How to Paint a Room for Beginners: 7 Steps & Techniques
Whether you are doing a passion project or are simply in need for an interior facelift, painting can be an extremely fun experience. If you are a beginner, then the process might seem initially daunting. In fact, some even consider the job to be stressful depending on the magnitude of the project.
This sentiment could not be further from the truth. As with any challenge, successfully completing a task requires the right knowledge and equipment in order to facilitate a positive result.
If you are new to painting, and want to paint a specific interior room, here are the best steps on how to paint a room for beginners:
1. Prepare the room accordingly
Painting isn’t something that you can just jump right into, even with the proper equipment readily available. This is where proper planning comes into play. Depending on the magnitude of the project, you’ll want to ensure you have the right quantity of paint, as well as the right tools.
Take a good, hard look at the room you are planning to paint. What colors work after taking into consideration the lighting sources? Can the ceiling also use a facelift? Once you have the answers to some of these preliminary questions, you are on your way to learn how to paint a room for beginners.
2. Select the right paint colors
Choosing the correct color scheme for the room in question is more than just basic selection. Some colors work better in specific rooms, while others emit certain characteristics that can provide a specific feeling attributed to said room. The shading of each of color should also be taken into consideration as well.
The best ways to test a color’s effectiveness is to try it out on a specific wall and test its viability with the lighting. If you are okay with how it appears, proceed to purchase the respective bucket of paint. The fun part is almost here. Don’t forget to decide whether you need a water or oil-based paint, as one could work better than the other depending on the room!
3. Get the suitable painting tools
Painting a room requires having more than just a standard paintbrush. Every project you undertake in your household is unique and, therefore, necessitates having the right tools and equipment. For beginners, make sure you have a paint roller and an extension pole for those hard to reach spots.
You’ll also want to have drop cloths available. Painting a room can be messy for beginners, but having drop cloths in the room can minimize the amount of paint spill affecting the space. Depending on the room you are painting, primer may be required but isn’t necessary in some circumstances.
4. Tape the room
Drop cloths aren’t the only thing needed to mitigate the amount of mess in the room you are painting. You’ll want to get your hands on some paint tape so that you can guarantee yourself a crisp paint job when completed.
To effectively use paint tape, start in one corner of the room and set it down lightly on the surface to be painted. Once you have painted the respective surfaces, you can remove the tape while it is still wet by pulling it off at a 45-degree angle.
5. Ensure the room is properly ventilated
Most modern paints don’t come with fumes that impede on your ability to get the job done. In any event, make sure the room in question is properly ventilated. Having a fresh source of air nearby eliminates the possibility of nauseous fumes. If the room does not have a window that you can open, a nearby fan will work just as effectively.
6. Paint the room
Painting a room can be tricky for beginners, but there is a certain art to painting effectively in order to save yourself some time. After opening the can and mixing the paint, you can begin painting the surface in a “W” technique. This involves painting diagonally in one stroke, then proceeding to form an initial “W” letter on the wall. This is more productive than simply painting in a vertical or horizontal manner.
Paint in all spaces until the sections are filled in completely. It is also recommended that you stay on one wall at a time, as moving from one to another only increases your workload. Don’t let the physical aspect of the job wear you down; put some music on and have fun!
7. Clean up the room
Once you have applied the required coats of paint and removed all paint tape, it is time to tidy up. Drop cloths can be discarded or kept for future paint jobs. The bristles on your paint brushes can also be cleaned with a proper amount of warm water and soap. Now, you can take some time to relax as the paint dries and reflect on a job well done!
Some paint jobs can be likened to a typical workout at the gym. It may be physically exerting, but, once completed, you’ll feel extremely satisfied knowing you gave it your all. Once you get the initial hang of things, you will be painting like a professional in no time!
