Ideas to Inspire

Basics of wall painting

So you have decided to paint your home walls or maybe office walls. But honestly, you have no idea about how to begin the process. You know that you can run the paint roller on the wall because you have seen people doing it. It seemed easy. Well, not that easy, but you can do it. We will help you with your first wall paint project.

The materials you need for painting the wall

You need to ensure you have these tools and paint materials before beginning the process:

Tools

  1. Paintbrush
  2. Paint roller
  3. Bucket and cup
  4. Waste clothes
  5. Putty knife
  6. Sponge
  7. Step ladder
  8. Paint stir sticks
  9. Masking paper

Paint Materials

  1. Paint for walls
  2. Ceiling paint
  3. Trim paint
  4. Wall putty
  5. Wall primer
Of course, that is a long list. But don’t get intimidated by that list. You will feel more confident when you have the right tools. It is also necessary to have all these things ready before you begin the work. Running to the shop to buy something in the middle of the work may not be a pleasant experience. The people around you will also not like it when you bump into them with paints on your hands and clothes!

How do you decide the colour for the room?

  • You can get inspired by photos available on the internet.
  • Go to your local paint shop to get the exact colours mixed.
  • Visit your family and friends’ houses to know what is trending these days.
  • Call Malabar Colour Expert to get professional advice. 
After selecting the colour, don’t forget to choose the paint finish. Paints come in different finishes like Gloss, Semigloss, Satin etc.

How to protect the floors and furniture before painting the walls?

If you can not move the furniture temporarily to a different room, you can use masking paper to protect them. Cover the floor entirely, especially if it is carpet. You can also use plastic sheets or old clothes to protect the objects in the room. Don’t forget to shield the electrical appliances and switchboards from the paint droplets.

Before

After

How to prepare the wall for painting?

If possible, wash the wall to remove any dirt. It will help the new paint to stick better to the wall. After washing, look closely to identify the defects on the wall surface. If the room is not well lit, use a torch to see the deformities. Use sandpaper to level the area. Apply putty on small holes and cracks. It will ensure a level surface to apply the primer. Application of primer is a good practice as this will ensure the paint you are using will not soak the underlying surface.

Where should I paint first?

It is always a good idea to start the job from the top when it comes to wall painting. Yes, from the ceiling. Painting the ceiling first, helps you avoid the paint splashes later on the walls. You can carefully paint the edges first with an angled paintbrush. After that, you can start painting the remaining area of the ceiling with a roller. Run the roller in one direction from one end to the other. If a second coat is required, roll in the opposite direction.

How to proceed?

Don’t forget to stir the paint with a paint stick. Do not fill the roller tray with too much paint in the beginning. Otherwise, it may spill over occasionally. Start the roller from the base to the ceiling and come back to the base before refilling again. After refilling, start adjacent to the first row you have just completed ensuring an overlap. Roll over the lines created by the edges of the roller to smoothen the surface.

Oh my god! I have done the job!

No, it is not complete yet. You need to remove all the covering sheets and clothes. If you have used any tapes to the edges while painting the corners you need to remove them carefully as well. You can use a putty knife for that. Now put all the furniture and appliances back. And don’t forget to clean the brush and other tools. Well done, now you can relax.