You can instantly improve the look of your home by painting your ceiling and walls. If you don’t know what you are doing, you could end up ruining it. Poorly applied paint techniques, cheap brushes, and poorly purchased paint can make a DIY project seem like a nightmare. You don’t need to take that route.
Step 1: Carefully Choose Your Colors
Think about the purpose of your space.
You will generally be using two types of paints.
- Warm colors. These colors are great for kitchens and dining as well as living areas and other busy households.
- These are cool paints. This type of paint is represented by colors such as blue, brown, and grey. These colors have a relaxing effect on the mind and are perfect for bedrooms, nursery, or home offices.
You can always get professional advice and color consulting, or just find the best color for your particular room by using one of our handy guides.
Always test first.
The color card you see at your local hardware shop is not accurate. Although it is helpful, it can be misleading. It may give you an idea of the effect your tint will have on your walls.
Instead, you can purchase test pots in different colors and use them to apply the paint on multiple A4 sheets. Tape the sheets to a wall after the paint has dried to check if they match the rest.
Lighting is important.
When shopping for paint supplies, you should consider the effects of sunlight and bright LED light bulbs.
You can eliminate surprises by painting a piece of foam board in the desired shade and moving it around the room. This will give you an idea of how the paint will look at different times of the day and night.
Take into account the dimensions of your room.
One of the biggest errors in painting is not measuring the space before you visit the store to determine how much paint you will need. Some interior painters in auckland recommend buying one gallon of paint per 400 square feet.
If your work involves painting unprimed surfaces or rough surfaces, you may need to purchase more paint. Even if you purchase too much paint, the good news is that you can still use the leftovers for any future touch-ups.
For a consistent color, box your paint.
Avoid using your paint bucket-by-bucket when you buy it. Mix all your paint into one container to ensure consistency throughout the project.
Boxing, also known as “boxing”, ensures that you don’t end up with multiple bright spots or dark spots that are in stark contrast to the rest of your ceiling or wall.
Step 2: Clear The Area
Perform a thorough inspection.
You need to be aware that any imperfections on your ceiling or walls can cause a poor paint finish. Here are some ways to fix scratches, dents, and other damage.
- Before applying primer or paint, lightly sand and scrape and rinse off any flakes or cracks. You will have to start over if you skip this step.
- To remove greasy spots from walls, wet a sponge using dishwashing soap and warm water.
- To remove any dust, wipe down the ceiling and walls with a damp cloth.
Protect your items from spillages.
Moving your belongings out of the room to be painted is the best way to protect them. To protect your belongings from paint stains, cover them with old blankets, drop cloths, and plastic bags.
Next, turn off all lights in the area. Cover your doorknobs with small bags and secure them with tape. You can also remove the covers from light switches and outlets. This will take only five minutes, but it will prevent you from causing any unnecessary damage to your property.
Get your equipment prepared.
Here are some essential painting tools that every painting project should have.
- Brushes, rollers, painter’s tape. High-quality brushes, rollers, and extension poles with superior surface coverage will help you save hours of tedious painting. Premium painter’s tape can also protect skirting boards from accidental spillages.
- Tools and supplies. These include, but are not limited to, a putty knife and sanding papers, sealants, primers, as well as primers and sealants.
- Trim guard. Trim guard is particularly useful when you have to paint a tricky section of your wall.
Safety measures.
Wall painting is relatively safe, but you need to be careful to make sure everything runs smoothly. You should wear gloves and goggles when working with paint thinners or chemical paint strippers. They can cause severe skin burns.
It is a good idea to use a dust mask when you are sanding surfaces in order to prevent breathing in dust and paint particles. It is a good idea to wear long pants, a long-sleeve shirt, and slip-on shoes. Spills are inevitable, so be prepared.
Step 3: Prepare The Surfaces
Ceilings and walls can be painted.
Even though you don’t need to use a primer if you have painted walls, it is still important to maintain the surfaces to ensure that new paint sticks.
- Clean your walls of dirt and stains. Use dishwashing soap and warm water to clean any smudges. After you are done, rinse the walls with water and allow them to dry overnight.
- Remove old paint flakes. Use an electric paint scraper to smoothen the surface.
- Fill in dents, grooves, and holes. These imperfections can be covered with the polyfilla you prefer. Apply the material carefully with a filling tool, and then smoothen the area using a wet knife. Only sand the areas after they are dry completely.
Woodwork pretreatment.
Your room will likely have trims, casings, and skirting boards. You can quickly and efficiently treat your room by following the steps below.
- Grit sandpaper is available in sizes 100-150. Sandpaper is very useful in removing layers of varnish and gloss paint. Sandpaper can be used to smoothen nail holes and sharp edges or remove grain raised from water-based coatings.
- Use caulk to fill in the dents or a wood filler. Once the material has dried, sand the repaired areas.
- Use a sponge to sand. Regular sandpaper can make it difficult to sand contours and shaped molds. You can achieve smoother results with the sponge sandpaper when you sand curves or other difficult areas. After you are done, use a brush to remove any dust and then wipe the surface with a damp cloth.
- Before painting, apply a wood primer to all untreated or sanded wood surfaces.
Treating cornices and covings.
The material of your cornices and covings will determine the type of primer that you need. Plaster cornices, for example, will require a water-based primer. However, decorative trims made from polymer-based materials have been pre-primed before being shipped.
No matter what material your cornices or covings are made of, it is important to wait at least one day before priming any newly installed decorations. Premature priming can cause the adhesive not to set properly.
A few words about caulking.
Caulking can make the difference between a professional and an amateur finish. It is usually done after priming. You can mask gaps properly with a dripless caulking gun. Also, avoid silicone caulk as it is nearly impossible to paint over.
After you have loaded the tube into your gun, make a 1/8-inch hole and then apply the caulk in long, uninterrupted strokes. Let the caulk dry.
Step 4: Apply The Paint
How to paint walls.
Protect your trim work first with masking tape. The rest of the steps are as follows.
- Mix the paint thoroughly. Paint should not feel “runny”. You can add water to thin the paint if it is thicker.
- Start at the top and work your way to the bottom. For narrower sections between the ceiling and upper window frames, use a smaller brush.
- Use “W” shapes to paint. This technique is used by many experts in the field. With an extension pole-equipped roller, draw a large “W” on the wall. Fill in the shape with a roller that has an extension pole. Continue this process until you have painted your walls.
- Let the first coat dry. Next, use a putty knife to remove any paint blobs. Sand the areas with medium or fine grit paper before applying the final coat.
How to paint your ceiling.
Although it may seem difficult to paint a ceiling by yourself, it is possible. These are some tips to help you get started.
- Remove the ceiling edges. Apply a paint edger to make strips 2 1/2 inches wide without touching the wall. Use a brush with a trim guard if you have a cornice.
- Divide your ceiling into a grid. Use an extension pole to attach to your roller to paint the grid.
- Do not overdo the paint. Move back and forth over the tray’s shallow end to get rid of excess paint.
How to paint woodwork.
Staining. Varnishing. Painting. You can use any method to prime your woodwork. However, it is important to use a suitable thinner to reduce the final material. These are some other tips:
- For best results, use a trim guard. According to experienced painters, this is the best way to apply the finish coat. Simply press the trim guard gently at an angle so that it begins to lean towards the wall.
- Start at the top and work your ways down. This is especially important for painting window frames or door casings. To keep your glass panels painted-free when painting trims on windows, you can use your trim protector.
- For a flawless finish, apply two coats. Sand the area with a fine-grit sandpaper. Then, apply the second coat.
Step 5: Apply Finish
A coat of paint is essential for any painting project. We’ll be discussing some of the most popular finishes below to help you choose which one suits your needs.
Use matte or flat finish when appropriate.
- This finish can be achieved using latex paint. This finish is non-reflective and therefore ideal for ceilings and walls.
- It may take between two and three coats to apply the paint. The number of coats you need will vary depending on the wall’s condition, as well as whether or not it has been primed.
- The paint can be applied using a variety of tools, including sprayers, brushes and rollers. You should remember that latex paint is more durable than other paints. However, sprayers require you to mix the paint frequently to get consistent results.
When should you use satin or eggshell finish?
- This is the perfect finish if you want to give your surfaces extra shine. These finishes are generally more durable than flat paints, and can be used on walls.
- If you want to create a soft-looking interior, satin is the best option. You can also use an oil-based satin to finish wood surfaces.
- Depending on the brand you choose, the sheens of each finish may vary. Make sure you have enough paint to last you a while.
When to use semi-gloss finish or gloss.
- This finish is durable and shiny and can be used to seal or paint wooden surfaces.
- Both paints are available in water-based versions. Acrylic enamel gloss paints will give you a long-lasting, smooth finish. Semi-gloss water colors are a popular choice for kitchen and bathroom walls and ceilings due to their mould-resistant qualities.
- Semi-gloss paints are great for children’s rooms because they are easy to clean.