Painting your family room can add a whole new dimension and atmosphere to the room. It’s a great way to cover up all those old marks and scuffs on the wall and breathe new life into a well-used space in your home. It’s also an inexpensive makeover that can really impress visitors and make you feel as if you’ve just moved into a brand-new home. With all that said, you need to prepare the room for painting in the right way.
Why Should You Prepare the Room First?
Lots of homeowners prefer to paint themselves rather than hire a professional. It not only saves money but can be a fun learning experience. That said, it’s important to prepare the room properly before taking out the paint brush. This will ensure a better and more hassle-free job.
Steps in Preparing to Paint
Here’s what you can do to make sure that your family room is set up right for painting:
- Move the Furniture
One of the first things that you need to do is move the furniture out of the space. It’s a good idea to get some help from family and friends, especially if you have a lot of furniture. The last thing that you want is to get paint splatters all over your stuff.
- Move Everything Else
If you can do, so remove everything else that is not nailed down, such as books, decorations, electronic items, and so on. Some people like to move wall shelving too but it’s not always possible and you can paint around it if you prepare carefully.
Moving all of this stuff out also means that you’re not going to trip over it later when you’re painting. It reduces the risk of injury and keeps your things safe from harm.
- Lay Down Tarps or Cloths
Professional painters will always lay down tarps or cloths on the floor and other things that haven’t been moved out of the room. This helps to protect them from any paint drips and splatters during the work.
- Patch the Walls
If you have dents or holes in the walls, you need to patch them up first with a poly filling compound such as spackling. Once it’s dry, you can sand it back with a fine grit to make it smooth so that it can be painted over.
- Clean the Walls
Before applying paint or painting primer, you also need to clean the walls down thoroughly You can use sugar soap for this. You’ll be amazed at just how much grime and grease sticks to paint surfaces. Cleaning it off will ensure better paint adherence and a better finish.
- Use Painter’s Tape
You won’t want some areas painted at all, such as doorknobs, skirting boards, and door or window frames. Over these places, you should stick some good-quality painter’s tape. This will protect the surfaces from any drips and splatters.
Conclusion
Painting your family room can really breathe new life into a tired old space. But it’s important to prepare the room properly first before opening a single paint tin. Doing this ensures a better finish and an easier job.
Marc Poulos began his real estate and financial services career, but he soon realized that his true passion was beautifying homes. He started working with various small craftsman shops before serving an apprenticeship with the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Chicago. His commitment to excellence won him Top Apprentice from Washburne trade school in Chicago – the country’s premier school of its kind.
