How to Prepare to Paint a Room

Painting a room is never as easy as it seems. Or over as quickly as you expect it to be. But making the appropriate preparations will greatly help the process go more smoothly, be done faster, and most importantly achieve the best results possible.

1 | Choose the Paint

When looking for paint, realize that the differences are more than color. Sheen and the base make a big difference. Most paint you’ll end up using is latex-based, which allows you to clean up with water rather than paint thinner. The sheen of paint is especially important when painting an interior room. High sheen (gloss) should be used in high-trafficked areas, on baseboards, and in areas like the kitchen and bathroom. Choosing a more matte finish will just result in easier spotting and more difficult cleanup. Low sheen can be used anywhere else.

Be thorough in your color selection. Get color chips and tape them up on the wall. Go back and get samples of your favorites (these should be provided free or at a reasonable charge from a quality paint supplier). Paint areas of 1-2 square feet on the wall in different lighting situations to see what it’s really going to look like. And remember that paint will always look lighter when applied to larger areas than it does in a small splotch.

When it comes to brands, shop around to find the best colors and prices from local suppliers and trusted companies. Getting good paint will help to ensure great looking, long lasting results.

2 | Buy Quality Tools

You will need the following at minimum:

• Brushes (choose quality brushes, which allow you to cut a neat line where tape cannot be used)
• Rollers and roller covers (which have appropriate knap for your surfaces – the more textured, the more knap required)
• Tape (choose tape that will stick well to your unique surfaces – don’t skimp if you can avoid it, as this can make all the difference in the need for future touch-ups)
• Trays, Buckets, and Inserts (these allow you to use only the paint you need, as well as keep your materials in order)
• Extension poles (if you have high walls)
• Ladders (if needed)
• Drop cloths (thick enough to block paint from seeping through)
• Access to water for cleanup (a 5 gallon bucket filled with water can work as a storage container until you’re ready to rinse everything out)

If you have a large space to cover, you may elect to use a paint sprayer. Just be advised that you will need a mask when spraying paint in close quarters, and that you will need to do far more extensive covering of floors, fixtures, etc. to take advantage of this tool.

3 | Cover, Tape, and Remove

If something can be removed easily enough, remove it. This includes furniture, door handles, and light switch plates. This is far and away the best way to ensure that your painting will come out crisp and professionally. If you cannot remove, use tape and tape with plastic or tape with paper to thoroughly cover what remains. Use drop cloths and tape to ensure that your furniture and flooring stays clear of paint. Trust us

It is far better to prepare and cover than try to clean up. Even fresh paint doesn’t always come off.

4 | Have a Plan

Determine how you are going to cover the walls. You should attack the corners with a brush and the wide open spaces separately with a roller for the fastest and most thorough application of paint. Know where you are going to start and how you are going to proceed until the end.

Remember: you must not stop in the middle of a surface. If you must pause, get to the nearest edge or corner, where a break will naturally make sense. The reason for this is that differences in temperature and humidity over time can slightly affect the appearance of the paint once it’s dry.

Know in advance that you will need to apply at least two separate coats of paint, with appropriate drying time given between them.

Don’t just plan as to how you will cover the walls – plan how you will enter and exit the room and where you will put your tools and garbage so you don’t make a mess where you don’t want it to be.

5 | Ventilate

Reduce your risk of headache by making sure you have air flowing into and out of the space. Open windows, if they are available. If not, use a ventilation fan or a box fan to move the air.

Finally, you can get to painting!

Want Help?

Painting an interior space well is more work than it seems! If you’d rather go with the pros, contact Mt Hood Pro Painting for a free estimate!