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Do you want to paint like an expert? Maybe you want to avoid common painting mistakes and have your room looking flawless. Whatever your goal or room, we have the tips you need to complete your project perfectly. Here are the only paint supplies you need for painting any room in your house.
Before grabbing random supplies that you think you may need, stop for a moment. Before rushing out, you need to plan what you want to do with the room. Consider what you want the room to look like when completed. If you need inspiration, surf the internet or buy a magazine.
There are many things you can do with a room aside from just using one color. Many homeowners decide on doing an accent wall, murals, geometric patterns, texturize, or wallpaper. All these things add interest to any room. You can also choose to paint the ceiling a different color. Your only limit is your imagination.
Before painting, consider what type of room you have and what you want to highlight. Special consideration needs to be taken if you have a small area, low/high ceilings, and the way the room faces.
Lighting will affect the way the color looks in a room. So, it is best to begin by taking home color swatches before you paint and examine how they look at various times of the day. This will prevent you from having any “Oh no” moments.
The next is to choose your color. Do you want the room to have a warm or cool feeling? Should it be neutral or vibrant? Also, consider the color of your furniture as well. These are all factors that will influence your decision. Some companies have websites that allow you to upload a photo of your room and see what it looks like with different paint colors.
Materials You Will Need
- Paint
- Drop cloths
- Paint roller
- Paintbrushes
- Paint roller extension pole
- Sandpaper
- Paint tray
- Painter’s tape/Edger
- Putty knife
- Rags/Old cloths
How Much Paint Will I Need?
The general rule is that you will need one gallon of paint for every 400 square feet. This is a rough estimate. Online paint calculators will assist you in factoring in doors and windows which will require two coats of paint per job.
You will also need extra paint if you are transitioning from a dark to a light color. Also, if you are going from light to dark, you will need to paint extra coats to get the exact shade. It is recommended that you apply a grey-tinted primer to the wall prior to painting. This will decrease the number of times you apply paint.
If your wall’s surface has textures like brick, concrete, or a popcorn ceiling, you will require extra paint over a smooth surface. It is recommended that you buy 10% extra in these cases.
Cover or Remove All Furniture Before Painting
Before painting, either remove all furniture from the room or move it to the middle and cover it with a drop cloth. The paint will drip and splatter. You do not want to ruin the furniture, so this is the best way to keep it safe.
After you have done all that, then mask around the room’s corners, door castings, windows, and crown moldings. Ensure there is a good seal, otherwise, the paint will bleed. You can also use an edger while you paint as well. This eliminates the need for painter’s tape but does require some experience.
Do I Need to Prime Before Painting?
It depends. Years ago, professionals recommended priming before every paint job. Now, homeowners don’t necessarily need to purchase primer. While primer looks like paint, it has a higher degree of solids in addition to an adhesive binder. It seals the wall’s surface and gives a smooth, clean area for paint to stick to. It acts as a glue/sealant over a paint.
Prime you walls if they are:
- A porous surface. Your surface is porous if it absorbs moisture, water, stains, oil, or odors. Unstained or untreated wood would be porous.
- Glossy surfaces. These surfaces are difficult for paint to stick to. If the surface is covered in enamel, shellacked wood paneling, or high gloss paint, regular paint will not adhere to it. While the area will need primer, it is advised to sand it beforehand so the paint sticks to the wall.
- Stains on the walls. Stains from smoke, cooking, water damage, candles, or children will require a painter. For smoke, before even applying a primer, you will need to wash the walls. Then, apply a special primer for cigarette smoke otherwise the nicotine will bleed through the walls. Before priming, fix problems that created them beforehand. Otherwise, your work will have been done in vain.
- The area is retaining an odor. Walls will absorb odors from smoke, pets, fire, or if you/previous owners cook pungent foods. The walls will retain these smells. You will need a high-quality primer to mask the smell and eliminate its return.
- If you are going from very dark to light. Dark colors are very saturated and can bleed through when trying to lighten the wall. To save yourself the cost of purchasing extra paint plus wait time, use a primer instead.
Should I Use Paint Primers?
Self-priming paint is a thicker type of paint with primer included. It is an all-in-one. This type of paint provides great coverage. While manufacturer’s state that all you require is one coat, this is not true. However, if you have one of the aforementioned walls, you will not want to use this as it will be a waste of money.
What is the Best Tool to Paint a Wall?
Most professionals recommend a roller for the bulk of the surface. They also recommend using edging tools to reach areas close to ceilings, walls, outlets, etc. This eliminates the need for painter’s tape.
These suggestions will have you effortlessly painting your walls in a professional way. Ensure that before you begin, your furniture is covered, and the area is well-ventilated. Paint fumes can be very toxic, so you will want to crack a window open. Opening a window is great when the air outside is humid as the paint will dry faster. However, the goal is not to smell the fumes. Fans can also be used if the temperature outside is too cold.
All these suggestions will eliminate common mistakes that DIYers make. How the room looks is completely up to your imagination.
