A quick lick of paint can give a room a whole new look and feel.
If you don’t want to employ professional painters to do the job, there is a way to produce a professional look at a novice price. Here are some simple steps to follow:
- Make sure there is adequate ventilation in the room by opening all doors and windows.
- Prepare the walls and ceiling by sanding them down, and use a stain-blocking primer to cover any dark marks if you can’t remove stains. Also remember you should never paint on top of wallpaper – if there is wallpaper present you will need to remove it.
- Buy enough paint to have three coats: one of primer and two coats to finish.
- Make sure you have the proper equipment, including a smaller paintbrush to paint in corners and around ledges and any electrical plugs. You will need to do this intricate painting first.
- Pour some paint into the roller pan and begin rolling paint on the ceiling and then the walls. Remember to pour only a small amount of paint into the pan as this will prevent the paint from drying out before use. Try to begin rolling before the brushed-on paint has had time to dry, so the rolled on paint will blend in rather than become a second coat. Rolling a W shape about 1 m wide before filling it in will help to ensure an even application of paint. Also try to get as close the the corners as you can.
- Paint from dry to wet areas, as this will help to minimise the ‘roller lines’. If you are using a paint brush for the entire room, first moisten the brush by wetting it to make it more efficient. Ensure that you only dip the brush about one third of its length into the paint tin. Make sure you also remove excess paint by gently scraping the brush against the inside of the tin, which will help to prevent any dribbling and spills.
- Finally, remember to cover buckets or tins when you are not using them, to prevent them from drying out. Try to keep an old rag handy to deal with any drips or spills along the way. It is also important to make sure any surfaces you don’t want to be painted are covered by sheets or towels.
For a video guide, click here.
