Interior Painting is a DIY-friendly project that can save homeowners significant money. However, it requires careful planning and execution. Start by clearing the room of large obstructions, and cover anything you cannot move with a drop cloth to protect it from accidental paint splatter.
Prepare the walls by washing them thoroughly and caulking and patching holes. Then apply a primer to ensure that the top coat will adhere. The ceiling is the most noticeable feature of a room, so it’s crucial to choose a color that works. It can be tempting to paint the ceiling the same color as the walls, but choosing a lighter shade can make the room feel larger and more open. The right paint color can also add depth and help visually raise the ceiling. If you’re unsure which option to choose, ask a full-service Interior Painters Perth at your local home improvement store for advice.
A house painter can recommend the perfect shade for your ceiling based on the size and shape of your space. Once you’ve selected a color, the next step is to start painting. Before you start, however, you should prepare the area and protect your floors and furniture. First, you’ll need to cover your floor with drop cloths or newspaper. Next, put on your safety goggles and a hat. You should also put on a mask if you’re sensitive to fumes. Finally, make sure you’re on the proper ladder for your ceiling height and use a extension pole to reach to all corners of the room.
To get the best results, you should work in sections of about 5 square feet. This will allow you to keep track of what you’ve already painted and avoid lap marks. You should also work quickly when you’re working on the ceiling. The paint will dry fast, so you need to work efficiently.
If you’re painting the ceiling the same color as the walls, you should consider tinting the wall paint to lighten it up. This will prevent the ceiling from becoming too dark and will ensure that the resulting swatch of color on the wall will match well with the ceiling.
Alternatively, you can use a white that’s a little bit lighter than the wall color you’re using. This will create a subtle contrast and will look more natural than an exact match. Either way, it’s important to test your paint colors in the room’s lighting at different times of day. This will give you a better idea of how the colors look and how they’ll change throughout the course of a day.
Paint the Walls
The walls are the most visible part of a room, and one of the quickest ways to transform the look of a space. Painting the walls can make a space feel bigger or cozier and can drastically change the overall feel of a room. Luckily, painting the walls is a DIY-friendly project that most homeowners can complete. It’s important to know a few tips to ensure a professional finish, though.
Choose the right paint color. The tiny swatches at the store are likely to look very different when painted on a wall, so it’s always best to test a few samples of your chosen colors on a wall before committing. Also, remember that darker colors can appear much darker when applied to the whole wall, while lighter colors may look washed out in a dark space.
Taping the trim is usually not necessary, but if it is, mask off the baseboards, window and door frames, crown moldings, etc. with blue painter’s tape and then carefully apply a 2-inch wide swath of paint alongside the trim using a trim brush to hide the tape and create a smooth, clean line. For large areas, use a roller instead of a brush. Start in a corner and roll on the paint in a “W” pattern, working in small 3- to 4-foot sections.
After rolling on the paint, let it dry completely before moving furniture back into the room or hanging artwork. Then, if needed, apply a second coat of paint.
When it comes to interior paint, there are many benefits to choosing a low- or no-VOC formula. These paints typically require less ventilation, are safer for indoor air quality and can help to minimize odors.
If you are replacing oil-based paint with latex or are changing the color of your walls to something darker than your current shade, a primer is often required. However, if you’re just updating a room or adding a pop of color with an accent wall, a primer is usually unnecessary.
Paint the Trim
A fresh coat of paint on the trim can give your entire house a facelift, making it look newer and more updated. It also makes it easier to match furniture, artwork and other decorations to your newly painted walls. Plus, it can make your home more appealing to potential buyers if you plan to sell in the future.
While painting your trim is not as difficult as painting the walls, it still requires careful preparation to achieve an even result. Using the right tools, supplies and techniques will help you get a beautiful finish that lasts a long time. Here are a few interior painting tips from professionals:
Start by taping the edges of the trim with masking tape to avoid getting paint on the wall or baseboards. Then use a brush and a small amount of paint to begin the process. Use a few short strokes and then longer ones to cover the surface. Continue this process until you’ve painted the entire piece of trim. Once the trim is dry, you can remove the tape.
When it comes to choosing an interior paint for trim, most professional painters recommend an oil-based paint with a high gloss level. This is because it provides a better, more durable finish than latex paint and will be easier to work with. However, since modern acrylic latex paints have made such great strides in recent years, many painters now use them on trim as well.
After you’ve finished painting the trim, it’s time to move on to painting the walls. Before you do, though, remove all the doors and hardware from their hinges. Place them in Ziploc bags to keep track of where they go when you’re done painting. This will save you a lot of time trying to figure out which screw goes where when you’re reattaching them later.
Once the trim is painted and has dried, you can replace the door hardware and hang your curtains or other furnishings. Before you do this, you should check your paint job for any flaws. If you see any spots where the paint has peeled or chipped, sand it smooth and repaint.
Paint the Floors
The floors in a room can have as big of an impact on the overall design as any wall. Painting them can add an unexpected pop of color or a bold pattern to a space. However, this is one area where it’s crucial to consider your lifestyle and how you use the room before choosing a color. Floors get dirtier and more beat up than walls, so you need to choose a color that stands up well to daily wear and tear.
First, sweep and vacuum the floor thoroughly to remove dust and dirt that can cause your paint job to chip or peel. Then, mop the floors with an anti-degreasing agent. For concrete floors, you can also add an epoxy coating to boost durability and enhance the look.
Before you start your painting, use a 2 1/2-inch angle brush to establish the edges of the room and apply Fresh Start(r) All-Purpose Primer to the entire floor area. Make sure to mask off baseboards, banisters and any other areas that you don’t want painted. You’ll need to allow the primer to dry completely before you can begin painting.
If your floors are in good condition, you may not need to prime them before applying a coat of finish. But always check the label or Technical Data Sheet for recoat times to be safe.
When it comes to choosing a finishing coat, satin or semi-gloss paint is the best choice. These finishes offer a happy medium between coverage and durability. Flat and eggshell paints have a low sheen and are more susceptible to moisture damage, so they are best used in low-traffic areas like bedrooms.
If you are going with a modern or minimalist style, light colors like white floors are in vogue and make a room feel bigger and brighter. This allows your home decor to really stand out. Darker finishes work well in rooms that have a rustic or Scandinavian style, but they can be harder to maintain because they show dirt and scuff marks more easily. Either way, painting your floors is a great way to make an inexpensive and lasting impact on a space.