As the holidays approach, we think we have plenty of time to get ready. But year after year, I find myself running around last minute to get things done. I tell myself "next year will be different". I plan on enjoying the holidays this year, so I am going to start taking care of things now.
Main holiday goal: 'The family room face lift' Painting a room is the easiest way to give the room a new personality. It is also takes some forethought and planning. Start now by determining your budget and choosing the room you'd like to paint.
Choosing a color does not have to be life or death! There are so many resources available today, which I share with you here. I have found the Benjamin Moore Color Viewer to help me brainstorm colors and finishes. You can upload a picture of your room and play around with color choices. Ultimately, you will want to test this color before you paint the whole room. Benjamin Moore have over 400 color samples available in a 2oz jar, which covers roughly 3 square feet. The other way to test colors is to have a quart made. This will give you more paint to work with and if you choose this color, you have extra if you need it. Remember: the type of light in a room will effect how the color looks on the wall.
So, you have selected your color, how much paint do you need? There are a lot of things that factor in here, but generally speaking, one gallon of paint will cover 300 square feet. Need help figuring this all out? The Benjamin Moore Paint Calculator is awesome! Assuming your room has four walls, this calculates how many gallons of paint you will need to get the job done. All you have to do in measure your walls, windows, and doors.
Get it together! Head to the store with your color and how many gallons you need. While your paint is being mixed, start gathering your supplies. Depending on the size of the job, you will need the following:
1) A paint brush between 1" and 3" for edging. You will find a wide range of brushes in a wide price range. If you do not want bristles coming out and sticking to your wall, invest in a middle to higher end paint brush. The less expensive brushes will shed on your wall.
2) A paint roller frame and 3/8" to 1" Nap roller cover. The thickness of the roller cover depends on the look you are going for: a thicker roller cover will leave more paint on the wall.
3) A roller tray will keep make the rolling much easier. You can buy disposable or washable trays.
4) Drop cloths can protect your floors, carpet and furniture. Much easier to spend a few bucks on a drop cloth than to dry clean paint spatter off your couch.
5) Painters tape has many functions. You can tape off areas for patterns or to separate colors. Use the tape and drop cloths together to cover windows and doors as needed. It is made specifically for painting; do not use masking tape instead!
Put on your scrubs and get started. After you have moved and covered you furniture, you are ready to go. Use a brush to paint along the edge of the ceiling, next to moldings and to paint next to corners. This technique is called "cutting in."
Once you have cut in, move on to the roller. Fill the well of the roller pan about half full, and set the roller into the middle of the well. Lift the roller and roll it down the slope of the pan, stopping just short of the well. Do this two or three times to allow the paint to work into the roller. Then, dip the roller into the well once more, and roll it on the slope until the pile is well saturated. Be careful not to overload the roller. It will drip and be more likely to slide and smear instead of roll across the surface. The most effective method of painting with a roller is to paint 2-or 3-square-foot areas at a time. Roll the paint on in a zigzag pattern without lifting the roller from the wall, as if you're painting a backward N. Then, still without lifting the roller, fill in the blanks of the letter with more horizontal or vertical zigzag strokes. Finish the area with light strokes that start in the unpainted area and roll into the paint. At the end of the stroke, raise the roller slowly so it does not leave a mark. Go to the next unpainted area, and repeat the zigzag technique, ending it just below or next to the first painted patch. Finally, smooth the new application, and blend it into the previously finished area.
The best way to paint is to finish an entire wall at one time so the painted portions don't lose their wet edges. Take a close look at the wall and go back over any missed spots or blemishes. Painting from top to bottom or side to side is widely debated, both work well. If you're using an extension handle on your roller, it is easier to start at one high corner and go all the way across the room so you won't have to keep taking the extension on and off, then paint the lower section where you dont' need the extension on.
Most importantly: Have fun! This is a project that the kids or husband can help with (if you want their help, of course).
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