Things you should know before painting a room or studio

Painting your room or apartment is an easy way to refresh the room and give it a new look. The right paint job also makes your artwork stand out, which allows you to create a breathtaking focal point where your art is the star of the room. 

On the other hand, the wrong paint color in a room clashes with the decor and artwork and even has the potential to make the room appear dull and lifeless. 

In light of this, it’s good to know what you need to paint a room. This knowledge helps you to pick paint colors that enhance the room’s decor. The right prep also cuts down on the time it takes to paint and even helps you to avoid annoying mistakes.

How do I prep a room for painting? 

This part is relatively easy, fortunately. Follow these steps to ensure that your space looks beautiful! 

This is what to do before painting a room.

1. Prep your work area by removing the furniture and anything else that will get in the way.
2. Add a drop cloth or plastic wrap to the floor so that paint won't drip and make a mess.
3. Patch any holes in your wall with spackle.
4. Smooth out any uneven patches with sandpaper.

Supplies needed to paint the room

Using the right tools for the job is important. Imagine trying to paint a whole room with paint that takes days to dry. That room would be out of commission for days.

Here is a list of what you will need to paint your walls.

1. A ladder for spots you can't reach
2. 9-inch paint rollers and 3-inch brushes for smaller spots
3. Blue painter’s tape to get crisp edges
4. Paint primer, if needed
5. A gallon of the paint of your choosing
6. Paint rags to clean up your work area
7. Plastic or canvas drop cloth
8. Fan to speed up drying time

The main thing to keep in mind when getting your painting supplies is that you get what you pay for. Investing in higher quality materials will speed up your total painting time and ensure that your paint job will look good over time.

How to paint room walls step by step

Now that you have all the right materials for the job, you are ready to start painting.

1. Remove furniture from your painting area.
2. Apply painter’s tape to the baseboards, window trim, and door trim.
3. Lay down plastic or canvas drop cloth.
4. Dip your roller in paint and remove any excess paint.
5. Generously apply paint to the wall.
6. Start from one end and work in sections
7. Evenly spread paint across the painting surface.
8. Once you've finished painting, wash your brushes.
9. Set up a fan to speed up the drying time.
10. Let paint dry and then reorganize your room.

Prepping a room for painting

Prepping the night before will help you paint a living room or studio quickly and easily. Doing this saves you time when you actually start painting. 

Start by clearing the walls and pushing furniture to the center of the room. Lay down a plastic or canvas drop cloth.

Best colors and how to choose

The best way to choose the perfect color depends on the feeling you want the room to have. If you have beautiful art that you want to showcase going for a plain color like white, black, or gray is great for this. 

But if you want the wall to be the statement, then consider a bright and vibrant color like yellow. 

Choosing the perfect color also depends on your budget. White will always be the cheapest paint. Other colors will cost more.

Determining how much paint you need

It's important that you get the right amount of paint for the job. Not having enough paint creates a big headache. Every room is going to require a different amount of paint. 

We recommend finding an online paint calculator. This cuts out a lot of guesswork. 

Once you have measured the areas you’ll be painting, put the square footage into the calculator, and it will give you the amount of paint needed to cover that surface.

Tips on painting a room from professionals

• Don't buy paint before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. (Most building contractors are getting their supplies for the day during these times)
• Don't leave things unattended on your ladder. A brush or gallon of paint can easily fall off with the slightest little bump of the ladder.
• If paint falls outside of your drop cloth clean it up quickly and don't let it dry. If the paint dries, it’ll be hard to remove and require chemicals to get the stain out. If you attend to the spill as it happens with warm water and a rag, you can remove the stain without much effort.
• Get all of your supplies the day before. This will give you the whole day to paint the rooms in your house and have enough time for them to dry too.
• If you plan on taking a break longer than 5 minutes, consider wrapping up your brush and paint pan in either plastic or aluminum foil. This prevents your paint from drying out and from leaving paint chips in your paint pan.
• Some states have strict laws on how you should dispose of paint. Research the best way to dispose of your paint in your area.
• Put away things you don't want the paint to get on, such as your phone, plants, or pets. 

Should you paint a room yourself or hire professionals?

This mainly depends on your budget and the time you have available. There are pros and cons to both, so knowing all of your options is important. 

The benefits of hiring professionals are that they cut out all the guesswork and hassle. They have all the necessary supplies and high-quality materials, which allows them to quickly paint any room you have.

The only con to hiring professional painters is the cost. But this doesn't matter if you have multiple rooms or floors you want painted. Hiring professional painters is necessary because you can't work as fast as they can.

On the other hand, if you don't have a large painting budget, then painting it yourself is the most cost-effective way to get it done. 

The downside is that there is room for error, but if you follow a guide like this one and you do your research on what to do before painting a room, there is no need to hire professionals.

If you're interested in learning more about how to create beautiful art for your walls, then check out our online courses! Or head over to our store to find just the right print to add to your decor.