I hate decorating, but I am doing it anyway. What are your best tips?

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I'm painting the lounge on Saturday. I have paint, brushes, and sugar soap. What are your best tips to make this easy and bearable? 😭😭😭

When painting walls, put the brush/roller on to the bit you've just painted and then move it onto the unpainted part. Do't put it in the unpainted part and move it to the bit you've just done. Stops the paint getting streaks in it when it dries.

Paint the celing the same colour as the walls (unless its a really dark colour). You'll be amazed. They won't look the same colour. It's something to do with the light but it gives a great finish and no cutting in or wobbly edges. I did it in our living room with dulux Bleached Lichen (soft sheen) and you definitely would not know walls and celing we're the same colour.

Shower cap for your hair. Coat hands liberally with moisturiser before starting, and make sure a good wodge of it is under your fingernails.

Start with the area least seen, so by the time you get round to the most seen bit, you've got 'your hand in and are in a nice flow.

Don't overload the brush.
I agree with pp, good cutting in is miles better than using tape. Steady hand and confidence and its fine.
Never think you'll get back to any bits of touching up another time. You won't
If you paint radiators make sure they are off and the thermostat won't sneakily turn them on.
Always err on the side of too much paint.
An old bank card can be great for smoothing filler if you have nothing else. Tubs of pre mixed filler are so much easier.
Prepare yourself for several coats then rejoice if its less.
If you have long hair, unless you do what a pp said with a shower cap/ hat, whatever you do you will have highlights

If I had a quid for every room I've painted over the years in grotty tenancies, I'd be a rich woman.
I dread painting, but it's not so bad when you get going, and very satisfying.

I'm painting this weekend too, can't get a decorator so doing it myself.

Music gets me through and thinking what I'll do with the money I've saved! The forecast is fab so I'm going to do half an hour painting then sit in the garden for 15 minutes

If you wear glasses, wear old ones you don’t mind getting paint on. crocs on your feet for taking on and off easily. I like to have a tub of Gorilla Wipes handy for cleaning my hands m my, wiping yo splashes er quickly.

Either make a packed lunch before you start or order something to be delivered, you won't want to stop and clear up to start messing about making lunch half way through.
It is easier to involve small children than to try and keep them out of the way. My dcs helped paint the kitchen and living room in lockdown 1. We gave them each one of those little rollers and a big expanse of wall and told them to keep away from the edges. They were amazing! You can always go over any patchy bits.
If you have an old pillow or cushion kneel on it to do the skirting boards, it really saves your knees.

@Bargebill19

Shower cap for your hair. Coat hands liberally with moisturiser before starting, and make sure a good wodge of it is under your fingernails.

This ! It avoids that awful "I'm covered in paint splatters" feeling after you've finished for the day>

Good quality masking tape round the edges,
then paint the edges.

Roller for the rest as they give by far the best coverage and very quick to use. Use a dust sheet that you can move with you as you go as rollers do splatter. Use a lot of paint each time you fill the roller as it covers well and splatters less.

Cling film over the roller/brush between coats, don't wash until you've finished.

Two coats is usually enough.

I never use sugar soap, just a baby wipe for obvious marks then straight on with Crown (less smell) or Dulux paint, never had problems with coverage.

Apart from the edges which is a bit time consuming, I find painting a very quick job using a roller. If the colour is light and you have a steady hand you don't really need masking tape, just do the edges carefully!

www.screwfix.com/p/wooster-pelican-hand-held-paint-scuttle-0-95ltr/7132g

This and the liners they sell with it. The brush sticks to the magnet mad mini roller over the side. Cut in with brush, them go over as close to edge with mini roller then onto bit roller to fill in middle.

@JustLoveYourselfALittle

I always gloss 1st. Then the emulsion wipes off easier.

Me too! I aways do the woodwork first.

A good audiobook - many audiobooks are 10 hours long + - should see you through the work!

Some great tips on here. Thank you

I find the stick on floor protectors like Roll n Stroll much safer than groundsheets. Easier to put down with an extra pair of hands, but once down they stay put.

Thanks for all these tips, I almost feel excited to do it now.

If using tape for edges it's best to pull it off before the paint is fully dry - stops the paint being pulled/chipped and leaves lovely crisp line

My tip is to approach it with confidence. If you have done the prep, and go in with an I can do this attitude, you can get it done quickly and properly, and feel very pleased with the result and yourself afterwards.

Any advice on how to avoid the obvious difference in the cutting in sections vs the rest of the walls so it looks seem less?

OP I'm about to embark on a week of painting too, usually pay to get it done but want to save some money and give it a go myself 😬

Clear as much furniture as possible and pile up large items in the centre.

Make sure floor and remaining furniture are covered with properly secured dust sheets. You’ll still will need wipes though…

Unscrew light-switches and power-point covers.

Use a 1.5-2” brush for cutting in. Also a 8-10mm wide flat artists brush for touching up delicate bits.

Use 9” roller and stick it on a pole- thingy. This way you can step right back and cover the wall in half the time.

Agree walls and ceiling in the same (fairly light) colour can look great and saves a lot of time.

I love painting. Even the tedious hall, stairs and landing that I did over a week of evenings last year. Glossing banisters is somehow both boring and satisfying in equal measure.

I listened to the entire back catalogue of The Curious Cases of Rutherford and Fry and the time flew!

Use a large plastic bag (or specific tray bag) to put the paint tray in .
Use , then remove bag .
Clean paint tray !

Getting there! I've been painting since 10am or so and gotten this far. The wall sconce thingies used to be purple, it was ridiculous and will require more coats of white. Well, hopefully just one more coat of white.

This morning. The ceiling rose used to be purple as well.