With so many of us home, it is the perfect time to tackle those projects that have been on your list forever, and it is definitely time to learn how to paint a room.
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of FrogTape®. All opinions are 100% mine.
Whether you have never painted a room on your own, and or you have but you need some tips and tricks, you have come to the right place.
How To Paint a Room:
PREP
Prepping the space often takes more time than painting, but it is worth it. The more time you spend on the prep, the better your finished paint job will look. Clean surfaces and repair any defects. If you need tips for patching drywall, check out this article.
PRIME
If you are painting new drywall, primer is a must. Although a coat of primer is recommended for almost all painting projects (it is a sticky, flat paint that adheres well to the wall and provides and consistent base for topocoats), it is not always necessary. Primer tip: If you are using a darker paint color, you can have the primer tinted to match.
PAINT
PAINT FROM THE TOP DOWN. If you’re painting beyond the walls (ceiling, molding, casings, and trim), paint the ceiling first. Work from the top down: begin with the crown molding, then the walls, then paint the casement molding around the windows and doors. Finish with the baseboard molding.
PAINTING TIPS
USE PAINTER’S TAPE FOR CRISP LINES
I only use FrogTape® brand painter’s tape for my projects because IT WORKS. FrogTape® is treated with patented PaintBlock® Technology, a super-absorbent polymer that reacts with the water in latex paint and instantly gels to form a micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape, preventing paint bleed and the need for touch-ups. The results are crisp, clean paint lines the first time and it will save you the time and hassle of fixing seeping paint.
TIPS FOR SELECTING THE BEST PAINT ROLLER
If you want more texture on your wall, choose a roller with a longer nap (3/4″), which holds more paint. Use a shorter nap roller (¼” and ½”) for the smoothest finish.
AVOID LAP MARKS
To avoid stripes, keep a wet edge by painting the full height of the wall and then moving over slightly so you can overlap the last stroke with the next.
LOADING THE PAINT BRUSH
You want as much paint on the brush as you can control without dripping. To do this, dip your brush around 1-2 inches into the paint, then tap each side of the brush against the side of the can (which knocks of the drips and forces paint into the bristles).
HOW TO PAINT BASEBOARDS ON CARPET
This is one of my favorite tips because it works so well! You can read more about it in detail HERE, but you just need a roll of FrogTape, a roll of packing tape and a wallpaper smoothing tool (or a putty knife). I recently discovered the wallpaper smoothing tool works amazing well because it is SO long.
HOW TO PAINT DOORS
Painting doors aren’t as hard as you may think, and I paint them on the hinges. You can see more on how to paint interior doors HERE, but one of my favorite tips is to use Frogtape on the hinges of the doors. Place the tape down, use an exacto knife to cut around the hinge, and removed excess tape. You will protect your door hinges from paint.
TIPS FOR PAINTING BREAKS
When taking a break, be sure to cover your paint and use a plastic bag to wrap around your roller(s) and brush(es). You can even put them in the fridge or freezer if you’re taking an extended break. Colder air prevents the paint from drying.
DOUBLE-CHECK WORK
Between coats you may need to sand off any bumps before applying the next coat – check the surface for drips, roller flecks, or other imperfections.
WHEN TO USE A SPRAYER
There are some spaces where it may be easier to use a sprayer. I used one in my bonus room, and you can read more about that HERE.
Have any other paint tips or tricks to share? Comment below!
Go create something!
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If painting with oil paint and taking a break, you can leave your brush in a container (jam jar perhaps) of water. Just shake off excess water and you’re ready to go.
Great tip – thank you!