It happens to all of us: after years of staring at the same dull walls and ceiling, we realize it’s time for a change. But trying to paint your home all by yourself isn’t always the best choice, especially if you’re a bit of a procrastinator. If you’re ready for a change, you can always find some of the best painters midlothian va has to offer by doing a quick search online. If you’re only interested in doing a smaller repainting job, however, you can easily take things into your own hands by following these simple steps.
Get All Your Tools
Before you can start painting, you have to make sure you’ve got all your supplies in order. In addition to paint, primer, and brushes or rollers, you also need to have some tape ready (for trim), a rolling dish, and a lot of canvas to line the floor with. You’ll also want to be wearing comfortable clothes for this project, preferably ones that you can get dirty. If you’re not sure how much paint you need, you can check using an online paint calculator or buy a few cans to be safe. In general, one gallon of paint covers about 400 square feet.
Swatch Your Shades
Don’t go into the project blind. Before you start painting, you should know what color you’re going for. Not only do you need to commit to a color, you also need to know what it looks like on your walls. Getting a few swatches isn’t enough. If you’re at your local paint store, you can ask for a few samples to test out. Remember: painting your room is a big job, and if you’re not 100 percent thrilled by the color you’re choosing, you could end up doing all that work for nothing.
Apply Tape First
It’s best to have a method in mind before simply slapping paint on the walls. Most painters apply painter’s tape around the borders of the room first so that you don’t have to worry about dealing with the fidgety task of painting the nooks and crannies until later on. When you go to paint the trim, you can switch to a smaller brush rather than having to use the roller. This will help you do a more precise job and get cleaner-looking borders.
Start with the Ceiling
It might seem weird, but it’s always best to start from the ceiling and work your way down using broad, diagonal strokes. You’ll eventually develop a good rhythm, and starting from the ceiling means that you’ll have done the trickiest part first. You also want to give it a lot of time to dry, which means starting in the morning and covering your floor with a lot of protective tarp or canvas.
Apply at Least Two Coats
You might feel exhausted after applying one coat to a large room. Don’t let that stop you from finishing the job. To avoid chipped, cracked, or simply unfinished-looking walls, always apply the first layer, let it fully dry overnight, and go back again with a second layer to make sure your room looks that best it possibly can with no streaks or gaps.
