Easy Steps for a Professional Interior Wall Painting: A DIY Guide
Interior wall painting is one of the most self-rewarding projects any DIY person can do to enhance the look of their home. Here is a very easy guide on how to achieve that professional finish with no hassle at all:
1. Planning and Preparation
Choose Your Colours: Start by selecting colours that will complement the furniture and decorations in your room. You may even want to get sample paints to test them on your walls and see how they look in various lighting conditions.
Things you’ll need: paint, brushes, rollers, painter’s tape, drop cloths, paint tray, and a ladder. You may also wish to have a paint stirrer handy and, if your walls require it, a primer.
Prepare the Room: Move the furniture or drape the furniture in drop cloths. Drop cloths or plastic sheeting on the floors. Use painter’s tape to mask off edges around windows, doors, and trim to avoid unintentional splatters.
2. Prepare the Walls
Clean the surface: Wipe down the walls for dust and clean them so that the paint would adhere properly. Cleanse any greasy spots or stains with a mild detergent solution.
Repair Imperfections: Fill in any cracks or holes using spackle or joint compound. After drying, the patched areas will be smooth to sand. If you want an exceptionally smooth finish, lightly sand the entire wall.
Prime the Walls: Unless you have a previously painted, light-coloured surface, you’ll prime the area. This allows the new paint to adhere and gives you an even colour. Take a roller, applying the primer, and let that be fully dry.
3. Painting
First, the trim: Soak a small brush or angled brush in paint and apply it all around edges of trim, windows, and doors. This is called “cutting in.” It is a way of getting a clean line where the walls meet up with the trim.
Paint the Walls: This is done using a roller over the main areas of the walls. Always start painting at the top of the wall, working down. Use a pattern of “W” or “M” to spread the paint uniformly you fill in between the strokes. The method will not leave streak marks and ensures the paint covers the surface uniformly.
Multiple Coats: You may need to have more than one coat, depending on the colour of paint and paint type. Allow each coat to dry completely before the next application. Most paints require at least two coats for optimal finish.
4. Clean Up
Removing Painter’s Tape: The painter’s tape should be removed after painting, while the paint is still a little wet. It may peel some paint with it if it is removed too late.
Cleaning Brushes and Rollers: The painting equipment should, if possible, be cleaned immediately after use. For the case of water-based paints, wash the brushes and rollers thoroughly in soap and water. For oil-based paints, clean with paint thinner.
Proper Disposal of Paint: Leftover paint should be stored in a dry and cool place. If at any instance more paint than required by the user is available, he should consult with the local facility that handles wastes for proper disposal.
5. Finishing Touches
Check Your Work: After the paint has totally dried, go ahead and check on the walls for any places that were left out or even spots. Touch up using a small brush if necessary.
Put the Room Back Together: Once everything is completely dry, replace the furniture and other items to their proper places. Remove drop cloths and masking tape. Clean up spills or drips on the floor or other surfaces.
Conclusion
If you follow these steps, then painting can be a relatively easy and fun interior space task. Proper preparation, careful application, and thorough clean-up are critical to a professional-looking finish. You will literally change the space and bring in freshness while making it most inviting at your home.
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