Would you like refresh or renovate your property? Painting your walls and ceiling are an excellent way to give your rooms a new lease of life. What's great about painting your walls and ceilings is that it doesn't have to cost a lot of money. All you'll need is time and a willingness to get your hands dirty!
There is a lot more to painting than just finding the right colour and applying it with a paintbrush. To ensure your property looks absolutely perfect, it's essential that you have the right tools and undertake all the necessary preparations.
This article will break down:
How to paint your walls and ceilings in a room.
How to use a water based interior emulsion paint.
How to apply the paint with a brush and roller.
Tools and Materials
You will need:
Interior emulsion paint
Cloths
Masking tape
Paint brushes
Paint guard (optional)
Paint roller, sleeve and tray
Extension poles
Knife
Preparation
If you paint a surface that is full of holes or dirty then your painting will look poor as a result. So clean your walls thoroughly with soap and water. Fix any holes with filler and sand all surfaces so it is flat and smooth.
You don't want to paint half of your room then realise you don't have enough paint! For every 12 square metres, you will need about 1 litre of paint.
Painting is a time consuming job and you need to factor in the drying times and extra coats that your surfaces need. Always give yourself time to spare when you're planning the days ahead.
Plan Ahead
Survey each room and mentally remember how you will approach the painting. Always start your painting near the largest light source, such as a window and then work away from this. The light will reflect off any wet paint, so you can easily see what surfaces need painting.
When you take a tea break, take it when you reach the corner of a room rather than the middle of wall. This will stop tide lines forming as the paint dries.
If you have high ceilings you will need a step ladder or work platform to cut in the edges. Using a roller or pole extension is acceptable when you are painting the middle of walls.
How to Paint Your Ceiling
Always start your painting with the ceiling. You will be able to effectively cover the surface with at least two coats and you won't have to worry about any excess paint spraying onto your walls.
Step 1
Carefully open your paint pot with a screwdriver. Stir the paint until you have an even consistency and there are no lumps in the paint.
Step 2
Before you begin painting the surfaces of your ceiling, paint into the edges of the ceiling. Carefully paint around any lights and alarms with a small brush.
If you aren't going to paint the walls, paint along the edge of the ceiling with a 2” or 3” brush. An angled paint brush will help you keep a neat straight line. If you have an unsteady hand, use masking tape to protect the edges of the wall.
To create the best finish, paint the edges where the ceiling meets the wall in one go. If you do it in multiple turns, you may leave a noticeable band around the edges from the paint drying out at different times.
Handy Tip #1: Keep a Cloth Handy
It is inevitable that drops of paint will end up in places where you don't want them. Keep a few clean cloths in your pocket so you can wipe up any drops of paint quickly. Most interior emulsion paints are water-based so a damp cloth is all you need to wipe away surfaces.
Step 3
Once you have completed the edges of the ceiling you fill your roller tray with around a third full of paint. Dip the roller connected to an extension pole into the tray and roll it up and down to spread the paint evenly. Be careful not to overload the roller with too much paint.
Apply the paint to the ceiling using the roller, making sure you spread the paint evenly over the surface. Every time you dip the roller into the paint tray, move it to an adjacent unpainted area and work back to the area you have just painted. Overlap both areas to blend in the wet edges.
Step 4
When you have painted all of the surface, allow the ceiling to dry. If you're unsure how long to wait, your paint tin will have instructions. Two coats of paint are recommended by most professional painters. So, repeat steps 2 to 3 if you would like to apply another coat of paint to your ceiling.
How to Paint Your Coving
If there is coving between your walls and ceiling, this needs to be painted before your walls. Use a sturdy step ladder and a small pot/paint kettle to carry your paint.
Step 1
Use a narrow brush around 1.5” to 2” in size and apply paint to the coving in long, sweeping strokes. Make sure you are steady to avoid painting the ceiling. Use a paint guard if you think you will have problems staying in line.
Step 2
Work your way around the room using long even strokes to blend the edges.
Step 3
Check the paint tin and allow the coving to dry for the recommended period of time. Apply another coat of paint to ensure the coving looks professional.
Handy Tip #2: Wrap Your Tools and Materials
Don't clean your paint, tray and rollers after every application of paint. Simply wrap them in cling film and rest them until you need to repaint a wall. Cling film prevents paint from drying out, and is an excellent way to preserve everything when you're waiting for walls and ceilings to dry.
How to Paint Your Walls
With your coving dry, you can now move onto the walls. Painting your walls is very similar to your ceiling but pay special regard to your window frames, doors and radiators.
Step 1
Begin by cutting in the edges of the room, where the ceiling or coving meets the top of the wall. You also need to paint where the bottom of the wall meets the skirting boards. Once these areas are done, cut in around light switches, door frames, window frames and radiators. For the best results use a 1.5” to 2” precision tip or angled brush.
Step 2
Pour emulsion paint into the tray until it is around one third full. Dip the roller into the paint and spread it evenly without overloading it. You can use a roller with or without a pole, whichever you find the most easiest.
Step 3
Work away from the painted edges by rolling paint in wide 'W' patterns and filling in the areas. Apply the paint evenly and work from a wet edge. These edges need to be blended in to eliminate any ridges of paint forming.
Every time you dip the roller into the paint tray, move it to an adjacent unpainted area and work back to the area you have just painted. Overlap both areas to blend in the wet edges.
Step 4
Use a special radiator roller to paint the wall behind each radiator in the room.
Step 5
With all surfaces painted, you can let the paint dry. Remove all masking tape if you are planning on a second coat. If you pull the tape off when the paint is dry, this can pull some of the paint off. For best results remove the tape slowly and at a right angle.
Reapply the tape before you begin applying another layer of paint, and repeat steps 1 to 4.
Step 6
With your work complete, you can begin washing your paintbrushes and rollers.
With your brushes, scrape off as much paint as possible. Use washing up liquid and water to clean the bristles until all traces of paint have been removed. Then leave to dry.
Similarly, scrape off as much paint as you can with your rollers. Hold the roller sleeve under running water until it runs clear. Use washing up liquid if the paint is hard to remove. Pat the roller with a paper towel then leave to dry.
For tips on how to paint the exterior of your property, click here.
Hopefully you have found this guide helpful. If you think you haven't got the time to paint your walls and ceilings yourself, you can always call in the professionals! If you're looking for a painter and decorator in Croydon, London and Surrey, get in touch with us at Hynon Painters & Decorators for a free consultation.