With so many people staying inside at the moment we thought we would share some painting secrets from our director Sophie herself, so you can paint a room like a professional in less than a week! SG Coatings have painted thousands of rooms all over Melbourne, and there is nothing we haven’t seen. If you are tired of looking at the same old walls, why not freshen it up to create a whole new atmosphere and paint a room in less than a week? Our best DIY home interior painting tips are outlined below.
Day 1: Shopping and Preparing Your Walls
Shopping
This is the exciting part – choosing your colours. Usually it is best to get one colour for the walls of the room and one for the ceiling and trims, even if they are just slightly different shades. Using different colours for the walls and ceiling allows you to really open up your space by tricking your eyes into thinking the room is larger. If you are using a white colour for the ceilings it’s always good to use the same white colour on all the trims.
Before you go into the paint shop be sure to measure the room so you know how much paint you will need. It is best to get a little extra paint incase you need to touch it up later. A lot of local paint shops will provide samples, which you can try on a small section of your room to ensure you are satisfied with the result before you make your final selection.
Before painting you will also need some sugar soap, a bucket (if needed), 24mm masking tape, plastic drop sheets, a roller kit (minimum of 2 rollers), 50mm paintbrush, a few tubes of no more gaps and a caulking gun to apply. You will also require a ladder if you don’t have one at home. If you have holes that require plastering be sure to purchase a putty knife, paint scraper, sand paper and plaster compound. If you don’t have a local paint shop you can find everything you need at Bunnings Warehouse.
Cleaning
Once you have selected your colours, you need to prepare the room. Remove as much furniture as possible, as well as any vents. Give the room a good vacuum to remove any dust, debris and cobwebs. Dust can easily get into your paint and leave nasty bumps all over the surface of your wall. Once the room is clean, lay out the plastic drop sheets to protect the floor and any remaining furniture. It is always recommended to run tape around the perimeter of the floor where it meets the skirting board. This will help ensure your brush doesn’t pick up dust when you are painting the skirting board.
Patch and prepare the walls
If the room has any residue on the walls you will need to use a heavy-duty cleaner like sugar soap to remove the grime. Bathrooms, laundries and kitchens will definitely require this, and all other rooms only if the walls are grubby. Once your walls are clean, fill a bucket of clean water and use a wet rag to wipe off any extra chemicals.
If you have holes in the walls you will need to fill them up with plaster compound. You can use joining tape as reinforcement if the hole is deep. We recommend using cornice cement first in larger holes as it is less likely to crack when drying. Simply cover the tape with extra compound before leaving it to dry. Once the compound is dry use some sand paper to remove any bumps or rough edges, and wipe clean. Repeat the process for larger holes. Sand all the trims thoroughly and use gap filler to fill in any gaps that aren’t on a flat surface. Examples of this would be cracks under the cornice or where the trims meet the walls. Gapping can be tricky so have a wet rag on hand to smooth off any excess.
If you are concerned that you don’t have a steady hand make sure you apply your masking tape to cover the edges of any glass on windows and other things that you don’t want to paint.
Day 2: Start Painting!
Now your room is ready to paint! Make sure you have a damp rag close by incase of any spillage or mistakes. Before you start painting you need to give your paint a good mix. Always follow the specific instructions outlined on the tin as all brands specify their own setup instructions. Don’t dip your paintbrush directly into the paint tin, instead pour a small amount into a paint cup or tray. At the same time prepare your rollers, tray and paint for your roller.
Start with the Ceilings
You should begin your painting project by painting the ceilings first. Work with your paintbrush around the cornice and lights then follow up with the roller on the larger surface area. You should only use your roller in one direction ensure the best result. After a couple of hours the first coat should be dry and you can apply the second coat.
Day 3: Paint your Trims
Once the rollering is complete on the ceiling it’s time to start on the trims. We recommend this second because it is easier to do the final cutting in on the walls. Take your time with this but don’t worry too much if it is not neatly finished against the walls – you’re still on track to painting a room in less than a week! Apply a second coat after the trims have dried.
Day 4: Paint the Walls
Now that the ceilings and trim is finished and dry it’s time to tackle the walls. Take your time cutting in the ceiling and trim, one wall at a time. Use your roller the same as you did on the ceiling from top to bottom, straight up and down. Apply two coats to the walls to complete the job. Remove any masking tape immediately and allow the paint to dry for at least 2 hours before you remove the tarps and replace your vents and furniture. Congratulations! You have just painted a room in less than a week!
Painting your own room in less than a week doesn’t have to be difficult if you have the right knowledge and tools. The best thing is that you can always paint over it if you are not satisfied with the result! If you would prefer not to get your hands dirty, you can contact our team of professional painters at any time here. Specialising in residential interior and exterior painting on Mornington Peninsula, Bayside Melbourne and South East Melbourne, SG Coatings can provide a solution suitable for you and your home.
