Painting a room is an easy DIY weekend project that doesn’t require a specialized set of skills or expensive tools. LIke any DIY project, the key to a good result is in correct and careful preparation. Getting a room ready to apply paint to the walls takes longer than the actual act of painting. Following the steps below will make your project go smoother before you start applying primer or paint.
Clear and protect the room
Remove all furniture from the space that you can and move any remaining large furniture to the centre of the room. Clear the walls of artwork, outlet plates and switch plates. Cover the remaining large furniture and the entire floor with drop cloths.
Use painter’s tape
Anything that still remains on the walls that you don’t want painted, mask off with painter’s tape. This includes thermostat, trim, millwork and lighting. If you are painting baseboards, place wide painter’s tape on the floor next to the baseboard so the floor is protected. If you are not painting baseboard, tape the top of the baseboard so it is protected. Tape around windows and doors to also protect those surfaces.
Repair and sand walls
Fill holes and scratched areas of your walls with a putty knife and drywall spackle. When dry, sand to a smooth finish. For large holes or damage, use a drywall repair kit. If the surfaces you are going to paint have a glossy sheen, sand lightly to rough up the sheen so that paint can adhere better. Use painter’s caulk to fill gaps in corners and around trim.
Clean
Use a vacuum on all the surfaces that will be painted. Any dust and debris left on the walls will show up after you’ve painted. After vacuuming, use a clean, soft cloth to wipe all surfaces. If you are painting a kitchen, use TSP to wipe down surfaces to remove accumulated grease and dust. Remove any stubborn greasy stains with dish soap and rinse with a damp cloth.
Final check
Inspect all your surfaces to make sure they are smooth, clean, dry and ready for paint. Make sure the drop cloths have fully covered the floor. If you are painting the ceiling, check that the drop cloths are covering everything in the room.
