Not an experienced painter...about to paint a bathroom...tips please!

[AmIimaginging]

I typically avoid painting as I'm not a fan AT ALL but I'm not working, so can't afford to pay anyone.

I am about to paint the bathroom and I'm nervous! Any tips for things that could make my life easier or things to avoid?

Please be kind - I have other strengths!

Cover everything you don't want painted or splashed with teeny tiny little flecks that you don't notice till they are dry and hard to remove.

You can buy rolls of masking tape with plastic sheeting attached which are great for covering sinks, radiators and over the top of skirting to provide an edge of floor covering too.

Like this but it's cheaper in B&M www.diy.com/departments/licktools-large-100-recycled-self-adhesive-plastic-tape-drape-masking-film-l-20m-x-w-2-1m/5060968294717_BQ.prd

Then make sure you wipe down the walls and sand any rough bits of plaster and wet wipe to get rid of dust.

Take your time doing the edging in around the top and bottom of the walls and the corners so you get as neat a line as possible. Once that's done the n main body of the walls is pretty quick, I prefer the finish when you use a roller to a brush but I am weedy of strength in my arms so do better with a small roller, just make sure you get a decent coat of paint on it.

Let it completely dry then apply another coat if needed. You do usually get a better depth of colour with 2 coats.

Honestly i hate painting so generally will use wallpaper instead, paste-the-wall wallpapers are really easy to apply, you don't need multiple coats and no drips.

Take before and after pics.
remove all electrical outlet covers and take everything off walls
Damp cloth wipe at edge where ceiling and wall meet
patch holes allow to dry and sand. Clean up after sanding (by hand is fine)
use painters tape. Tape around baseboards/skirting and all doors and windows. Take your time with this step it’s the secret to a perfect result
paint lower cutting in work then ceiling cutting in and then roll the walls.
repeat in 24 hours with second coat
inventory your supplies ladders sand paper clean lint free cloths more paint than you think you will need sheets or plastic to stand on.
I put the paint can roller tray roller and
brushes on a large flat piece of cardboard and use this as my docking zone
take your time don’t apply heavy amounts they run/seep under your taping and are harder to smooth out. Take your time with nice even coverage
there are many videos about prep supplies and application and well worth watching

Make sure you buy bathroom paint. You can get little fluffy rollers for emulation paint for bathrooms. You can get some special ones to paint behind the radiator too.

Thank you! It's the cutting in that makes me the most nervous. How do you ensure a really clean line - is there a particular brush to get this right?

Use a paint designed for bathrooms. Normal emulsion will not handle the moisture or humidity and will start to crack and spoil very quickly. Make sure that you prepare your walls properly, this will mean that you get a much better end result.

Cutting in- use a small brush, like a square watercolour brush (cheap one)

Second the poster who uses a piece of cardboard to put things down. If DH ever joins in painting he just chucks his roller anywhere on the plastic sheet creating patches of wet paint on the floor, then walks in the paint and spreads it all over the floor 😡

you can buy cutting in brushes, they have an angle to the edge.

Cling film... you can use cling film to wrap brushes and roller between coats so you only have to wash them at the end of your project.

https://youtube.com/shorts/StaVM2PifyA?si=aV9LiFBC8IohK0gB this cutting in video is good.

Use bathroom paint

Soup ladle to transfer from paint can to tray & glass, as I cannot lift the 10l paint tubs, and even the 5l I have trouble pouring neatly.

I use a large drinking glass for paint for cutting in, it’s smaller to lift up and down a ladder than the tin of paint, or a tray that might flex.

Cling film to cover brushes, roller & tray when you have a break or overnight.

And baby wipes or antibac wipes for quick mistake cleanups.

If you want to use masking tape, rather than freehand cutting in, remove it while the paint it still wet.

Preparation is everything…

• I would use frog tape masking tape for crisp lines. More expensive but v effective
• make sure you use a bathroom paint. Can be wiped easily.

Buy good quality brushes - they distribute paint evenly - fewer coats to make cutting in look good. These brushes are brilliant - not too expensive either.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09FF7W1N5/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

I like a variety of brushes for cutting in but I always make sure I have one of my children’s fine paint brushes to cut in the really tricky areas.

Preparation is key so make sure your walls are filled and sanded where necessary; hoover and wipe with a damp cloth after you’ve prepped.

Rollers are great but can be messy so wear old clothes and cover everything.

Good quality paint plus good prep means you’ll only need two coats. I’ve just prepped my back room and actually did two coats of white paint after prepping to get a good base for my colour. I use Farrow & Ball paint which is pricey but gives great coverage & finish in two coats as long as the prep is good!

Decorating is like childbirth: it sucks, is painful and you’ll be exhausted, but once it’s done you’ll forget all that and be planning the next room 😂

I think F&B gives awful coverage, I would seriously avoid it. Little Greene or Dulux Heritage is much better but my absolute favorite for coverage is Benjamin Moore.

Lots of good advice on this thread but mine is

• Don't be tempted to economise on masking tape, the expensive stuff is much better to work with

• take it as an exercise in battling perfectionism! It's your bathroom. If you drip on a wall it's not the end of the world, it's a paint drip. It's good for you to Just Do It. Prepare well and then don't worry about perfection with about getting it done.

100% buy angled brushes, hold them like a pen and drag them along the wall. It takes a bit of practice but once you've got the knack it's pretty easy to make the lines look good! I always practice my technique by drawing straight lines on the middle of the wall, before painting over it properly, and then when I feel confident enough I move to the actual edges. Good luck!

You're all brilliant! Thanks so much. I feel much more confident now.

But I also agree that Little Greene is FAR superior to F&B. I hate F&B for coverage.

That comment makes me sound like I know what I'm talking about. I don't - I'm just quoting the decorators I've used!

I used a (clean and empty) cat litter tray , inside a carrier bag to put my paint pot and brushes etc in when I'm working, so it catches spills.
If using a roller, put the tiller tray inside a carrier bag too, and use it through the bag, makes it much easier to clean.