SUPPLIES
- Hot, soapy water
- Scrub brush
- Spackling
- Putty knife
- Fine-grit sandpaper
- Painter's tape
- Primer
- Paintbrushes, rollers or both
Overview
Painting the walls of your home is one of the most dramatic and inexpensive things you can do to decorate your residence. Many people choose to paint before they move in. Others decide to wait and see what their furnishings look like in the house before they choose a paint color. Whether you paint right away or wait for a while, there are some things you must do in order to prepare your walls for painting.
Step 1
Wash the walls. Dirt, grease, cobwebs and other things--including scuff marks and crayon marks--can stick to walls, which will interfere with painting. Make sure you wash the walls as best you can, using a scrub brush and hot water and soap. It's OK if some of the paint is removed during washing; you're going to paint over it anyway.
Step 2
Fill in any nail or screw holes with spackling. Squeeze a small amount onto a putty knife and spread it over the holes, filling them in completely. Allow this to dry overnight.
Step 3
Sand any rough spots on the wall, including areas of peeling paint and areas where the spackle was applied.
Step 4
Protect nearby items such as windows or furniture by covering them with plastic, old sheets or a tarp. In addition, use painter's tape to tape off the areas that you don't want to get paint on, such as around a windowsill.
Step 5
Prime the walls. Use a paintbrush or roller to apply primer to the walls. Primer helps paint stick better and allows you to paint only one layer of paint. This is especially important if you're painting over a dark-colored wall.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- WARNING : Make sure you have proper ventilation when painting and priming the walls. Open windows and use fans.
Resources
