In hindsight, painting a room should be fairly easy because it only takes a few strokes of the brush. But without proper preparation and technique, a simple paint job could quickly turn into a messy project.
So instead of standing there scratching your head and wondering how you’ve ended up with uneven and blotchy walls, you might want to consider heeding the tips below before you pick up a paintbrush. Aside from protecting your furniture and floors, painting a room takes a few more extra steps to guarantee you have standout results.
1. Remove dust and stains
It may be easy to overlook this step, but once you take a closer inspection of your walls you’ll probably realize how dusty and dirty they can get.
If you want to get flawless walls, removing dust and stains is the first step to prevent them from mixing with your paint. To do this, you can use a duster to get rid of the dust and a damp cloth to wipe the surfaces. Make sure to wait until the walls are completely dry before you do the next step.
2. Patch up holes and cracks
If you’ve been in your home for years, it’s only natural to see holes and cracks from the wear and tear. But if you want to jazz up your room, covering them up will make a huge difference in how it would look later.
Since paint can’t fill in these imperfections, you’ll need to spackle every hole, crack, and dent on the walls. There are spackles available in the market that can take as fast as 10 minutes to dry, so doing this step will only add a bit of time to your schedule. If you prefer, you can also get a type of spackle that changes colors when it dries so you’ll know it’s time to move on to the next step.
3. Sand down patches
Once you’ve covered up all the imperfections, you’ll need to sand down any patches and rough surfaces on the walls. This will smoothen any ridges from the patches you’ve applied so they won’t be as obvious once you put on the paint.
If there are spots where the old paint is starting to peel, buffing them down will prevent any uneven paint layers. Plus, sanding down the walls will also make the paint stick better so they can last longer.
4. Tape trims, windows, and door frames
If you’re not painting the trims, windows, and doors, it would be best to place painter’s tape over them to prevent any accidents. The same way goes for any light fixtures, switches, and electrical outlets that you will come across while painting your room.
This will cut down your time on painting since you won’t have to worry so much about getting paint on them. This will also make the edges of the walls look neater since there won’t be a stroke of paint that’s out of place. Just remember to remove the tape immediately before the wall completely dries so you won’t peel off any paint and ruin your hard work.
5. Apply primer
Applying primer is an underrated step because it lessens the number of paint layers you’ll need to apply, improves paint adhesion, and evens out the color of the wall. If you’re going from a dark wall to a lighter hue, it’s also a good idea to apply one coat of primer to help brighten up the color.
If you want to go the extra mile, you can also sand down the primer to ensure the walls are completely free from bumps and ridges so you can have an even and solid surface for painting.
6. Start painting
Now that all of the prep work is done, you’ll finally get to start painting the walls. Every painter will have their own technique, but the basic rule you’ll have to remember is to always apply a thin coat of paint for every stroke. This will prevent any drips and uneven layers – and will also help the paint dry faster.
To ensure you’ll stay inside the lines, use a brush to paint the edges of the wall, and a roller to paint the rest. Remember to keep slow strokes when painting to prevent the paint from spraying and staining other surfaces.
Looking for a professional painter?
If you’ve followed the steps above and still end up with a sub-par paint job, maybe it’s time you call in the professionals. Soho Painters offers the best painting services in New York City. Whether you’re looking to jazz up the paint color of your home’s exterior or add elegant wallpaper to your bedroom, they have a professional team of experts that can do it flawlessly for you. For inquiries, contact them now to get a free estimate.
