The bedroom is the first and last room we see every day. A fresh coat of paint or a new color will give the bedroom a face-lift and make it reflect your personality. Being prepared to paint your bedroom requires only a little organization for the task to be done quickly and easily.
Preparation
Preparation means more than selecting a color and opening a can of paint. The wall should be free of cracks and nail holes. Some holes or cracks will be so small that painting over them is enough to cover them. Larger holes or cracks will need filler. Cover the bad areas with filler and lightly sand the dried filler with fine grit sandpaper.
Painter's tape is helpful for those who have a less-than-steady hand. Painter's tape is used to cover the edges of all woodwork that has contact with the wall. Ceiling edges can also be protected. Press the tape firmly to prevent paint from seeping under the tape and onto the woodwork and ceiling. Remove the tape after the paint has dried.
An uncluttered work area will help to avoid frustration while you move about the room. Moving furniture away from the wall helps to provide a work space and a place to set up a ladder. If the ceiling is being painted, there should be a drop-cloth draped over the furniture and floor.
Dark walls that are being painted a lighter color will need a primer coat before painting with the selected color. Priming a wall may seem like a waste of time, but it will save you the expense of using more paint if two coats are needed.
Painting Tools
A small container with a lid is handy to carry paint while you do the trim. The container should be large enough to hold a few inches of paint. A 2-inch wide slanted brush should be able to fit easily into the container. Paint around the ceiling, trim and corners first.
Large areas will need a paint roller and paint tray. Trays and rollers are convenient because such a large area can be covered in a short amount of time. Pour paint into the tray and roll the paint roller into the paint. Do not immerse the roller completely into the paint but keep rolling back and forth until the pad lightly dips into the paint. Continue this process until the roller is covered with paint but not dripping. One method of roller painting is the 2-foot "V" design. Fill in the unpainted space using vertical strokes and continue until the wall is painted.
Clean Up
Cleaning up is part of the painting process. It may not be fun but it does mean that the job is almost finished. Interior latex paint is easy to clean with water and is the most commonly used paint. Pour any left-over paint into the original paint container. If there is any paint on the lip of the can it should be removed before replacing the lid. Labeling the can to indicate the room where the paint was used will be helpful when touch-ups are needed.
Tips
Paintbrushes and rollers can be stored temporarily, up to a day, by wrapping in plastic wrap or a plastic bag. This will keep paint from drying on the brush when there is a prolonged break while painting.
Keep a small container of fresh water and a rag nearby to immediately clean drips before they dry.
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