Redecorating or simply freshening up the paint in a room brings personal satisfaction and improves the feeling of well-being. From wall preparation to the choice of the colour, painting a room is fun and challenging at the same time.
To ensure the success of your project, learn from our experts the best way to paint a room in your home.
- Measure the room
The preliminaries of any painting project involve the measurement of the perimeter to be painted. This is an important step because it will tell how much product you need, saving you the hassle of a last-minute trip to the store because you’ve run out of paint.
When measuring the walls, experts suggest calculating the windows and doors too. Obviously, you won’t paint them with wall and ceiling emulsion but you’ll need some extra paint to use for the finishing touches.
Therefore, measure:
- The height and width of each wall;
- The length and width of the floor, which corresponds to the length and width of the ceiling;
- The height and width of any awkward corners.
Write all measurements on paper and calculate the total square metres of your room.
- Shop Materials and Tools
With the square metres properly defined, it’s time to buy all the necessary materials and tools. The most important purchase is the paint.
Invest in a quality product suitable for the environment you want to paint. For instance, breathable but non-washable emulsion may be suitable for a bedroom but less ideal for a hallway. We also recommend investing in speciality paint for the kitchen, bathroom and other high-traffic or high-condensation areas.
You may also need a primer, depending on the condition of the walls.
Regarding your tools, invest in quality brushes and rollers. A paint sprayer is ideal for a faster application and a flawless result, but more often than not, the mess is not worth the hassle.
Other things you’ll need are drop cloths, sandpaper, caulk, a putty knife, a caulking gun, masking tape and protective equipment. A stepladder or roller extension are two other things you will need.
- Prepare the Room
A thorough preparation of the area is key to the success of the project. Not only will it save you time and effort but it can protect your belongings from permanent damage.
The first step is to remove all small objects, wall art, small furniture and other decorations from the room. Move any large furniture to the middle of the room and cover it with plastic drop cloths.
Cover the floor with fabric drop cloth and tape the window frames and door jambs with masking tape.
Define a corner in the room to keep all painting accessories and make sure all areas not to be painted are covered either with drop cloths or with masking tape.
If you’re lucky and the room is empty, simply spread drop cloths on the floor and tape the windows and door frames.
- Repair and Prime the Walls
With the room prepared, and any decorators dressed in protective equipment, it’s time to start the surface preparation. This step is essential even if the walls are in good condition.
First, inspect the walls and look for cracks or holes to repair. Remove any flaking or peeling paint and fill any holes or cracks with caulk. Sand the surface to level it and to improve adherence, then remove all dust with a vacuum cleaner.
Check the surface again, making sure there are no greasy or oily residues on the surface. If there are, wash the walls with degreaser and let them dry.
Priming is essential on bare or severely damaged walls. A substantial colour change from darker to lighter may also require priming.
Use a quality primer and apply it to the wall as instructed by the manufacturer. Wait for at least 24 hours before applying the paint.
- Paint Your Room
Everything is now settled for this step, so let the fun begin. Take out the paint, paintbrushes and rollers and start painting from the most difficult points, such as the corners and edges between the walls or between the wall and the ceiling.
Use a brush for this step and paint the wall behind the radiator, any edges between the wall and fixed wall-mounted cabinets, the contours of the door and window and the contours of the ceiling and any wall fixtures.
To keep the environment clean and prevent drips, only dip the brush halfway into the tin of paint and remove the excess product by wiping it on the edge of the tin.
Once all difficult points have been painted, switch to a roller and cover the rest of the surface in a criss-cross pattern. Apply a slight pressure on the roller to achieve a smooth, professional result and continue to paint until the whole surface is covered.
Most wall and ceiling emulsions require at least two coats. To ensure flawless results, leave the first coat to dry as instructed – ideally for 24 hours – before applying the second coat, following the same pattern.
Let the paint dry to the touch and check the results. If the outcome is satisfactory, remove the masking tape and leave the walls to cure for 24 hours before touching. In the meantime, you can dispose of the drop cloths and store all tools and leftover materials.
When the walls are hard-dry, clean the room and replace all objects in their original position. Now, sit back and relax, enjoying the spoils of your work.
You Will Need
Materials
- Paint
- Primer
- Caulk
- Sandpaper
- Masking tape
- Drop cloths
Tools
- Paintbrushes
- Rollers
- Roller tray
- Caulking gun
- Putty knife
- Stepladder