With spring on the way now is the perfect time to refresh your home décor and give your walls a nice new lick of paint. Not only is this an affordable way to update the style of your home but for anyone looking to sell their property this simple refresh could help you get more for your house. Use the checklist below to make sure you have the right tools for the job before getting started.
Decorating checklist:
- A tin of paint in your chosen colour
- Paint roller and tray
- One medium and one small paint brush
- Masking tape
- Drop cloths and plastic sheeting
- Absorbent cloths
- A step ladder
- White spirit and painting rag
Pick your paint
One of the hardest jobs is actually choosing the paint that you want for your new look. For those struggling to choose some paint, the Dulux Visualizer app can help give you an instant view of how your walls could look. It is always worth getting a tester pot just to make sure though as colours can look different when on the wall.
Cover up and mask
Where possible it is advisable to remove as much furniture as possible from your room prior to decorating. If this is not possible then the best thing to do is pile up your furniture in the middle of the room and cover it with drop cloths or plastic sheeting. Wrap light fittings in plastic bags for a simple way to protect them. Use masking tape to cover fixtures and fittings and create a nice straight edge for your painting.
Clean your walls
Before you begin painting you’ll want to dust down your walls to make sure that they are clean and ready to be painted. Any dry or flaking paint should be removed and holes filled in with filler and sanded until smooth. Preparing your walls will help to ensure that you get a nice even finish and a great paint job.
Begin painting
Now that everything is ready it’s time to begin the painting. If your walls are extremely dark then it may be worth using a cheap white base coat to cover the walls prior to applying your new colour. Start by cutting in at the edges of the wall with a medium-sized brush lightly going over the edges of the masking tape at the edges. Once you have finished going around the edges, light and wall sockets and other tight areas you can use your paint roller to fill in the rest. Generally speaking, you’ll need at least 2 coats of paint for an even finish.
Peel off your tape
To help create a nice clean line and perfect finish you’ll want to peel off your masking tape while your paint is still slightly damp. If you wait until the paint is dry you risk pulling off some of the new paint when you remove the tape. Use a small paintbrush to touch up any areas where the paint has peeled or any other places where the paintwork is patchy.
Enjoy the results
With all your walls now refreshed you can start putting all your furniture back in place and enjoying the fruits of your labour.