Perhaps the easiest of all DIY projects – and something that can be done over a weekend – updating the paint on your walls is an instant way to inject new life into an old room. It’s also a relatively cheap upgrade. Compared to custom cabinetry in the kitchen or bathroom or a new closet, this simple aesthetic change will only run into the $200-$300 range. The biggest factors in cost will be what you have to buy. If you’ve painted a room before and have the basic tools – painter’s tape, brushes/rollers, drop clothes – you’ll see a much lower investment. If you’re starting from scratch the cost will go up. The size of your room will also affect how much you end up spending, but all in all, it’s something that can be planned and saved for then executed easily. But to end up with results that look like you spend way more than you did, follow these simple steps.
The Right Stuff
First and foremost, you need the right and best tools. Paint, brushes and tape come in an array of brands and some can get up there in price range. Most expensive doesn’t always mean the best option, but when it comes to durability and quality you want to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth. Consult with the staff at your local paint store.
Brushes, rollers, handles and durable paint trays are worth the higher investment as you’ll be able to use them over and over again, especially if they’re made to last on the professional level and you take care of them. When purchasing brushed and rollers, know the texture of the surface you’re painting to choose the right type of roller or brush for the job.
Tape is also another item to exercise caution in quality. There’s nothing worse than removing the tape and finding a little bled through to your baseboards. Drop clothes and paint tray liners are a dime a dozen.
Lastly – and most importantly, the quality of paint is where you spend the most money. It mostly comes down to preference on brands, but choose something of high quality to get a look level with the professionals.
Preparation is Key
Something as simple as the weather can make or break a paint job. As you contemplate painting a room, when you decide to block of space in your calendar, be sure to check the weather. You can paint on a rainy day, but you’ll definitely need to extend your drying time, which will extend the overall process.
Next, make sure your room is ready to go the night before you begin to paint. You only need to wait an hour or two between coats, so with primer and two coats (always two coats) you will be painting most of the day, and it’s quite a bit of work. Removing wall hangings, shifting furniture to the middle of the room to be covered and taking smaller things completely out, and taping should be done the night before you begin. This way you can get an early start Saturday morning and have everything moved back by dinner time on Sunday night.
Make sure you have enough drop clothes to both cover the large furniture and the floor where you’re working and be careful of dripping and where you tread. You don’t want to accidentally trek paint all over the house.
A Method To The Madness
It seems simple; slap some paint on that wall! But for the best, most professional looking paint job, follow these steps:
- Cut In: Using an angled brush 2”-2 ½” wide, paint around the edges of the ceiling, baseboards, and any other trim such as doorways and windows, getting every nook and cranny of the corners. Be meticulous in this detail work. It will pay off.
- Roll With It: While the paint of the trim is still wet, paint in an N pattern overlapping from the painted trim in towards the center of the wall with your roller. Overlapping will create a smooth finish, while the capital N shape keeps you from creating lines from the edges of the rollers.
- Plan of Attack: If your room is on the larger side, consider doing one wall at a time so the trim doesn’t dry before you apply the rest of the paint to the whole wall. You never want the trim to dry before filling in the lines.
If you’re wanting a change, but you’re not ready for a complete overhaul, painting is a great way to shake things up in your house. Work with the right tools and take your time with preparation and execution and you’ll have a fresh new feel in your home that looks like a thousand bucks.