She Strengthens

Transform Your Space with a Fresh Coat of Paint

Painting a room is one of the simplest and most affordable ways to give your space a fresh new look. With the right tools and a little patience, you can achieve professional-looking results.

Choose the Perfect Color

Before you begin, it’s essential to select the right paint color for your room. To ensure you’re making the right choice, test the color on the wall by buying a sample pot or using peel-and-stick paint samples. Apply the sample to the wall, observing how the color changes throughout the day. Take your time, and sit with the color for a few days to get a sense of how it will look in different lighting conditions.

Gather Your Painting Essentials

Before heading to the paint store, take stock of the items you already have at home. Make sure to factor in any necessary items into your project budget. You’ll need:

• Prep tools: screwdriver, canvas drop cloth, 2-inch flexible putty knife, premixed spackle, 220-grit sandpaper, caulk (if needed), and painter’s tape
• Painting supplies: primer, paint (one gallon per 400 square feet), 2.5-inch angled brush, handheld paint pail, paint rollers, roller covers (3/8 nap), roller extender, paint trays, and tray liners
• Stepladder

Prepare Your Walls

Clear your working space by moving furniture away from the walls. Remove any nails, hooks, light fixtures, outlet covers, and other items that may be hanging from the walls. Fill holes and gouges with spackle, and sand until smooth. If your walls are dirty, wash them with warm soapy water and let them dry completely.

Tape Off Edges and Prime

Apply painter’s tape along any edges you don’t want to paint over, such as molding, window trim, and the ceiling. Use a gray-tinted primer to create a blank canvas, especially if you’re making a significant color transition.

Start Painting!

Use your angled paint brush to paint a 2- to 3-inch border around edges, then roll out the walls in sections using “M” or “W” shapes. Apply two coats of paint, waiting for the recommended time between coats. Keep an eye out for drips and clean up as you go.

Clean Up and Touch-Ups

Wash your paint brushes and rollers in warm, soapy water. If you need to make touch-ups, wrap a brush in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. Remove painter’s tape after the paint is dry to the touch, and give your new paint job a day or two to cure before moving furniture back into place.

Dealing with Splatters

Clean up splatters as you go by keeping a damp, soapy rag on hand. If you notice drips that have started to dry, try loosening them up with olive oil or vinegar. For more stubborn splatters, use a small razor blade or paint scraper to gently remove them from the floor.