Applying a fresh coat of paint is a cheap but highly effective way to transform a room. Changing the colour of your walls can totally change the mood and feel of a room and is a simple job for even DIY beginners. Before you pick up your brush and begin painting there are a few important tips you need to know first. The key to a professional finish lies in the preparation, the best place to start is with the surface of your wall.
The colour you chose has a massive impact on the ambience of a room. Warmer colours e.g., reds and yellows are used to make large rooms feel cosier, small rooms smaller and have a cheerful and energetic effect. However, cool colours e.g., blues and greens make rooms feel bigger and have a calming effect.
How much you choose to spend on your paint is completely up to you but we like to emphasize that the most important aspect of any job is making sure that you do it correctly and take your time with it.
Painting vs Wallpapering:
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The condition of the walls will mostly dictate which option you should choose. Wallpaper can be a quick fix to hide imperfections and any unevenness in your walls. Wallpapering circumvents the need to repair or replaster your walls.
If you are someone who likes to often renovate their house and change styles then painting may be the best choice as it offers a more convenience. Changing the colour of your walls and repainting is a quicker and easier project than having to strip and hang new paper.
There are rooms where wallpaper is not suitable at all, we recommend staying away from hanging wallpaper in rooms with high humidity such as bathrooms or kitchens.
| Positives for Wallpaper ✅ | Negatives for Wallpaper ❌ | Positives for Paint ✅ | Negatives for Paint ❌ |
| Come in a variety of designs and textures. | Full process of preparation and application can take longer. | Cheaper than wallpapering if the wall is prepared correctly. | Variety of finishes are limited compared to the range of wallpapers. |
| Hides imperfections and unevenness. | Removing old wallpaper can take a lot of time. | Easier to change from colour to another. | Painting can be messy if you are not careful. |
| Can last for 15 years or more, about 3x that of paint. | Getting the pattern of the wallpaper to match up can be difficult to achieve. | Any dirt or stains can be wiped off to painted over if need be. | For the best results your walls will need to be prepared correctly- this can be time consuming. |
| If you already have smooth walls then wallpapering is usually faster. | Damaged wallpaper is difficult to repair, it more often than not has to be replaced |
Final Verdict:
Both wallpaper and paint come with their pros and cons and really it comes down to personal preference and which is more suitable to your needs and lifestyle.
The best option in our opinion is actually a combination of both of them. We know it’s cheating a bit but it’s true. In some rooms like a bathroom or kitchen then painting is absolutely necessary however a featured wallpapered wall can add pattern and texture that paint simply cannot. Wallpaper and paint can complement each other nicely and used together can provide a better, more complete finish than when just used individually.
Materials Needed:
Add these materials to your shopping list:
Tools Needed:
There aren’t many tools needed for this job; click on the ‘Buy Here’ to find our selection of the best value products.
- Paint Brush – Buy Here
- Paint Roller – Buy Here
- Roller Tray – Buy Here
- Sandpaper – Buy Here
- Step Ladder – Buy Here
- Tape Measure – Buy Here
- Paint Stirrer – Buy Here
- Sponge/Cloth – Buy Here
- Pencil – Buy Here
Safety Kit Needed:
With every project safety is very important, when working with chemicals and paints be sure to protect your clothing and skin.
Preparation:
To calculate how much paint you will need to cover your walls, you will need to measure the height and width of all your walls, add the height x width of each wall together- this is your total surface area. Check the coverage of your paint to know the correct amount to buy.
To ensure a polished and professional finish you must correctly prepare your walls. Any cracks and holes will need filling, leaving to dry and then sanding down.
TIP: If your previous walls are painted in satin or gloss the we recommend you rub down the walls using sandpaper – this will help your new paint stick.
Clean your wall/walls thoroughly with a damp sponge/cloth and diluted sugar soap (check manufacturers guide on water to sugar soap ratio) to remove any dirt, dust or debris.
SAFETY TIP: When using sugar soap be sure to wear safety gloves and goggles to avoid skin irritation from the sugar soap.
Once fully cleaned with the sugar soap mixture use clean water and a clean sponge to wipe the walls clean.
Next job is to remove any accessories (light switches, sockets, thermostats) from your walls, any accessories that cannot be fully removed should be loosed or covered with masking tape.
SAFETY TIP: When working with electrics make sure to isolate and disconnect the power to the outlets in which you are working on.
Cover skirting boards, around the boundary of the ceiling and around any doorways or windows with masking tape, if you are painting a feature wall then also tape along the edges of the wall.
TIP: Between applying coats, remove and replace masking tape.
If possible, remove all furniture and appliances from the room, if this is not feasible then place all furniture and appliances into the middle of the room away from the walls. Be sure to use protective dust sheets to cover your furniture and flooring.
Priming the Walls:
We recommend choosing a white or light grey primer, this will help the new colour stand out.
It is best to use a primer when painting any interior walls as it helps the main coat of paint to stick and reduces the number of coats needed. When painting a new lighter colour over an existing darker colour primer is particularly useful.
If your paint is a primer and paint in one then you may not need to use primer.
Before you begin applying your primer to the walls open all windows and doors to allow fumes to escape, it will also reduce the time taken for the primer to dry. Also put on your protective clothing to keep your clothes paint free.
Step 1:
Using a paintbrush paint around the edges of the walls, around any doorways and windows and into hard-to-reach areas. Apply in long, smooth strokes.
Step 2:
Pour primer into your roller tray and use a roller to evenly paint the rest of the walls. Apply the primer in smooth, clean gestures. Try to make sure that your primer coat is consistent and do not leave any bare patches on the wall.
Step 3:
Wait at least 4 hours for your primer to try. While you are waiting to begin painting clean your brush, roller and roller tray.
Painting: Step-by-Step:
Step 1:
Begin by mixing your paint thoroughly using a paint stirrer until you reach an even consistency. This is a very important step as it will result in a better, more even coverage so be sure not to skip it.
Step 2:
Use a paintbrush to paint around the edges of the wall starting in an upper corner and ensure you reach right into the corner. Work your way down in smooth, straight, long strokes. Finish painting the entire perimeter of your wall before moving on to the next step.
Step 3:
Pour your paint into your roller tray and use a roller to paint the interior of the wall. Apply in a ‘W’ or ‘M’ pattern working back and forth until the full section is thoroughly and consistently covered for the best result. Then move onto the next section.
TIP: Do not oversaturate your roller as it can lead to drips and thick and thin patches of paint.
Step 4:
Before applying any additional coats wait 2-4 hours for the paint to dry. Apply your second coat in the same way as the first beginning with outer edges using a brush then moving onto the roller for the centre of the wall.
Step 5:
Most walls will require a couple of coats, any coats beyond this are down to personal preference. Remember to leave between 2-4 hours between painting each coat. If you wall was a dark shade before painting, or your wall is a coarse texture then a third coat may be needed. Check the manufacturer’s directions on number of coats just to double check.
Step 6:
Take a last look over your wall keeping an eye out for any patches or drips. Any patches may need touching up and drips may need sanding down and repainting over.
Step 7:
Using brush cleaner, or just water for water-based paints, thoroughly clean the brushes, rollers and roller tray that you have used.
Step 8:
Allow 2 days for the paint to dry and set before removing any masking tape or packing away your protective dust sheets.
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