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How to Paint
a Room For the First Time
So, you've just been asked to
help assist your friend in painting their new apartment,
or you've just moved into your own new place or even home.
You've never painted before; either you've relied on
someone else to do it, or hired professional help to take
care of it. Now, you want to cut some costs and have heard
about others painting for themselves. Well, you can do it,
too, with a little elbow grease and a few simple
instructions.
Determine Your
Needs
Take a good hard look at
your place and what you hope to accomplish via color and
accent. If you're planning to "lighten things up", you may
want to choose extremely light pastel paints, which almost
look like white, but are tinged with color (i.e., green or
pink).
What to Look For
Paint comes in cans or
buckets. You are better off buying the buckets which are
usually premixed and less expensive. Just let the paint
person know at the store what "type" of paint you'll need
and for what purpose. Then, fine tune things and choose
your favorite color. Paint "types" includes matte,
semi-gloss, full-gloss and eggshell. You can also get
either the water or oil based types.
Buying the Paint
and Supplies
Some other supplies that
are essential to painting that you should be looking for
in the painting section are: primer, brushes, rollers,
masking tape, paint trays and plastic paint drop cloths.
Even a bunch of inexpensive rubber gloves are very
helpful. You should purchase all of these things at once
if you do not have them at home, as it won't be very
convenient or wise to go back and get these items later
on.
From the Trenches
Make sure that there is
plenty of ventilation before you begin painting a room.
You should always begin a paint job in your oldest and
worst clothes, because it is guaranteed that you'll be
covered with spots and blotches of paint as you go along.
- Try to clean the room
and sweep and dust as much as possible beforehand. This
only makes is easier and neater to paint. Mask any areas
that are delicate before hand well.
- If there are any
outstanding holes or imperfections in your walls, it
makes sense to spackle them beforehand, so that things
look crisp and clear later on.
- There is some rhyme and
reason to painting a room and an order should be
followed. This is an example order: ceilings first, then
walls, then doors, and lastly windows.
- As for strokes, try to
keep them neat and even. It is a good idea to prime,
then, do your first coat, let that dry, and do a second
coat. Or, if your paint is a one-coater, then you won't
have to paint the second time around. Try not to put too
much or too little paint on the roller or brush. Keep it
steady and light.
- Make sure all brushes
are soaked well overnight. Allow the walls to dry,
preferably overnight, or with a fan blowing on them. You
may preserve the paint on the rollers, by wrapping the
rollers in plastic wrap and putting them in the freezer
or refrigerator overnight. This way, they won't get hard
and dry.
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