Step 3 - Part 1 - Painting

Now that we have all our supplies, and we’re ready to paint, we have to prep. Preparation may be a pain, but let us assure you that it will save much hassle and headaches later on down the road. It allows you to solely focus on painting, and not trying to spill, splatter or mark up your floors or furniture.

Let’s get started! We recommend you remove all draperies, pictures, mirrors, area rugs, hardware and cover plates. Move all furniture into the middle of the room and cover with a drop cloth for extra protection; you never know what could happen! Would be a shame to trip and spill red paint all over your a dresser that’s been in your family since the 1800’s, wouldn’t it? Tape off woodwork and tape down plastic drop clothes, also wrap plastic around light fixtures and hardware you could not remove. Ensure your surface is clean, as noted in Step 1 – Part 1 – Preparation. Lastly, open a window, ventilation is good!

We also recommend you tape off your walls from ceiling and moldings; it’ll make for straight lines and keeps the colour where it should be. Here’s a great article on how to tape.

TIP: remove the tape when the paint is not completely dry. It’ll be easier, and create straighter lines.

If you are painting an entire room it’s important you complete it in the correct order. It will help eliminate splatters, spills and mishaps.

1.       Ceilings

·         Paint a 2 inch wide strip on ceiling where the wall meets the wall with a brush

·         Use a roller with extension, start in a corner and work across the short side to maintain a wet edge.

2.       Walls

·         Just like the ceiling, paint a 2 inch strip around the border of the wall (along ceiling, floor, woodwork) with a brush

·         Use a roller, come as close as possible to create a clean, uniform appearance

3.       Woodwork

·         Paint all trim around doors, windows, ceilings and floor

4.       Floor

·         Start in a corner diagonally opposite to the exit, you will not want to be stuck in a corner with wet paint on the floor

·         Just the same as the ceiling, paint 2 inch wide strip on the floor where it meets the wall or trim

·         Use a roller with an extension pole or wide brush, start in a corner and work across the short side to maintain a wet edge

TIP: Use enough paint, get in the habit of going to the paint can often. Let the paint do the work, you’ll save time and get the finish you want.

More to come on how to hold a brush, use a roller, how to paint double-hung windows and much more, stay tuned!