DIY Painting Like a Pro

Dec 26

Written By City Girl Strategy Alexandra Aitken

First things first...

Envision your dream space. Don't limit yourself to a single color or four plain walls. Consider a bold accent wall, contrasting trim, or a striking ceiling. This is one of the hardest steps.

Next in line, choosing a color... talk about overwhelming. Start by determining how you want the room to feel: warm and cozy or cool and calm? Bold and vibrant or soft and neutral? Consider your existing furniture and art when selecting a color palette. To narrow down your options, order paint samples and test these swatches on your walls/surfaces to see how the color changes throughout the day.

A lot of paint companies have a tool on their website that will let you u[load a photo of your space and get a idea of how the color will look in your space. REMEMBER.... colors often look different in the real-world, so we recommend you still try it out in the space.

Have the right tools and know how and when to use them. Breaking it down:

Drop cloths: Protect floors, furniture, and other surfaces from paint spills and drips.
Painter's tape: Mask off areas you don't want to paint, like trim, windows, and baseboards.
Sandpaper: Smooth rough surfaces, remove old paint, and prepare surfaces for better paint adhesion.
Putty knife: Fill small holes or cracks before painting.

Paint roller: Applies paint quickly and evenly to large flat surfaces like walls and ceilings.
Paint roller extension pole: Reaches higher areas without a ladder.
Paint tray: Holds paint for easy application with a roller.
Paintbrushes: Cuts in around edges, corners, and trim, and for detailed work.

Rags: Clean up spills, drips, and excess paint.

Next step...how do you determine how much paint you need?

A general rule, one gallon of paint covers approximately 400 square feet. Consider extra paint for highly textured surfaces, cabinets with intricate details, or when covering dark colors with light ones.

Factors Affecting Paint Coverage:

Surface condition: Rough surfaces require more paint.
Paint color: Dark to light color changes or deep colors might need extra coats.
Number of coats: Two coats are standard, but sometimes more are needed.
Paint finish: Glossy finishes don't significantly impact paint coverage.

It's time to prep your space. People typically want to skip this part, but it is important you dont!

Protect Your Space

Clear the room: Remove furniture or cover it with drop cloths.
Protect floors and surfaces: Use drop cloths to cover floors, countertops, and cabinetry.

Prep the Walls

Tape off edges: Use painter's tape to mask off trim, baseboards, windows, doors, and corners.
Seal tape: Use a putty knife to ensure a tight seal for clean removal.
Remove outlet covers: Protect outlets and switches with tape.
Repair drywall: Fix any holes or imperfections before painting.

You're ready to paint! Time to mix. Use a wooden paint stick to mix the paint completely before each use. Stir the paint regularly throughout the painting process.

If you need to use more than one gallon, combine them in a large bucket for color uniformity.

LET'S GET ROLLING!!!

Always remember to work from the top down.

First Ceilings: This prevents drips from ruining your freshly painted walls.

Next Walls: Tackle lighter colors before darker ones to avoid touch-ups.

Last But Not Least, Accent Walls: Protect your freshly painted walls by taping them off before painting the accent wall.

Painting the Walls

Divide and conquer: Work on one wall at a time.
Brush first, roll second: Use a brush to "cut in" edges, while a roller covers the main area.
Roller technique: Apply paint in a W pattern for even coverage.
Second coat: Apply a second coat once the first is dry.