a paint and primer combo for maximum efficiency. The staff at your hardware or paint store can help with your choices.

Test small sample swatches on a few areas of your room. Spend a day watching the way light plays with your color choices. Morning light could make a color look completely different from the evening light. Live with your potential color choices for a day or two before purchasing.

• Prepare- Preparation is the most tedious step of the painting process, but it can make or break your finished product!

• Remove art from walls.

• Patch holes if the art is not returning to a spot.

• Sand patched areas sufficiently.

• Cover furniture with drop cloths. (Inexpensive plastic cloths can be purchased at your hardware store.)

• Cover the floors around the perimeter of the room.

• Wash any dirty walls with a mild soap and water solution and allow to dry. This will help paint adherence.

• Clear cobwebs from corners and walls.

• Start at the edges- Edging is the process of painting around the moldings and ceilings in a room. This is how you’ll create those crisp clean edges where your roller doesn’t quite fit. Some people prefer taping off their edges and using an angled brush. An edging tool is a much more efficient way to create crisp and perfect lines along the edges of your room.

• Roll- Now it’s time to fill the walls with your desired color. This is the most fun part and has the most dramatic effect while working.

• Paint a preliminary coat in a Z or V pattern.

• Then use the roller to cover the area with paint (as evenly as you can, but don’t stress, this isn’t the final pass).

• Finish off with one smoothing up and down coat along the wall to finalize the area you’re working in. This will even things out and minimize any uneven roller marks.

• Reevaluate- Some paints don’t require a second coat. Take a good look at your room to determine how many additional coats you may or may not need.

Enjoy your room- Once the paint has dried and the furniture and art are back in place, take a moment to appreciate your hard work! Painting is one of the most satisfying home improvement projects you can do. Give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy the fruits of your labor!

Photo by  Tookapic on via Pexels.com