With a few preparations and supplies, you can paint your own room the same as a professional, for a fraction of the cost.
Rooms can become dated, scuffed, and sometimes plain with an outdated paint colour. The easiest way to give your home a face-lift is simply repainting it. While you can hire a professional to do the job, doing it yourself isn’t that hard — and saves you money in the process.
Before you begin painting the room, you will want to select a paint colour. The paint colour is important as it will be the first and last thing you see, every time you walk into the room. If you want to make a statement, select a bold, vibrant colour that stands out. For a calmer space, opt for a pastel hue and accent the room with your accessories. Either way, you need to love the paint colour– or you won’t like the result.
Once you have selected the paint colour it is time to decide on the type of paint you want to use. There are a variety of choices on the market, and the selection depends on the result, and where you plan on using it. If you are painting a bathroom or kitchen, opt for a more glossy finish, as generally speaking, it can hold up to frequent cleanings and wipe-downs. For bedrooms, eggshell matte is normally ideal.
Depending on the size of the room, you may need to get a couple of cans of paint, especially for bold colours, requiring multiple coats. You will also need painter tape (not masking tape as this can bleed), rollers, paint tray, two brushes (one should be angled for easier “cutting”), a ladder or chair, a plastic floor cover and old clothes. If you are using an oil-based cleaner, be sure to get brush cleaner as well– acrylic paint rinses with water.
Start the painting process by grabbing your duster ( yes, you have to clean the room first). Start at the ceiling and give the surfaces, walls and corners a good old-fashioned dusting. Be sure to wipe down any stuck on food, grease or other grimy surfaces as well. It is important to clean the walls as you want an even coat of paint, no lumps or bumps on a new surface, right? Remove any photo’s from the walls, and any furniture should be placed in the center of the room or out of the room completely– away from the paint.
Once the cleaning has been completed, grab the painter’s tape and start by marking off the ceiling (apply the tape directly to the ceiling). Be sure to go around any outlet covers if they can’t be removed before painting. If the room has baseboards, you will want to tape these too, unless they will be the same colour as the room. Finally you will need to remove any door handles, or at least tape them to keep them clean. Spread out the floor tarp, and tape in place if needed.
Get out your angled brush and start in the top corner. Dip the brush into the paint, and wipe the excess off on the side of the container. You will need to outline the top of the walls, around any cupboards and outlets and the baseboards in the colour of paint. When painting the room, be sure to coat the walls evenly for the best results.
Once the edges have been outlined, grab your roller and add some paint into the paint tray. Dip the brush into the paint, and roll the brush on the ridges of the tray to remove excess, and to apply the paint on the roller evenly. Cover the walls in a smooth, even pressure — dipping the paint brush as needed. When finished, wash the brushes out thoroughly or they will become rock hard. Repeat with the second coat, when the first coat has dried completely.
After the second coat has dried, remove the painters tape. If you are painting the baseboards and ceiling, be sure to retape your newly painted walls in the same manner. You may find using normal masking tape that the paint can come off with the tape. This is precisely why you need to use painter’s tape. After all the painting has been completed, you can reassemble the room and pat yourself on the back. You can spend the money you just saved on decor for the room, a night out, or a new can of paint for another room!
