Step 1
Prepare the walls and work area. Many of us wish we could skip the preparation steps and jump straight into painting the walls with our chosen color. But the first step before painting a room is crucial to achieving the perfect finish.
Move all furniture and supplies to the center of the room and cover them with drop cloths. Cover floors with cardboard and also cover any surfaces you will be painting near that would be difficult to remove paint splatters from, such as closet doors.
Remove any objects attached to the walls and fill any holes and cracks. Once the filler or putty has dried, sand the filled areas until the wall is smooth and even.
Loosen sockets, switches and door handles and cover them with masking tape or remove them completely.
Tape window frames, moldings, and other areas that will not be painted. It's worth investing in quality tape and taking the time to ensure the tape sticks. Press the edge of the tape with your finger/spatula to adhere it to the surface that is not being painted and to prevent paint from running under the tape.
If you are painting the walls but not the ceiling, we recommend that you also tape the ceiling next to the wall to the width of the paint roller. When you also protect the ceiling, you can safely move the paint roller right up to the ceiling.
If you are painting over wallpaper, make sure that all edges of the wallpaper are securely attached.
Vacuum the room and use a damp cloth to remove dust from the walls. Use paint remover if necessary.
If you are painting more than one wall, plan the order in which you will paint the room by dividing it into sections. This is especially important if the room temperature is above 20 degrees Celsius.
Pay attention to the temperature of the room you are painting in. Paint dries very quickly if the room temperature is high. If possible, lower the room temperature to a maximum of 20 degrees Celsius during painting, preferably below.
Also pay attention to the lighting of the space you are painting. We recommend purchasing a renovation light and painting in good lighting.
Tip: To minimize disruption, try to complete this preparation step the night before. You should then have time to apply two coats of paint and also start furnishing the room the next day.
If there are deep holes in the walls that need to be patched and a lot of leveling work, the filler needs to be given time to dry, which is why it is a good idea to plan painting for a different day than preparation.
Step 2
This step requires a slow and focused hand, so take your time.
The edges where the wall meets another surface are where the final result will show up the most, especially if you're using dark paints against lighter woodwork and ceilings. That's why painting the edges - that is, painting the wall around the edges with a brush - is an important step.
If you are painting more than one wall, divide the room into sections and paint one area at a time.
Open the can and stir the paint thoroughly with a mixing stick to evenly distribute the pigment.
Paint with a brush, starting at the top of the wall at the ceiling border, and paint a frame (about 5 cm wide) around all edges of the wall, from top to bottom.
Then do the same around windows, doors, light fixtures, and electrical outlets.
Step 3
Be ready with your roller before the paint on the edges has completely dried.
Pour about 3 cm of paint into the paint tray and saturate the roller with paint. The roller should be evenly saturated, but not overloaded: the roller should rotate freely without paint dripping from it.
And now the moment you've been waiting for - start painting! Work from the ceiling down, aiming to roll the square meter in front of you before moving on to the next square. Your painting technique should combine even pressure with moving the roller up, down and across until you've covered each area evenly.
If paint starts to build up on the wall at the edges of the roller stroke, immediately roll over the lines with a light motion.
Especially important: Water-based paints start to dry quickly, so don't go back and paint a surface you just rolled. Wait 1-2 hours for the paint to dry before applying a new coat.
What type of roller should I use? For water-based paints, we recommend a low- or medium-pile roller, which is suitable for applying paint to both walls and ceilings.
Tip: Before you start painting, put the paint tray in a plastic bag and secure it with tape. You can dispose of the plastic bag in the general waste and save yourself the trouble of washing the paint tray.
Step 4
If you need a break or are waiting for the first coat to dry, you can prevent the roller and brush from drying out by dipping them in paint and putting them in a plastic bag that you seal tightly.
Step 5
Apply a second coat of paint. For most paint colors, we recommend two coats. This is especially important for maximum coverage, especially when making a dramatic color change, such as from light to dark or dark to light.
You should generally wait at least two hours before applying another coat of paint to the edges, but drying times will depend on the weather, humidity, and the finish you are using. You can use this step to touch up any small imperfections. For more difficult corners, you may want to switch to a small artist's brush. Repeat the rolling process to apply a second coat - et voilà! You should have beautifully painted walls.
Step 6
It's time to clean your brushes and rollers. Cleaning water-based paints requires only water and a little dishwashing liquid.
Scrape excess paint from brushes, rollers and containers back into the can. Wipe the edges of the can clean so you can close the lid tightly.
Wash the paint off your brush and roller by adding a few drops of mild dishwashing liquid and washing under running water until the water runs clear. Pat dry with a lint-free cloth.
Try to store paint brushes with the bristles facing down to extend their lifespan. When rollers are dry, store them on a paint tray.
Paint should be stored with the lid tightly closed, away from extreme temperatures and out of the reach of children.
You can start putting the furniture back in place once the paint has dried, but always make sure to leave a small gap between the furniture and the walls to avoid scuff marks on the wall - especially with sofas. Now sit back, enjoy your newly decorated room - and start planning which room you'll paint next!
