How to paint a room like a pro

Tip #1 – Prep the room for painting

Nothing can liven up a once drab room like a splash of new paint. It’s one of the quickest and most impactful ways to give your home new life.

However, it’s not just a matter of popping a lid and throwing a brush on a wall.

When it comes to painting, preparation is the key.

A properly prepared surface that is clean, solid and dry, without cracks and imperfections will ensure good-looking, long-lasting results. And, not surprisingly, this is where the work comes in:

• Before you start remove fixtures, including wall plates, light plates, curtain rails, nails, screws, staples, bluetack and any other foreign bodies. This will save time in the long run and will make your paint job look more professional.
• Clean walls are essential so use a sponge and scrub the walls with warm water and a mild dish detergent. This will remove dust, fingerprints and greasy spots that could mark your paint job. Don’t start painting until the walls are completely dry.
• Gather painting supplies such as paint rollers, roller trays, paint brushes, cloths for wiping up drips, step ladder and drop cloths for the floor.
• Remove flakey paint with a scraper and make sure you thoroughly sand wooden surfaces so that your paint has something to stick to and creates a nice smooth finish.
• Take your time to patch any holes or cracks before you start. This includes slightly overfilling rather than under filling, and then sanding off with a sanding block so that you get a nice smooth and even surface.
• Wipe down all the surfaces to remove dust from filling and sanding.
• If only you could take all the moldings and trim out of the room as well before you paint. Unfortunately this is not the case. To avoid the amateur mistake of smearing paint along your skirting boards and window sills, tape off these areas before you start with masking tape.
• Taping is simple, but time consuming. Doing it right, though, makes for truly professional-looking results.
• Put down drop cloths. Be sure to cover the whole floor, rather than moving a painter’s cloth around the room where you’re painting. Moving a dropcloth will interrupt the painting process, which is not good if you want a seamless paint job.
• Apply primer, if needed. Let it dry, and then lightly sand any bumps until smooth.
• Now you’ve completely prepped the room for an A1 result and you’re ready to enjoy the fun part – painting!