For those planning to decorate the home themselves, the task at hand can seem somewhat daunting. The following tips should make the job easier and more enjoyable. It is important to remember that you are about to transform your home, which should be fun and exciting.
Step One
Clear as much as you can from the room or cover it with dust sheets. Use masking tape, which won’t damage any surfaces, to cover light switches and plug sockets. Also apply tape around the edges of the trim to protect it from the wall colour you apply. If you have carpeted floors, mask around the carpet edge to make painting the trim easier and to reduce the risk of fibres getting onto the wet painted surface.
Step Two
Gather all of your tools, materials and equipment together in one place for easy accessibility. You will need a stick to stir your paint thoroughly to ensure it is properly mixed. Make sure you have good quality paint brushes and rollers, as these are an invaluable investment which will ensure your paint finish is free from brush marks or an orange-peel texture. Keep a damp cloth to hand to clean any spills or slips of the paint brush onto your trim.
Step Three
Professional painters will always spend more time prepping than actually decorating. Though this may be the boring part of the decoration process, the more care you take at this stage, the better finish you will achieve and the longer it will last. When the walls and trim are not prepared properly, the paint will highlight any imperfections caused as a result. Loose plaster and paint need to be removed with scrapers and sandpaper. Also, it is advised to lightly sand any previously painted trim before painting as this will create a key for the new colour to bond to.
Step Four
Clean your entire working area to ensure it is completely free from dirt and dust that could contaminate the wet paint.
Step Five
Though it can be tempting to jump straight to applying your chosen colour, it is important to not skip the priming or undercoating phase of the decoration process. Priming your walls stabilises the surface and prepares your walls for paint. Do not be concerned if the primer coat appears patchy, as this is not made to provide full coverage.
Step Six
You should now be ready to begin the fun part, the painting. Stir the paint in the tin for a few minutes to ensure it is thoroughly mixed. Then decant your paint into your roller tray.
Step Seven
When decorating, you should start with the ceiling. Brush in where the ceiling meets the wall, taking care to apply the paint evenly. At this stage, don’t worry if you come down onto the wall as you will be painting over this with your selected wall colour.
Using the roller and pole, evenly roll across the ceiling area, overlapping by 50 per cent as you go. It is advisable to start from your strongest source of light, usually a window, and work away from it until the ceiling is coated.
Once the first coat has dried fully, repeat this process, as you will always need two coats to ensure maximum coverage. It is important to allow each coat of paint to dry in between applications.
Step Eight
Next, paint the walls. Cut into the edges where the walls meet the ceiling, taking care not to touch the finished ceiling colour. It may take some practise to get the line straight, so remember to proceed with patience. You should then cut around all the edges, architraves, skirting and baseboards. You can overlap these areas slightly as you will be painting over them with the relevant undercoat next. Take care to apply the paint evenly as a thicker edge may show through your finished coverage.
Step Nine
Finally, paint the trim and/or woodwork. You should always do this last, as these are the areas which are susceptible to picking up dust and so this avoids transference to any more noticeable areas. Start by cutting in your windows, door-frames, doors and lastly, the skirting/baseboards, taking care to avoid going onto your finished walls. Once fully cut in, finish by applying to top coats.
Step Ten
Once you have finished decorating, it is vital to keep a record of the colours and finishes you have used in your scheme in case you should need to touch up any areas in the future. Store any excess paint in a cool, dry place protected from any extreme temperatures.
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