How to Paint a Room in 2 Days

There is no need to be a pro to know how to paint a room. However, you’d better do some preparation before you kick off. If you believe the job is just to toss some paint on the walls, you might be very far from the truth. In fact, the paint job that is done that way is easy to spot: uneven splashes of paint, drips and slips can be seen all over the walls. What does this mean to you as a painter? You’ll have to work it over. So make sure you do everything as described here to avoid additional work.

Preparation

1. Painters are often exposed to the toxic materials that paint contains. The number of toxins differs depending on the paint type and producer. In any case make sure there’s enough air circulation in your room. If you feel air circulation is not sufficient, use an oscillating fan.
2. Remove as much stuff from the room as you can — there’s no need to have all the furniture covered in paint after you’re done. Anything left inside the room should be moved away from the walls, preferably to the room’s center.
3. Cover up all the hardware you decide to leave inside the room, including furniture, sockets, light switches, cords, etc. Don’t forget about floor as well. Use plastic materials to protect your furniture from the paint spills. Tape off window frames, baseboards and ceiling edges with the painter’s tape. Opt for drop cloths or any fabric to cover up the floor. Plastic can turn to be very slippery underneath your feet or the ladder, which in turn can result in an injury.
4. Clean up the walls before you start painting. Paint won’t stick too well to a dirty or dusty surface. Use a wet sponge to remove any dirt from the walls.
5. As a rule of thumb you’ll need two coats of paint for most surfaces. Consult an expert on the type of paint that fits best to your budget and the color you selected for the walls.

Note: you may require a coat of primer as well as 2 coats of paint if you change your color from dark to light.

Additional resources you’ll require for the work include:

• a ladder
• an extension pole (sometimes can be used to replace the ladder completely)
• a paint-can opener
• angled brush or a sponge tool for the wall edges
• a roller and a paint tray

How to paint a room

• Having bought the sufficient amount of paint and other equipment you can kick off. Start with the edges first. Use a sponge tool to paint a 2 inches strip on the edge of the ceiling and the woodwork. Then switch to the roller and a paint tray to cover the remaining part of the wall with paint. Roll the roller from side to side in the tray to evenly distribute the paint. For the best result, paint the walls with the W-shaped strides, as this method allows to distribute the paint on the wall evenly.  When you’re done with the first coat, leave the surface to dry for 2-3 hours, then repeat the same steps for the second coat. Let the first coat dry at least for a couple of hours, then coat again.

Hint: put a roller and a paint tray with paint in it into the fridge after you’re done with the first coat. This way you’ll make two coats even more homogenous.

• When the paintwork is over, pour the remaining paint back into the paint-can. Make sure you seal it as tight as you can, to avoid exposure to toxins. Rinse the equipment that you used for painting the walls thoroughly. Dry the brush and wrap it up in a paper cover, to preserve it for the next time.
• Remove all the tape and cover from the floor and the furniture. Even though you covered all the hardware in the room, scout for paint spills. Scrape them off carefully if you find any.

Now you know how to paint a room in just a weekend. As you can see, it’s not that hard, and if you follow this advice carefully, you’ll be more than happy with the results of your paintwork.