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August 30, 2018

How to Paint a Room: A Simple Step-by-step Guide

Trying to figure out how to paint a room without making a total mess of it? Where should you start? What tools do you need? Which colours should you go for? For first-timers it can be pretty tricky. 

 

But getting a professional look is straightforward if you know what you’re doing. 

 

Check out this step-by-step guide on how to paint a room like a DIY master and get ready to tackle your own home renovation.

 

Step One: Figure Out Your Plan

 

Like many DIY projects or home improvement tasks, the key to painting a room all lies in the preparation. You first need to figure out what you want the room to look like.

 

When it comes to wall paint colours, think about what mood you want to bring to the area. Soothing tones are better for the bedroom while brighter colours can go in the kitchen.

 

Remember, wall paint colours can (and often do) differ to ceiling colours. Choose a lighter colour for your ceiling if you want to make a smaller room feel larger.

 

You can also start to think about decoration ideas at this stage. Fixtures and fittings should complement the ambience of the room.

 

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Step Two: Prepare the Walls

 

Once you’ve got your paints picked out and are ready to start, you need to place large furniture in the centre of the room and cover with a drop cloth. You should also protect the floor using a drop cloth or rosin paper.

 

Now make sure your surfaces are smooth. Go around your room checking for imperfections such as holes or flaking paint. Holes should be filled in using an all-purpose filler. For flaking paint, lightly remove with a plastic or metal scraper and sand your walls with a fine grade of sandpaper.

 

You’ll also need to dust and clean any grease off your walls using a mixture of water and TSP.

 

Step Three: Prepare Your Room

 

The next step in your home renovation project is your room prep. Safely remove plug socket covers. Then secure masking tape along the edges of skirting boards, door frames and other fixtures — this should stop paint leakages and provide a clean line for your painting.

 

DIY projects such as this only look professional if you take care with the details. Make sure to carefully line up the masking tape with the edges of your fixtures. Press it down firmly to avoid paint dripping underneath.

 

Open the windows to let your room air while you work.

 

Step four: Get Painting

 

All your prep is done, now it’s time to get to the fun bit. You should always paint the ceiling first, then the walls, windows, skirting boards and door.

 

First apply your primer using a roller. You can get different types of primer for different surfaces, so figure out which one you need first or get an all-purpose primer. A good primer will ensure the original wall paint colour doesn’t seep into the new pigment.

 

Next it’s time to start on your chosen colour. Give the pot a good stir. Begin with the edges, then use a roller to complete the room. Use a medium-sized brush to get closer to the edges of plug sockets and skirting boards.

 

How many coats of paint do you need to do? If you’re just freshening up your walls with the same or similar colour then one coat should do the job. If you’re opting for a darker shade over a paler one, you may need only two coats. But if you’re switching your wall paint colours up for a lighter shade, you may find this a more labour-intensive redecoration task – it may take three coats or more until the colour looks pure. Luckily, using a primer first will help speed up the process.

 

Step Five: Finish Off The Job

 

Once your paint has dried, it’s time to remove the tape around the edges of your room. Carefully peel it back to reveal your work.

 

You also need to reattach your plug socket covers and anything else you removed during your prep. Finally, finish off the job by cleaning your brushes.

 

How to Paint a Room

 

Knowing how to paint a room properly can transform the look of your house.

 

Remember: nailing your home improvement always comes down to the details.

 

Spend lots of time on your room prep and think up complementary decoration ideas that will bring personality to your newly-decorated room.

 

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