Paint

How to Paint a Room

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.

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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Paint

How to Paint Interior Doors

Painting interior doors is an inexpensive but easy way to update your home. I am going to show you how to paint interior doors (there is a video at the end of this post), and it is easier than you think!

I partnered with Ace Hardware and used this gorgeous pale pink to paint my daughter’s closet. It is Clark + Kensington Paint + Primer in One and is exclusive to Ace Hardware. I would suggest using the hi-gloss finish for closet doors, but they also offer semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, and flat finishes for all your various project needs!

I’ve selected my 6 favorite paint colors which are inspired by the colors I use in my home, and you can see them HERE.

Ace Hardware has over 5,000 stores around the world and everything you need to tackle that paint project. I love the small-store feel and personal shopping experience.

Their Paint Studio is a great resource to check out online, and they have a color visualizer where you can upload a photo of your room or project to see how the project will look!

This paint works well on everything from walls to furniture (see how I painted my buffet with the gorgeous Pine Grove here) to interior doors!

Here is a before of my daughter’s closet doors. The cream was boring and those vinyl dots were too much with the wallpaper.

Here’s the after – so much more calming (thanks to the paint color Pure Zen)!

I switched out the door knobs for some simple brass ones and it is amazing how little changes can make a big impact.

I love sophisticated look of her closet doors, and I have slowly been transforming all of our home’s interior doors with paint.

For the rest of our home, I went with a charcoal gray (similar to Clark + Kensington’s Cast Iron 38-4).

Supplies for Painting Interior Doors:

Tutorial for Painting Interior Doors:

For this tutorial, there is no need to remove the door(s) from the hinges.

How to Paint Interior Doors

  1. Prep for painting.

    Before you begin, test the current paint on the door to see if it is oil-based using a cotton ball and nail polish remover. If it comes off, it is water-based and you can continue! If it doesn’t come off, you have an oil-based paint on your doors which makes the paint job a little trickier (and messier).

    Wipe down the door to remove any grime/dirt. If there is loose paint, you will need to sand.

    Add a drop cloth or thin piece of board under the door to protect your floor or carpet.

  2. Protect/tape the door hardware.

    Tape off the hinges that are on the door to protect from paint. Add a strip of painter’s tape to the hinge and use an xacto knife to cut around the hinge.

    Tape off (or remove) the door knobs.

  3. Prime the door.


    When using darker paint, a tinted primer makes the job a little easier.

    Use a brush on any inset panels and hard to reach areas.

    Follow up with a paint roller for the rest of the door.

    Allow to completely dry before adding the optional second coat or moving on to paint.

  4. Paint the door.

    As you did with the primer, use a brush on any inset panels and hard to reach areas.

    Follow up with a paint roller for the rest of the door.

    Add two coats of paint and be sure paint is fully dry before adding second coat.

  5. Enjoy the newly painted door(s)!

    I love the interest our painted doors bring to our home. The can add fun pops of color to unexpected areas.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Ace Hardware. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you new to my blog? Go HERE to see my home tour and HERE to shop for items I use in our home.

Find me on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Pinterest