Tips & Tricks to Paint Like a Pro

Painting your walls is the single most dramatic way to refresh the interior of your home and increase the welcome factor. You can easily change the look of a room in a single day with a fresh coat of an existing color, or choose a new color. Painting is one of the first layers of home decor and needs to be done before updating furniture and accessories. S let's get started!

Planning and preparation are key to a successful paint job. It doesn't have to be difficult. Let's assume you've chosen your color and, with the help of your local paint or hardware store, purchased the correct type of paint for your walls (flat, satin, eggshell, high gloss, enamel). Don't be afraid to ask the paint experts for help.

Follow these tips and you'll be painting like a pro in no time, with rewarding results.

Assemble Tools and Supplies

These may vary from job to job, and will depend on what you have on hand, but the basics remain the same.

• Rollers, roller covers of the correct nap for your wall texture, and an extension pole
• 1"- 2" brush for cutting in and small spaces - slightly angled brushes work best
• Paint tray and liners
• Drop cloths and rags
• Painter's tape (the blue tape)
• Spackle paste and a putty knife to fill in holes

Prep the Room

Doing so will protect furniture and floors, plus the finished product will look great and last longer.

• Remove drapes, small furniture, wall hangings, etc.  
• Remove switch plates and hardware, if possible
• Use masking tape or plastic to cover anything you can't remove 
• Small items (like screws) can be covered with vaseline or chapstick (easy to wipe off later)
• Move larger furniture items to the center of the room and cover with a drop cloth 
• Tape off woodwork and make sure plastic dropcloths are taped down securely
• Clean surfaces as needed (wipe off dust and remove loose items or particles) 
• Spackle holes as needed and let dry per directions on container

Paint the Room 

Typically, painting starts with "cutting in" (painting the edges about 2" deep). Then do the ceiling next (if you are painting it), then paint the walls, and finally paint the woodwork.

• If you have a steady hand while using a stiff 2" brush, you can forego the tape for cutting in; just make sure to have a damp cloth available for quick wipe-ups
• Use short back-and-forth strokes to apply paint, but always finish with long, smooth strokes 
• Dip your brush about halfway into the paint to avoid clumping up the brush and ruining it
• When using a roller, work in 3 foot sections at a time, rolling a "W" on the wall, then filling in
• Almost any color looks better with a second coat, even if the can says one-coat coverage 
• Make sure the paint is dry before applying the second coat
• Here's a great video with more details on painting a room:
  
  
  
  And for even more tips on painting click on this link: 
• 47 Tips and Tricks for a Perfect Paint Job 

Clean-up 

It may be the least fun part, but once you've put everything back, you can enjoy the results!

Remember to let a newly painted room dry or cure for at least 2 weeks before applying any Wall Stickers. Wall decals are such a fun way to add "art" to any room and they come in 30+ different colors. When the time comes to change them, they are easy to remove and won't damage your wonderful new paint job!

~Sallianne