If your house is beginning to look a little tired or uncared-for because the walls are scuffed, the paint is beginning to fade or simply looks dull, you can do an almost instant fix with a new coat of paint and a few decorators’ tools. If it is simply a matter of repainting the walls and repairing a few cracks or nail holes, this is a simple task. After all, anyone can paint a wall without too much difficulty, right?
Walls are easy – ceilings not so much …
Sadly, there are many people who find the thought of painting a wall, let alone a whole room, extremely daunting. Speaking as someone who has painted every room in the houses I have lived in – sometimes more than once – completely on my own, the thought of redecorating holds no fears for me, but I must admit that I do draw the line at painting ceilings. A couple of attempts which ended up with more paint on my head than on the ceiling convinced me that this was not a job which I could manage alone. Apart from the fact that ladders and I are not good friends at the best of times, the strain of painting a flat surface which is above your head becomes tiring very quickly.
Can’t do it alone? Hold a ‘paint-party’ and have some fun!
For the DIYers who have the confidence, patience and energy to do their own painting, there is a great deal of satisfaction to be gained once the painting is complete. Apart from the fact that the room will have undergone a complete transformation and become brighter with a clean new look, it is a cost-effective way of upgrading any room in your home or small office. All you really need is a steady hand, stability on ladders for the higher areas, patience and willpower to do the job and get it finished. There is little worse than a half-painted room where the interest has waned midway through the task and left the area looking worse than it was before. A fun way of painting is to hold a ‘paint-party’ and invite your friends to come along and help you, provided you provide the music and the eats in return for their labour. If your friends aren’t keen to help, put on your headphones and turn up the music or listen to an audio book or drama whilst you work.
Choose your colours and shades carefully
Not sure which colour to choose? Most hardware and DIY stores have paint swatches which you can take home and test against your walls. It is good advice, however, to check the colour during different times of day when the lighting differs, as well as under electric light, as colours change according to the light. Some years ago, you used to be able to buy small tins of a paint colour which would cover approximately one m2 and could be painted directly onto one or various areas of the wall to test the colour under different conditions. It is surprising how a light colour becomes much darker in poor lighting, so sometimes choosing a colour a few shades lighter than what you think you want is the best choice.
Hire a painter if you don’t have the confidence to DIY
If you are not confident about doing the painting yourself, or simply don’t have the time, your best bet would be to hire a painting specialist or general painter – particularly if ceilings are involved! It is not necessary to go to the expense of hiring a decorating specialist if you know what you want, and it is a simple painting job. However, if you need help with the look of the entire room, including colour coordinated furnishings, hiring an interior designer would be a good move. This article is mainly concerned with the painting itself, rather than a whole new design of the room/s. Decorating with the aid of an interior designer takes any updating onto a whole new level, but this is mostly not necessary.
Make sure you have all the equipment you need
General painters can easily be found. Some of the best general painters may be found advertising their services at the side of the road near hardware stores. Don’t write them off just because they do not have fancy advertising signs and slogans. Speak to them, ask them if they have any references who you can contact about their work, question their knowledge, experience and skills and you will get a general feel of their ability to do the work properly and on time. Find out if they provide their own painting equipment, as this will make a difference to the final cost if you need to buy paint brushes, ladders, drop sheets, masking tape, paint trays, etc. Obviously, you will be expected to pay for all the paint and cleaning materials required but you would be paying for these anyway. If you need to have the walls patched before painting, check if you have the materials and equipment needed such as scrapers or a putty knife, fillers, sandpaper or anything else the painter might need.
Make sure you finish what you start!
Overall, painting walls is a time-consuming but simple task, but it does take dedication to complete the job once you have started, so be prepared for a few hours of solid work and the willpower to not give up halfway through when you are getting bored. If necessary, take a break until the next day to complete the work but don’t put it off for longer than that or you will lose your focus and drive. Just think of the reward once the painting is complete and is fresh and inviting and that should keep you going!
