Painting of a Bedroom

Choose the most suitable paint color before applying it over the walls.

Painting a bedroom allows the most flexibility for change, and if you have the skills yourself, the process allows you to save excess costs otherwise given to a professional. A fresh coat of paint updates the interior decor and brings new life to the space. Depending on your personal preference, you can apply the same color as before or choose another color according to the new theme. Remove wall hangings, drapery and furniture from the bedroom to avoid paint stains, and leave a window open for ventilation.

Things You'll Need

• Drop cloths
• Painter's tape
• Scraper
• Sponge mop
• Primer
• 7- to 9-inch-wide paint roller with 1/2- to 3/4-inch nap
• Paint trays
• 2-inch angled paintbrush
• Extension pole

Instructions

1. Spread drop cloths or plastic sheets over the floor of the bedroom to catch accidental drips of paint. Cover switchboards, trim and other parts you do not want to paint with 2-inch-wide painter's tape.

2. Remove flaking paint from the walls using a scraper, if necessary. Moving from top to bottom, wipe the walls using a sponge mop to remove dirt and debris.

3. Pour primer in a paint tray and insert a roller's nap into it until completely saturated. Roll the nap over the ridges in the tray to remove excess primer before applying it over the walls. Apply the roller over the wall in small sections, moving up and down and overlapping adjacent coats to ensure complete coverage. Leave the primer to dry completely before applying paint over it.

4. Pour the desired shade of paint in a paint tray. Insert a 2-inch angled brush into the paint and apply it around the trim work, moving in one direction. Paint the trim around the baseboards first, then the window and door trim and the moldings.

5. Form a series of short strokes away from the edges where the walls meet one another, or the walls and ceiling meet. Work in 2- to 3-foot sections along the wall so you maintain a wet edge. Called cutting in, this technique helps maintain clean lines along the edges and corners.

6. Insert the nap of a 9-inch-wide, 3/4-inch roller into the paint tray until completely saturated. Because you are painting the ceiling, use a color different from the one you are using for your walls to create another dimension and enhance the appearance of the bedroom. Roll the nap over the ridges of the tray to remove excess paint. Insert the roller into an extension pole and apply the paint over the ceiling in one direction. Move quickly to maintain a wet edge. Leave the paint to dry before applying another coat in the opposite direction.

7. Insert the nap of a roller in the tray filled with the same shade of paint as applied around the trim work. Apply the paint over the walls, in turn, moving from top to bottom, right to left. Maintain a wet edge while rolling the paint to keep visible lines from forming. Allow the paint to dry before applying additional coats.

Tips & Warnings

• When taking a break during the paint job, cover the roller or paintbrush in plastic wrap instead of washing it clean.

References

• Sherwin-Williams: Painting
• The Family Handyman; Professional Painting Tips; Butch Zang; October 1999
• Valspar Paint: How to Paint a Bedroom