How to Paint a Rec Room

Paint your rec room and create a space the whole family can enjoy.

Rec rooms are often planned spaces within a home or may evolve from one type of space into a rec room. Regardless of its origin, a rec room should be comfortable and appealing. The most cost-effective way to improve the look of any room is to paint it. Simple steps can transform your rec room into a space the whole family will enjoy.

Things You'll Need

• Primer
• Paint
• Brushes and rollers
• Roller pan
• Painters tape
• Tarps
• Hammer

Instructions

How to Paint a Rec Room

1. Wash the rec room walls using a mild soap and water or an all-purpose cleaning solution. Allow to dry thoroughly.

   Lay tarps over the floor and any furniture or belongings to prevent them from being splattered with paint. Tape around windows or areas where you don't want paint to bleed.

   When painting a rec room that is in a basement, be especially careful that you have good ventilation. Water heaters and furnaces are typically in close proximity, and heat and fumes of any kind are a bad combination.

2. Prime the walls. Because most rec rooms are in basements, it is likely that the walls are either unfinished cement or old paneling. In either case, a coat of high-quality primer will provide a good base for adding color. Apply the primer with a clean brush or roller and allow to dry for an hour or two before proceeding.

3. 

   Apply the first coat of paint to the walls. Use a brush around the perimeters and a roller for the main portion of the walls. This saves time and prohibits the application of paint on surfaces such as woodwork, ceilings, baseboards and heating vents. Allow the first coat to dry for an hour or two before determining if a second coat is necessary.

   If the basement is damp, it could hamper drying time. Consider borrowing or purchasing a dehumidifier to take extra moisture out of the air.

4. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before removing the painters tape. Remove the tape slowly. Touch up any areas as necessary with a small paintbrush.

   Some families opt to use several colors in the rec room to designate different uses for different spaces. For example, a child's play area might be painted in primary colors, and the television or video game area might be silver or black. When performing touch-ups, paint a dot on the lid of each paint can so future touch-ups will be just as easy.

5. Remove tarps and replace lids on cans with leftover paint. Tap lids with hammer to tightly secure. Store paint in a cool, dry place. In basement rec rooms, it is good to store paint cans away from the furnace or hot-water heater.

Resources

• DoItYourself.com