Have you got a Diy painting project you want to start working on? Here are some top tips to get you going and keep your Diy'ing needs in check!
1. Research
Before you start, make sure you do your homework, especially if you haven’t painted before. The best way you can go about this is to read up on information and ask some professionals for advice. In today’s day and age, it’s so easy to find all the facts you need on the Internet. So, watch videos, read up on articles, and depending on your project, just adapt what works for you.
2. Got a theme?
A lot of people tend to forget that theming is an essential part of the painting process, whether it be the walls of your home or a DIY project you have. You need to make sure your colors match any scheme you may have happening; most people use Pinterest for design inspiration and color scheme ideas.
When you have a selection of colors you want to use, see if you can test them on a piece of cardboard next to each other so you can see the final color. Once it’s dry make sure to leave samples in the room you are painting so you can check it against the light changes throughout the day.
Once you have your color schemes matching and themed to suit your project, you’re ready for the next step!
3. Plan your day
It’s important to remember that you can’t just start painting on any day. Check the weather forecast ahead of time, you can see what the weather is like in the morning of the day you’d like to paint on. If it’s going to be a humid day, it’s best to postpone. You need a nice, dry day so that your paint project can dry better and quicker typically you want to pick a day that is 50 degrees F (10 Degrees Celsius) or higher. With all this in mind, it might be a good idea to choose what time of year you want to start your project too.
4. Inspect and prep
Prepping your area is key! You need to make sure you inspect every little nook and cranny of the space you decide to paint on. If there’s cracks or peeling paint or rough surfaces, then you’ll need to fix it before you start. You will also need to give your walls a quick wipe down. Prepping can put many of you off and it does take time, but rest assured by taking the time to prep properly it will yield better results.
5. Do you need to prime the surface first?
Whether your painting a wall or furniture you need to see if you need primer first, primer helps the paint adhere to the wall or surface. Most people will tell you that you need to prime your surfaces first but depending on your project, check your paint label as some are self-priming.
6. Shop!
The fun part! Now that you have a plan in place for your project and you have prepared your space, you can now go shopping and buy everything you will need. Pro tip: don’t skip out on the good quality tools and paints – this will become an investment. It’s better to buy better-made items that will last you longer rather than having to buy a few of the same cheap tools over and over. Cheaper tools and paints will also affect the quality of your project. Ask around for advice on what brands to invest in. If you’re on a budget, make sure you buy only what you need!
7. Remove Furniture or Coverup
Unless you want to give everything else a fresh coat of paint too (though I’m sure that expensive lounge doesn’t need an up-do just yet) you will need to move it out of the way of your project, or if you can’t remove it, cover it. Some plastic or tarp will do the job or some old sheets. For your DIY projects, you can always work on these in your garage or outside on a piece of plastic on a nice day! Covering your belongings will save you time and money for having to remove little flicks and droplets of paint.
8. Order your painting process
Remember to paint top-down, with any project you plan to paint, a neat little trick is to paint from top to bottom. Imagine painting the bottom of a wall, followed by the top, but the paint starts to leak down over your finished coat! the general rule is to do the ceiling, walls then trim but it is your personal choice.
9. Clean and pack up
The most important part of your job is to always clean your tools and seal up your paints at the end of every day. Referring back to point 6, what you buy becomes an investment, you don’t want to spend top dollar on a brush or roller that is going to be ruined after a couple of uses. If you want to learn how to clean and store your paintbrushes click here.
Now that you’ve read through these steps, you’re ready to get started. Got any questions? Let us know by contacting us so that we can help you through it all. You can also check out our range of paint products. If you’re looking for inspiration, you can check out our Pinterest and Instagram
Once you’ve finished your project, send us a picture! We’d love to see what our customers have done!
Happy Painting!