How to Paint Boys' Rooms

Use paint to personalize a boy's bedroom.

A bedroom is a space where individuality can be easily expressed, as the decor of the space should reflect the personality of the room's inhabitant. Paint is an important part of the room decor, as it serves as the backdrop for the rest of the room. If you're decorating a boy's room, use paint to help achieve a desired look. Painting this room is similar to painting any other room in your home, except that the color palette will reflect the theme of the room or the taste of the individual who inhabits the room.

Things You'll Need

• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Paint rollers
• Drop cloth
• Painter's tape
• Paint pan
• Ladder

Instructions

1. Choose a color scheme. If the boy whom you are painting the room for is old enough, consult with him to determine what color he would like to see on his walls. If you are painting a baby boy's room or the room of a toddler who can't offer an opinion, choose your paint colors based on the look you are trying to create. For instance, if you're looking to create a sports-themed room, you may want to use the colors of your favorite sports team.

2. Pick up paint swatches from a home improvement store to determine exactly which shades of paint you want to use. Take the swatches home and hang them up on the walls, or purchase samples to take home to test on the walls before making a final selection.

3. Purchase paint and paint supplies from a home improvement store. Make sure you have everything you need before beginning to make the task easier. You don't want to find out you forgot something in the middle of painting.

4. Prep the area to be painted. Remove any nails or tacks from the walls. Repair any holes with filler compound. Use sandpaper to smooth out any rough surfaces. Remove light switches and outlet covers. Hang painter's tape along the room's trim to prevent paint from going where you don't want it. Protect the floor and any immovable furniture with drop cloths.

5. Use a small, angled paintbrush to paint the areas around the ceiling, baseboards, windows and corners of the room first. Dip the paintbrush directly into the paint can. Wipe any excess paint off the brush by wiping it on the edge of the can. You may need to apply two coats of paint before you are able to roll the walls.

6. Use a paint roller to paint the bulk of the walls. Pour the paint into the deep end of a paint pan. Roll the paint roller into the paint and then roll it on the shallow, empty side of the pan to remove any excess paint that accumulates on the roller. Roll the roller on the walls using long, even strokes and make sure that you completely cover the area. Once the paint has dried, examine the wall to see if you need to apply another coat.

7. Remove the painter's tape before the paint has completely dried. If the paint has completely dried before the removal, you run the risk of pulling off sections of the paint with the tape.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure that the paint is completely dry before you bring furniture and accessories back into the room.

• Use the ladder to reach any tall or high areas of the room.

References

• Organizing and Decorating Kids Rooms: Painting Kids Rooms & Colors to Paint a Room
• This Old House: How to Paint a Room