When you are giving a room a total makeover, giving it a new paintjob, there are a few things you should always keep in mind if you are wanting the process to go as smoothly as possible. You don’t want paint on the sideboards or in the carpet, and you don’t want to ruin a perfectly good weekend when your decorating goes awry.
Forewarned is forearmed, and – at least when it comes to painting a room – a little bit of planning can go a very long way. With that in mind, here are our simple tips. Good luck, and happy decorating!
Be Prepared
A simple tip, but one that’s worth mentioning nonetheless. It is definitely worth your time to spend an hour or two gathering up all the materials and tools you are likely to need, as well as some that you might want to have to hand.
Having everything safely in one place that’s within easy reaching distance will make life so much easier, and save a lot of time in the long run. You don’t want to have to run to B&Q with a damp half of a room because you’ve forgotten something.
Go for Quality
This applies to all of your tools and supplies. Poor quality paint is simply not worth your money or your time – it is false economy. You will have to use more of it as it will require a greater number of coats, and you will often end up with an uneven finish. You don’t want that. No one does.
Similarly, poor quality brushes will leave you wanting when you’re all finished up. Picking out bristles from wet paint is not a particularly fun or entertaining task, nor is it a fulfilling one. Get a good synthetic brush of about 2 inches in width; this will be perfect for cutting in the edges.
Keep Rolling
When it comes to rollers, the main sections of wall could benefit from the use of a seven-incher, medium pile. Is the roller new? If so, give it a good wash in warm, soapy water before use – this will prevent any fluff sticking to the walls.
If you have any narrow sections that need painting, or any areas with radiators, it could well be worth investing in a smaller roller to complement the larger one. We’re all about making things easier.
Get Cutting
Before you do the main walls – before! – make sure you’ve done the cutting in. Do this carefully, painting the ceiling edges, the edges above skirting boards and around windows, and into the corners.
Doing this beforehand will save a great deal of hassle. Do it for each wall before moving on to the next one; this will ensure everything is nice and even, blending together properly.
Keep Things Fresh
You don’t want your brushes to dry out, as this is a major pain and takes precious time to rectify. It’s easy to keep your brushes fresh, so you might as well – keep all your rollers and brushes in a bucket when not in use, and cover them with a damp cloth. Simple!