The Easy, Mess-Free Painting Guide
A New Room Can Be Easy With These Neat Tips
Painting projects often end up making a mess, taking up more time than allotted or not being as crisp as a professional job. But these tips make it quick and easy.
Painting is the quickest and most dramatic way to give a new look to a room in your home. But sometimes painting can be messy and cause damage to woodwork, carpet or more. These tips take you through the painting process quickly, effectively and without a mess.
It's all in the prep
Preparation is key for a mess-free paint job, no matter how big the space or how small the job. Many people make the mistake of thinking that time-consuming taping and masking will eat up too much time, when in actuality, taking the time to property mask the room will make the painting go quickly and the clean-up a snap.
Start by either cleaning the furniture out of the room or moving it all to the center of the room and completely draping it with dropcloths. Inexpensive plastic dropcloths do the trick very well, and can either be reused or thrown away afterward. Make sure that the dropcloths stretch most of the way to the edges of the room, and tuck underneath the paper and masking tape that will be installed next.
Take your time with taping: one major timesaver is the purchase of a two-in-one masker: this small dispenser has tape that's already stuck to a width of paper that will hang over moldings and the floor for extra protection. Once you're applying the tape, do a strip at the floor, strips around door moldings and a strip on the ceiling, if you're painting all the way into the corner. It's important that you make sure tape is flush with the edges, and that you go over the tape with a finger to make sure the tape is stuck well to all surfaces. Dusty surfaces don't hold tape well, so it can be helpful to run a damp cloth over these surfaces and dry them before taping.
Now you're ready to paint
For painting a room, you'll need both an angled brush and a roller. Depending on ceiling height, you'll also need a ladder to reach as high as you'll need to. If you're painting alone, it's wise to start with the edging. This can be a time-consuming step, but is well worth it for crisp edges when you finish your project. Using an angled brush, dip one inch into paint and apply in smooth layers, not painting over one spot too many times. Don't be afraid to get paint on the tape — if it's adhered well, paint won't bleed through. The edges should be painted a strip about two or three inches out from the corners. If you'll need a second coat, let the first dry for about ten minutes before applying a second coat.
Next is the roller job, which is usually quick, if careful, work. Using a paint tray, pour paint and roll the roller in it, blotting it off on the raise portion of the tray. Then apply paint to the wall in "W" forms — then fill in the gaps. Roll as close to the tape as you can, and even touch it at some points. Rolling over the paint you've already painted just smooths the surface over your brushstrokes. If you painted two coats with the brush, you should wait 10 minutes and paint another coat over the top. Let dry for 10 more minutes once you're totally done, and touch up any spots that don't look covered.
Quick clean-up
Within ten minutes of your last paint stroke (but only if you're sure you're done!) go around and peel the tape off. Pull it slowly and straight up for best results. Once it's all removed, you can discard the tape and paper. Dropcloths can be thrown away too, but hold off for 24 hours before moving furniture back where it touches any walls. It can help paint to dry more quickly if you open a window. Once 24 hours has passed, move the furniture back and start enjoying your new room!
