Repainting a room is one of the cheapest ways to redecorate. You just need a few cans of paint, brushes, and a lot of old newspapers to catch the splatter. But we know that it’s not as easy as it sounds. How do you avoid the mess? How do you keep the old color from showing through? These tips can help.
First let’s talk about supplies! If you are painting a light color over a dark color, then you need to use a primer. You will also need about two coats of paint to really prevent the dark color from being seen. Measure your room and then give these computations to the store personnel, who can then figure out how many cans you need to buy. Also invest in a paint tray, a roller brush, an angled brush (for working near the edges), and an extension pole. You can also read this detailed guide on the different types of paint brushes.
Now for the actual painting. The first step is to cover the floor with old fabric or newspapers. To prevent accidents, make sure these are well secured with tape—and that the ladder won’t slip or slide on top of them.
Then clean the walls as well as you can. Remove dust and fingerprints with a duster and then sponge the walls down. The cleaner the walls are, the better the new paint will stick.
Once the walls are clean, cover light switch covers, outlets, moldings, window frames, door knobs, and other areas you want to protect with newspapers.
Apply the primer (if needed) and allow to dry before applying the first coat. Usually it takes the first coat at least half a day to dry, but check with the store personnel anyway—some brands and formulas take longer than others. Only apply the second coat after the first coat is completely dry.
Rinse your painting tools and then wipe off paint splatters from the floor, etc. If the paint splatters have dried try to scrape it off with a plastic spatula (though an old credit card works well too!).