Created 2008-08-20 15:20:56 by Eric Stromer

Nothing transforms a room faster and more dramatically than a fresh coat of paint! It's an inexpensive, fun and easy project. Whether you're thinking of making a splash with bright colors or simply want to freshen and brighten with white or a neutral, there are several different types of finishes to choose from: flat, satin and semi-gloss. Flat paint has no visible sheen and is a perfect choice for walls with an uneven or rough texture. Satin paint has a slight sheen and can be washed, which makes it a great choice for high-traffic areas. Semi-gloss is shiny and very washable; it's a great choice for moldings, doors, bathrooms and kitchens. If you chose a darker paint color, consider using a tinted primer first for better coverage.

The key to any successful paint job is preparation and using quality paint and supplies. Remove smaller furniture items, lamps and decorative items from the room and move the rest of the furniture into the center and cover with a protective cloth or tarp. This way you'll have easy and complete access to all the walls and don't risk splashing paint on anything.

Cover the floor to protect it from paint spills and drips. Use sturdy craft paper or plastic drop cloths and tape them down with easily removable masking tape to make sure they don't budge. If you do get a paint spill, wipe it up with a damp rag as soon as possible.

Paint adheres best to clean, even surfaces, so preparing the area to be painted is important. If the walls are dirty or dusty, wipe them down with a damp sponge and let them dry properly. Use a putty knife to fill holes and fine cracks with spackling paste. If the surface is uneven after spackling, sand it smooth with fine-grit sandpaper, then wipe away excess dust. If you have water damage, use a wall primer with a built-in stain blocker or else the stains will bleed through the new paint.

Remove anything from the walls that shouldn't be painted such as light switch and electrical outlet covers and heating and a/c vent grates. Unscrew wall mounted lighting fixtures or cover them with plastic to protect them from paint splatters and drips. Once the walls are clean and prepped make sure the temperature is at least 50° Fahrenheit and that you have enough light for you to see what you're doing. Also, make sure that the room is adequately ventilated.

Now you're ready to start painting! If you have more than one gallon of the same color, pour all of your paint into a 5-gallon bucket and blend it, since batches of paint can vary in color. Disposable paint tray liners come in handy -- you won't have to rinse out the paint tray if you need to take a break. You'll need a 2-1/2" angled sash brush for cutting in, a cut bucket (any plastic, quart-size container will do), a roller handle and a 3/8" synthetic roller. Consider investing in a higher-quality brush for best results. Brush out the roller with a wire brush to remove fuzz, which can cause bubbles in the paint. Some rollers need to be soaked in water first -- be sure to read the directions on the package.

Surfaces should be painted from top to bottom in the following order: ceilings, walls, baseboards, doors and window trim. Instead of masking off adjoining areas to avoid getting paint on them, professionals use a technique called 'cutting in.' Give it a try! Hold the brush like a pencil for better flexibility and control, dip it in paint and flick off the excess, then wedge it into place at an angle and slowly drag it along the edge of the trim. The cut bucket will come in handy when you're standing on a ladder as you won't have to climb down every time your brush runs out of paint. Paint along all corners and trim before filling in larger areas with a roller.

After cutting, you're ready to paint the walls. Dip the roller in the paint tray and roll off excess paint. The roller should be saturated but not dripping with paint. Paint the walls in 3 feet square sections, following a 'W' pattern. Don't overreach -- move along the wall as you work. The paint will look lighter when it's wet as paint darkens as it dries. For lighter colors, two coats should suffice; darker shades may require three coats. Let paint dry thoroughly -- ideally overnight -- before replacing light switch covers and re-attaching wall fixtures.

Once you've moved all your furniture back in, you're ready to enjoy your new room! You'll be amazed what a difference a fresh coat of paint makes. And remember, your local paint store can match paint to virtually anything -- artwork, a bedspread or your favorite flower. So get inspired and don't be afraid of color!

What You'll Need:
Paint
Drop cloth or craft paper
Masking tape
Paint roller
Sash brush
Cut bucket
Paint tray
Ladder
Screwdriver
Rag