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A woman with a pony tail facing a wall and holding a paint roller with her right hand on the wall

Painting Tips: How to Paint a Room

How to Paint a Room

Many people look at their dull or scuffed-up walls and wonder what it would be like to have freshly painted, bright walls instead. This often motivates them to pick up a roller and a paint can and get to work.

Painting is both an art and a science, requiring certain techniques and skills. But luckily, with some preparation and practice, homeowners can do a great job painting on their own! The expert interior painters at ALLBRiGHT PAINTING want to share with you some of the best tips for a DIY paint job.

Protect What You Don’t Want to be Painted

Before even opening a can of paint, you should protect any items and areas that you don’t want to be painted. Use a drop cloth, plastic cover, or simply move items to another room. Next, apply painter’s tape to all of the edges of your painting surface. Make sure any wall fixtures, molding, and other elements are also covered before you paint.

The Painting

Before filling your brush with paint, stir the paint in the can with a wooden stirrer. Using your brush, paint a frame around each surface you are painting, whether it’s the ceiling, floor, or walls. Also, paint a frame around the outside of the windows and doors.

This frame should be 4-5 inches wide, with smooth, thorough coverage. This process is called cutting in, and it allows you to roll the rest of the wall and not have to roll too close to non-wall surfaces. For best results, make sure there is not a ridge or bead of paint at the edge of your brushstroke.

Now you can start using the roller on large, open surfaces. Fill the roller with paint, but not so much that it drips. Begin at the top corner (pick your favorite) and roll your way carefully downwards. Rolling too quickly will cause splatters.

Work your way from top to bottom and from one end towards the other, always maintaining a wet edge. This means that the most recently painted spot is nearest the unpainted area, and each new stroke of the roller overlaps wet paint, not dry. This helps you to avoid lap marks or streaks. Keep an eye out for drips and splatters, and use the roller to blend in more color while the paint is still wet.

Examining Your Work

Take a look at the wall from a short distance to see if there are any missed spots. Don’t try to judge the results until the paint is fully dried and you see it in a variety of lighting. Remember to remove the tape while the paint is still wet, and don’t put tape on the painted surfaces until the paint is completely dry. Then you can tape off and paint your trim or other surfaces.

Some paints require more than one coat to look best. Judge the finished product once dry and make adjustments as necessary.

Helpful Tips

  • Save the leftover paint to use for touch-ups and fixes. Mark the date it was opened and make sure it’s sealed tight.
  • Wash brushes and rollers while still wet to avoid staining and hardened bristles.
  • Let paint dry fully before moving furniture back or painting other surfaces.
  • Higher quality paint will give you a better look and better performance while painting.

Painting Expertise and Reliable Service

ALLBRiGHT PAINTING is LA’s premier painting contractor, with 30 years of experience making the visions of customers come to life. Contact us today at (661) 464-0771 for more information on how we can help you.

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