DIY Painting

[Zoeyclash]

I'm planning to paint DC's bedroom myself. I've never done any painting myself so I'd love a few tips from any of you who have done painting before. The walls are already painted white. Also, is there any particular paint you would recommend? Thanks so much.

Farrow and Ball is considered the best paint, but it's expensive.

A decent trade paint will usually be better than an overpriced Dulux.

Single coat paints are usually worth it if the new coat will be a different colour, or buy a cheap undercoat.

Prepare carefully. Mask off at the edges using frog tape. Cover your carpets well. Move furniture out or into the centre of the room. It's often easiest to take light and plug sockets off than try and paint into the edges of them.

Use a roller for most and a brush for the edges (or a small roller). Remember that a smooth roller gives a smooth finish but can be a bit of a swine to use. Don't roll too fast or you'll have paint spray. Use an extension pole.

Use the bucket style of paint container and not a tray as they are much harder to knock over.

Check if your paint is low odor if you're intending using the room soon.

Do the ceiling first before walls.

Watch a few YouTube videos. They have tons of information and is easier to actually watch things.

Take your time.

Start with the edges (cutting in). This takes a little bit of practice to get good so maybe start in a less looked at part of the room if poss. You need to paint around 3 inches in from the edge and the part that’s left you’ll be doing with roller afterwards.

A huge part of doing a good job is learning to load up the brush or roller with the right amount of paint, and when you’re putting it on, not to under or over spread it. You need to take a few moments each time to get the paint nicely loaded up, but not too much. With the brush generally try and keep the metal part clear of paint, if it’s dripping all over the handle then spend a bit more time loading the brush carefully before applying it. Similarly with the roller, I normally spend anything up to ten seconds working the paint into the roller (in the tray) before I put it to the wall.

Cutting in takes a bit of a knack, you might find it’s easier to go one way, ie left to right if you’re right handed. Angle the brush slightly and try and sit it in the natural corner, once you get the hang it f it you’ll get a really crisp line. Getting the loading right here is essential, do not over/under spread. Good luck and have fun.

I always use Johnstones colour matched to farrow and ball and their aqua guard for woodwork as it is low smell and water based so can wash the brushes with water/ it dries quicker etc
Painting is one of those things that just takes practice so the more rooms you do, the better you’ll be! It’s worth taking the time to do all the prep - frog taping, sanding and sugarsoaping of woodwork etc

Forgot to say in terms of paint, it’s worth spending a bit more. Avoid cheap unless possibly doing contract white or mag, a good budget bucket can be ok.

Although F&B has probably the nicest colours, it’s not the best in terms of consistency. I much prefer Johnston’s trade, it’s a more creamy texture and has better covering per coat ime. You can get this at Brewers colour matched to F&B colours for no extra charge. I will say the deeper hues you’re probably better sticking to genuine F&B as the depth of colour is hard to beat, but for lighter tones is exactly the same. Steer clear of the really Matt finish as although it looks stunning, marks really easily and is difficult to touch up as it can leave a different finish.

You'll spend 80% of your time on prep - wash walls down before you paint, masking off light switches, covering the floor etc. do spend that time - it is really worth it.

Make sure you stir the paint well in the tin before you start and wash your brushes or rollers well as soon as you stop.

You have had some great advice already! Don’t use Farrow and Ball as a beginner. For emulsion I like Little Greene intelligent matt, or Johnstones or Dulux trade.

My top tip: clingfilm your brushes and rollers and store in the the fridge (honestly!) between painting sessions so you don’t have to wash them each time and then wait for them to fully dry. This is particularly useful if you are working around small children and have to tackle the job in chunks. I also decant the paint into a small takeaway tub for cutting-in, and with a lid on in the fridge this also keeps for a long time without drying out.

Green frog tape is the best for masking. The yellow one is low-tack and useful if you need to mask a recently painted area. Cheaper tape is a false economy.

Yes! Never buy cheap masking tape!

I use cheaper tape for carpet around the skirtings because I want a really good seal so no paint gets in. But otherwise frog tape is the best.

Before washing the walls also look at them really closely and run your hand over them to find and lumps and bumps that you can sand down with fine grit sandpaper. If there are any holes from hanging pictures etc or damage to the walls then they can be filled and sanded before painting. Screwfix does a cheap lightweight filler that I find very easy to work with.

I recommend a small paint holder with a handle for the bits that need a brush, just easier to hold firmly in one hand when you're up a ladder.

That's interesting. I've never found masking tape any good. Perhaps that's why!

When you cut up to the ceiling, it's better to not quite get there than to get colour on the ceiling. I aim to stop a mm below the ceiling as I find the tiny white line neater than an imperfect line in the corner.
Also, first stroke gets you nearly there and delivers paint to the area, then second stroke over the same area actually does the neat line.

Don't rush.

Stop when you are tired, or rather plan not to start a big section when you are getting a bit tired. I find about a third of the way in I need a break. Otherwise I'm desperate by 3/4 of the way.

The second coat is incredibly easy in comparison with the first so don't be dismayed by how long the prep and first coat take.

Watch some YouTube videos on working with rollers and cutting in with a brush which is the edges. Practise in an area that won't be seen ie behind the bed or wardrobe. The trick is to not overload the brush. Frog tape is the best tape out there. Removing it, don't pull straight toward you, pull it back on itself, I have linked a video. I have used Frog tape to do stripes and chevrons.

Wash everything before painting, walls, skirting. Prep is key to a great finish. Farrow and Ball is like milk, please don't use it as a beginner. Valspar premium from B&Q is what I use and I have been decorating my rooms for 35 years.

Buy paint tray liners then you never have to wash them out, just bin the plastic liner. And good luck.

Thank you all so much for all that brilliant advice!! You sound like you totally know what you are talking about and I feel a lot more prepared to take on the job now. I'm planning to do white walls and white ceilings so that should make things easier on myself! Thanks again for all the replies.

@JillenTavau thanks for that link - it's great.