Step 2 — PREPARE your space
You probably want to start painting immediately, but only proper preparation will ensure you a flawless result.
- Start by moving all furniture into the middle of your room.
- Remove all picture frames, posters, mirrors, coat racks, doorknobs, nails, screws, and anything mounted to your walls, ceilings, and doors. Place these together with the furniture.
- Cover everything with plastic, cloth or masking paper to ensure that your furniture will not be exposed to dust or dripping paint.
- Cover the rest of the floor with our masking paper, to make sure paint doesn’t end up on your floors.
- Check your surfaces and fill in all nail holes, cracks, and imperfections with our spackle. Use a putty knife or your finger to smooth the filler. Let it dry for an hour and repeat if necessary.
- Use our sanding block or sanding paper to smooth out the filler and any unevenness on walls, ceilings, doors, and trims.
- Remember to clean all surfaces that are to be painted, including trims and woodwork, especially if anything has been sanded. Soak a cloth in water mixed with a few drops of paint cleaner, wring it out and use the damp cloth to wipe all surfaces ensuring all dust and grease is washed off. Since paint cleaner is a chemical solution, consider using protective gloves and avoid getting the mixture on skin and in eyes.
- Use painters tape along all edges of the surface you are about to paint, to make sure the paint doesn’t end up in the wrong places. Make sure the tape adheres properly to the surface. If in doubt, read our guide on how to properly apply painters tape here.