Tips When Painting a Room

With a whole rainbow of colours to choose from, painting a room is one of the best ways to stamp your personality on your living space, or create a smart and professional-looking workplace. Whether you prefer soft neutrals or bright shades, a visit to any hardware shop or decorating store will give you plenty of inspiration.

But once you’ve found the perfect paint colour, what next? Follow our comprehensive guide to improve your decorating skills, achieve impressive results and avoid any DIY disasters.

What You Need To Paint a Room

  • Wall and ceiling paint
  • Masking tape
  • Filler
  • Paintbrushes
  • Rollers and roller tray
  • Sandpaper
  • Dust sheets

How To Paint Your Room Effectively

  1. Protect furniture and surfaces with dust sheets and change into old clothes or overalls.
  2. Use filler to fix any holes, then once dry sand down the surface.
  3. If you are painting over satin or gloss paint, sand the walls first to help the new paint stick.
  4. Clean your walls with sugar soap diluted in water, using a clean sponge to remove any dust, dirt or debris from the surface.
  5. Once the walls are dry, use masking tape to protect skirting boards, sockets and switches. If you’re using a different colour on the ceiling or an adjoining wall, use masking tape along the edges to ensure a neat, clean finish.
  6. Stir your paint thoroughly before pouring some into your roller tray. Apply paint to the wall in a W motion – this will ensure the paint is evenly distributed. Swap to a small brush or smaller roller for tricky edges and corners.
  7. Once the first coat of paint is dry, apply a second. Two coats will usually be enough to achieve a professional finish.
  8. Once the second coat is dry, carefully remove any masking tape and pack up your dust sheets. Thoroughly wash your rollers, brushes and roller tray ready for your next painting project.

Painting A Radiator

Ensure the radiator is switched off and completely cool before you begin anything. Naturally, radiators need to withstand everyday knocks and bumps so choose a good quality radiator paint. As with anything being painted, protecting the surrounding walls and floor with dust sheets.

Before you start, clean your radiator with sugar soap and water, before completely drying it. Wipe down any remaining dust particles and then cover any valves and vents with masking tape. Lightly sand the surface, wipe down then begin applying your paint, using vertical brush strokes. Apply two coats, leaving the first to dry before applying the second. Wait 24 hours before using the radiator to ensure the paint is completely dry.

How To Paint a Ceiling

  1. Ensure you buy ceiling paint to achieve the best results.
  2. Sand away any rough areas of the ceiling surface.
  3. Use masking tape around the ceiling edges and also around light fixtures or alarms.
  4. Use a paintbrush to cut in around edges and any fixtures. Avoid overloading your brush with paint and take your time as this can be a tricky step.
  5. Paint the ceiling using a roller and extension pole, letting the first coat dry thoroughly before applying a second.
  6. When the second coat is dry, remove any masking tape and rinse your brushes and rollers.

Common Mistakes When Painting a Room

From not protecting furniture or flooring with dust sheets to forgetting to clean the walls before you begin or not waiting for each coat to dry, there are many common mistakes you might make if it’s your first time painting. You might buy the wrong type of paint, the wrong brushes, or even not enough paint. 

Contact Our Painters

Luckily, if you’re not feeling confident in your DIY skills, the experts can help. Hiring a professional painter and decorator can save you time and stress – and also means your room will look fantastic once it’s painted. It can also save you money too, as you won’t have to buy brushes, rollers and any other kit to paint your room.

Speak to our team about your painting plans by getting in touch today.


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