The Tool Barn


Painting a Room

Painting a room can make a room look completely different.  A lighter shade can make the room look bigger and brighter.  Darker shades can make the room look more sedate and formal.  Using a different color on the trim can also spruce up a room.

While we can not help you with the color you want to use, we can give you some pointers about what kind of paint to use.  For "normal" rooms, I prefer a flat latex paint.  If applied with a roller, it will help hide any flaws in the wall.  You can use oil if you like but it smells more and dries slowly.   For high-traffic areas and kitchens, I prefer a "satin" or "semi-gloss" paint as they seem to endure scrubbing and cleaning better.  Bathrooms are their own special case and require "bathroom" paint.  Bathrooms are not extensively covered in this project.  Primers are very helpful, to learn about them, click here for a short discussion on primers.  Trim is normally painted with a semi-gloss or gloss paint.

This Project article covers painting an interior room with a roller.  The picture at right shows you the order in which to paint the room.

Painting baseboard molding with carpet protection

Painting baseboard molding with carpet protection

Level of Difficulty

Time Required:
 4 hours
Tools:
Paint brush
Roller and tray
Drop cloth
Step ladder
Respirator
Materials:
Paint
Masking tape
Safety Precautions
Follow ladder safety precaution if using a step ladder.
Ensure that there is adequate ventilation.
Use respirator.


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