Painting a room can be a huge deal if you don't prepare. The painting of the walls and ceiling and window trim is only half the job and in many cases not even the hardest part. Preparation can turn what might otherwise be a difficult job into something much less frustrating. Knowing these tips before you pick up the roller or brush can be helpful in the long run.
Surfaces
Unless you are planning to use a paint sprayer, there are essentially two different methods for applying paint to room surfaces: brushes and rollers. For doors, trims, molding and window work, brushes are the choice. For long flat surfaces, rollers are far more ideal. The best bet to getting finished quickly is to start with the brush work and get it all finished before you start with the roller work.
Woodwork
Woodwork is a more complex and time-consuming job than painting walls and ceilings. To simplify the process of painting wood, prime bare wood as well as any sanded surfaces. Priming should also be done on a surface that has been spackled.
Odor
Painting even a smaller room can mean several hours even half a day in the midst of pain fumes. Many people are sensitive to the fumes of paint and can only last so long before it gets to them and chases them out of the room for an early lunch break. The best way to avoid this problem is to simply add a few drops of vanilla extract into the paint itself. It won't hurt the paint, and it serves to reduce the intensity of the natural odor of the fumes.
Touch-Ups
As you are painting around the room, you may begin to immediately notice areas that look in need of a touch-up. Do not stop what you are doing and attempt to do the touch-up immediately. Always allow the paint to dry at least 24 hours before deciding on whether any touch-up is required. A coat of paint may appear patchy until it has completely dried, after which it may no longer appear uneven.
Bristle Trouble
The bristles on a paintbrush will naturally begin to thicken with paint after prolonged use. If you don't fix the problem you will begin to notice that the paint starts to drip more often and more easily. A quick and painless way to address this problem is by dragging the side of the brush over the rim of the paint can.
Streaking
As opposed to touching up, streaking can be noticed after just fifteen minutes. You need to address the problem of streaking before the paint dries, because it may be too late. Check your work after a fifteen-minute period for streaking; if you notice problems, go back and smooth them over. If the streak has already dried over, you can scrape that part of the paint free with a knife and apply a fresh coat to fix the problem.
