#5 Select colors with care. Once you decide on a color family, pick up a few samples. Put a small amount of each color on the walls and watch it for a day or two under different lighting scenarios. Also, think about the paint’s neutrality should you want to change furniture, flooring or accents in the future. Finally, did you like the selection enough to enjoy it for a least a few years to come. Many paint providers sell small sample containers so you can do exactly this.
#4 Allow Enough Time. A successful pain job takes time, even if it’s a small space. Be sure you select a day that allows you to devote adequate time to the effort. Assume you’ll need to prime, paint and then likely do a second coat. Allow time for wall-prep, taping and moving or covering furniture. You might even want to break the project into multiple days as not to feel rushed. Proper wall prep is a key element to a successful painting project.
#3 Clean the walls and baseboards. Paint adheres better to clean walls. Also, if there is dust and grime on the walls or baseboards, the paint will seal it in and may even make it stand out. It’s worth taking the time to clean. Vacuuming the walls is a good option. You can then use a simple solution of dish soap and water or water and vinegar to wipe down the walls and baseboards. Be careful though, to use a damp sponge or cloth, no a soaking wet one. If the walls are wet, they won’t hold the paint and may suffer damage from excess moisture.
#2 Paint ceilings first and baseboards last. You can cover any drips or splatter from the ceiling when you add the wall color. If you do have a drip during painting any area of the room, you can quick wipe it off with a damp cloth. Keep one on-hand. In most cases, you’ll want to paint ceilings and baseboards white. They make a “ceiling white” paint for a reason. Using whites for these areas brighten the room and also make the color scheme pop with clean lines.
#1 Invest in the proper tools and the right amount of paint. It’s tempting to save cash by purchasing less paint, or fewer tools. I’m all for reusing supplies when it makes sense, but sometimes, you need to purchase new. Having the right rollers is important. Having the right sized and shaped brushes is important. You will want painters tape. You probably don’t need many of the gadgets that are the market though. Possibly the most important thing is to buy enough paint the first time around. Many paint retailers say they can match a color, but I wouldn’t want to risk it. All too often a second mix on another day has a slight variation in the color. One way you can save though is to buy enough for the first coat only. Then, purchase again when you decide to move ahead with the second coat. That way, each coat will be from the same mix session. This will work to hide any slight variation.