Learn How to Paint Like a Master

Painting seems to be the most common of all home improvement projects that many take on and do themselves. Some people think that painting a room is not that difficult but in reality there are several things you need to keep in mind to make sure that the room you painted looks like it was done by a professional. As long as you follow a few easy steps and learn to apply a few techniques, you will find that your painting job will turn out just fine every time. First, it is always a good idea to plan out how you would like the end results to look when planning a paint job. You may also save yourself a lot of headaches if you plan ahead. By repainting a room, your are adding character as well as a new coat of paint so there are certain things to keep in mind when painting. If you want to repaint a smaller room you will want to use lighter colors as darker colors will make the room look smaller unless that is the look you are going for. Same with a larger size room, darker colors will make the room look as though it is smaller than what it really is. Also remember that paints come in different finishes and the finish you choose will greatly affect how the room is going to look. Paint finishes come in flat which doesn't have a shine, egg shell, which is slightly shinier, semi gloss which is shinier yet and then gloss which is very shinny. Using paint with a shinier finish will be much easier to keep clean. A semi gloss to a gloss finish would be best for rooms that are lived in quite a bit like the living room and kitchen or for kids rooms. You should always sand down your walls before painting to smooth them out. If you have never done this before you may think it is just a waste of time and want to get right to painting. However, you really should continue to read this article before you go running off to paint that room. You will make certain that your paint job job will look smooth and free of rough spots by sanding down the walls before painting. Sanding the walls before you begin to paint will give them a nice smooth finish. Your next step would be to prime the walls after they have been sanded down and dusted off of all the sanding particles. Many people decide to skip this step in order to save them time and money but it is important to do this just like it is sanding because the results will show when you are finished. Your paint job will look so much better if the walls were primed before the painting was done. Primers start out white but you can ask the person at the desk in the paint center to change the color for you based on the color you plan to use for the room. Once you have the walls primed, you can begin painting by cutting in the ceiling. By this I mean you will want to outline the area in which you are going to paint with a border of the paint you are using. To do this you will need a chiseled paintbrush that is about two to three inches. A chiseled brush is not the same as a regular brush because it is not cut straight instead the bristles on one side of the brush are longer than those on the other side of the brush. Make about a three inch border around the area you want to paint. Now would be the best time to begin painting the ceiling. To begin painting you will need to use a painting tray or have a 5 gallon bucket. It will be easier to use a paint tray rather than a bucket when painting a smaller room or area. The bucket is best when you are painting a large area. If you are using the tray just add a bit of paint to the deeper side and dip your roller into it. After dipping your roller into the paint you will want to roll it against the slanted side of the tray, if you are using a bucket make sure you have a paint screen to roll the roller on to remove the excess paint from the roller. You want your roller to be completely saturated with paint but not to the point where it is dripping. After completing the ceiling you can paint the walls. You want to start with cutting in the edges of the walls just like you did for the ceiling. Then one at a time just fill in the open areas. Once the ceiling and walls are complete you will want to take care of the doors and the woodwork. Start by applying painter tape around the area you are going to paint, this will allow you to make straight lines and keep the paint off your newly painted walls and ceiling. Then just apply the paint lightly with long brush strokes. By following the steps that I have outlined here the job may make take you somewhat longer, but I guarantee that you will be much more satisfied with the result. Have fun and let me know how it turned out.