Thinking about changing up a room in your house? A new coat of paint is about the best, least expensive way to makeover a room, and you can do it in a weekend! Before you buy that can of paint, here are the best ways to prep for a new coat of paint. Read on for our 10 best painting tips.
Before you buy:
1. Know the size of the room–specifically, how many square feet is it? One gallon of paint covers about 400 square feet, so you’ll want to be sure you get enough.
2. If color is tricky, purchase a small can or even a tester {where available} before buying a full gallon. Paint a piece of foam board or poster board in each of the colors you’re debating about, and move them around the room to see how you like each color. It’s much easier to tell with this homemade swatch than it is with a bitty paint swatch from the store!
3. You can now buy eco-friendly paints with low fumes {VOCs} that are much safer and more user-friendly for the whole family. Just read labels to be sure that’s what you’re buying.
Prepping the walls for paint:
4. Before you do anything, lay out a drop cloth to protect floors and any furniture that may still be in the room. Plastic sheeting can be slippery, so a drop cloth is best.
5. Clean walls take paint the best, so make up a solution of water and a little TSP in a bucket. Use a large sponge to thoroughly wash the walls and baseboards. Note that if you don’t have TSP, a little dish soap should do the trick. Use the sponge to rinse the walls with fresh water once they’re clean. Wipe dry or allow them to thoroughly air dry before you proceed.
6. Remove nails from the walls and fill the holes with special nail hole filler or spackle. Once dry, be sure to sand those areas smooth and remove any sanding dust with a damp cloth.
7. Take the time to remove electrical outlet and light switch covers. Then you don’t have to tape them off or worry about having clean lines around them.
