Painting the interior of your home is an inexpensive way of increasing its value. It improves the overall look of your home, while adding style and allure. It is not uncommon with residential home owners to take on this task themselves. Do it yourself projects such as painting can be fun, while saving money at the same time. The following outline will help you get started. Have a clear picture Having a clear picture of what you want the end result to look like is very important. Visit each room in the house and note the look and feel you desire for each area. Keep in mind that the new wall color should coordinate with the current furnishings in each room. Assuming you are painting the home for resale, keep the colors neutral, and consistent throughout the house. Discuss with others Talk with all the members of your household, and share your painting plans with them. Ask for their ideas, discuss your choice of colors, and listen to their input. It is important to be open to new ideas, you never know who might come up with the perfect solution to a problem area. Calculate Paint Needed At this stage, you need to determine the area to be covered and the quantity of paint required to completely cover each area. You need to take into consideration how many coats of paint will be needed to produce your desired finish on each wall. Estimating the amount of paint needed is quite simple. Measure the height of the wall and multiply it by the length. This will give you the area to be painted. Calculate the area of windows and doors present on each wall and subtract it from the overall area. Make Your Budget The price of paint varies depending on the quality. A professional can best guide you to the type of paint and the finish that will best meet your needs. You will also need to allow money in your budget for the equipment needed to complete your painting project. Much like the paint, the quality and price will vary on items such as brushes, rollers, painter’s tape and drop cloths. Again, a professional can recommend how to best utilize your equipment budget. Planning and Preparation Planning is key, it is best to estimate how long the job will take before you get started. You will need to plan your household activities around your painting schedule. Leave a little extra time in your work schedule for those unforeseen circumstances to avoid over whelming yourself. Clear the room:
- Remove all furniture from the room to be painted, clearing out as much as possible. For rooms that have very heavy furniture, move them to the center of the room and cover them with a drop cloth to avoid accidental paint spills/spatters.
- Prior to painting, walls need to be prepared. Use a scraper to remove old paint or a steamer to remove old wallpaper. Holes should be filled and the wall surface made smooth. Seek the guidance of a professional on how to best prepare the surface of your walls as the technique will vary based on the construction of the wall. Tape off the trim work around the doors, windows and flooring, and use drop cloths to protect the carpet and floors.
- The purpose of priming is to prepare the wall for the application of paint. Priming covers irregularities and stains, making the paint adhere to the wall much more effectively. Priming makes the surface uniform for the application of the new paint, basically giving the painter a clean canvas to start with.