How to Paint a Kids Room

Paint is an easy, inexpensive way to give a child's room a quick makeover with great results. With some neutral furnishings, your growing child can have a brand new room every couple years with a new paint color and a few new accessories. Painting a kid's room is not much different than painting any other room in the house, though there are a few things unique to children's rooms that you should take into consideration.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Primer Kid-safe paint Paint rollers Paint pan Paint brush Drop cloths Low-stick painter's tape Razor or box cutter

1. Choose a paint brand that is specifically formulated for kids rooms, such as Dutch Boy Kids Room Paint, which has a low odor and low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) formula. It's safer than most interior paints, and is made to be stain and scrub resistant, which is practical for a child's room. Whatever paint you choose, get it in a satin finish so that it is easier to clean marks off the walls.

2. Choose your colors carefully. Colors have a strong impact on our brains and can actually affect our moods. Strong colors, such as primary reds and blues, are great for energizing and activating minds, and make good choices for play rooms. Softer colors, such as pink, mint and sky blue, create a more relaxing atmosphere for a bedroom. If your child is old enough, get his input as to what colors he prefers.

3. Send young children out for painting day to visit a friend or family member. The excitement can make children rambunctious, and parents need to focus on the job at hand or things can get messy. If you feel your child is old enough to help, let him get involved in the process under your watchful eye.

4. Tape off areas you don't want painted, such as moldings, windows, fixtures and switch plates, with a low-stick painter's tape. Place drop cloths over the floor and over any furniture too large to remove from the room.

5. Mix your primer and pour it into a paint tray. Roll a coat of primer on the walls. Use brushes for areas that are hard to get with the roller, such as corners and edges near the ceiling. Allow it to dry according to the instructions on the can. A coating of primer will result in a more even coat of paint, and makes it less likely that you'll require a second coating, thus saving you paint.

6. Mix and pour your paint into a fresh paint tray. Roll the paint on the walls with a roller, and use the brush for the edging and hard-to-get areas. Allow the paint to dry.

7. Before removing the painter's tape, gently run a box cutter or razor along the edge of it. Do not press hard enough to scar the wall; just press hard enough to score the paint coat so that when you remove it you don't peel a piece of paint away with it. Pull off the painter's tape.

8. To make the room more interesting, you can make decorative elements, such as stripes or a wall border. Tape around the areas you want to make your decorative elements. Use a level if you want to ensure your lines are straight. Roll (or brush) a different color of paint onto them. Remove the painter's tape immediately, while the paint is still wet, to avoid peeling.