Painting a Room

Fix It Up! : Episode FIX-902 -- More Projects »
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VIDEO: Click the image above for a brief video about how this room got a new look.
A fresh coat of paint can bring new life to an old room. It's a fairly easy project, but be careful! Patience is the key to getting the job done right.
  1. To prepare for the primer and to protect the furnishings, we covered the air conditioning unit with a drop cloth and removed the knobs from the room doors. Then with the electricity turned off, we removed the switch plates and outlet covers. Because this is a new addition, there was no need to patch or repair the wall surfaces. However, if your makeover is in an existing room, you'll need to repair any wall damage before continuing.
  2. We swept and vacuumed the room thoroughly to keep dust from settling on the wet paint. We used a broom to sweep down the walls and to remove any high ceiling dust. (We used an industrial grade shop vacuum that is designed to suck up all kinds of workshop and work site debris. If you've got a lot of debris, don't use your household vacuum!)
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Figure A (Click to enlarge)
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Figure B (Click to enlarge)
  • We primed the unfinished walls using the same techniques as applying a regular coat of paint. Starting in at the top, we cut in the wall corners (figure A) with a 3-inch straight-edged wall brush. ("Cutting in" means painting in the corners and along wall edges you can't reach with a roller.)
  • Then using a paint roller with an extension, we rolled down from the corner near the ceiling (figure B) and painted across the walls.
  • For painting the trim, we used a 2-inch trim brush to paint into the corners and to cover the trim molding with the primer.
  • To create a smooth finish, we made sure to apply the paint in long, sweeping strokes out along the grain, blending the edges of adjacent areas together. We let the primer dry according to the paint manufacturer's directions .
  • After the primer had dried, we were ready to begin painting. Starting in at the top, we began painting by cutting in the wall corners with a brush. We cut in the edges using the narrow edge of the brush. Keeping an eye on the paint edge, we painted in long, slow strokes, painting from the dry area back into the wet paint to avoid lap marks.
  • Then, using a paint roller with an extension, we rolled down from the corner near the ceiling and continued rolling on paint from the top to the bottom. (We rolled close to the wall perimeter, removing as many of the brush strokes as possible.) We worked from the ceiling toward the baseboard, rolling a section and then moving on to the next wall section. Be sure to use slow roller strokes to avoid splattering.
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    Figure C (Click to enlarge)
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    Figure D (Click to enlarge)
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    Figure E (Click to enlarge)
  • Using painter's tape (figure C), we masked the panes and the surrounding wall around the window and doorway to prevent splatters. We pressed the one edge of the tape against the wall. Once the tape was applied, we ran the tip of a putty knife along the inside edge of the tape to seal it against any seeping paint (figure D). Painter's tape has low adhesive and won't take paint off the walls when you pull it away.
  • Using a brush, we painted the window trim, first applying paint to the horizontal parts first and then painting the verticals. We painted the trim along the sill last (figure E).
    • Also in this Episode
    Fix It Up! : Episode FIX-902
    •Painting a Room
    •Install Carpet
    •Install Shelves