Paint Like a Pro: 5 Steps to DIY Walls

Bringing new life to a room can be as simple as rolling a new color of paint on the walls. You’ve chosen the hue that compliments your space (if you haven’t done that yet, get some helpful hints here), but that’s just the start. Although painting a room on your own isn’t difficult, there is a right way to do it. Follow these five steps to paint your space like a pro.

Gather the tools

You don’t want to get half a wall into your project and discover a needed item you failed to buy. Before you get started, gather your supplies. 

Prep the space

That fabulous color you selected will look best on a clean, smooth surface. Take time to clean the wall with a damp sponge and mild dish washing detergent. Patch holes and scrape off any flaking paint. Large pieces of furniture should be moved into the center of the room and covered with a drop cloth. Place painter’s tape around your room where the wall meets the trim. You should also remove outlet covers and other wall fixtures. Before you open the can of paint, cover the floor with a drop cloth or other material to protect it.

Prime

Primer is a given when you’re talking about new drywall. What about an existing wall? If you’re not covering a darker hue with something light, you may be tempted to skip this step. Don’t. Primer will give your finished coat a more uniform finish regardless of your final color.

Bring on the paint

Grab a two-inch brush and load it with paint. Be sure to lightly drag the brush across the edge of the can in order to remove the excess paint. Using long, steady strokes, apply the paint to the areas around your taped off trim and the corners of your room. Then, pour some of the paint into a tray and load up the paint roller. Work on 3-4 foot sections of wall at a time and apply your paint in an overlapping “W” pattern. Without lifting your roller, go over the same space with horizontal strokes.  Plan on applying two coats of paint for a smooth, even finish. Before you call it a day, remove the tape. 

Finish it off

Once your walls are completely dry, tackle your baseboards and the trim around windows and doors. Apply tape to each section of wall that borders the trim. Reach for your two-inch angled brush to paint the trim. 

Enjoy your beautiful new room!

by Anjie Cho

The What and Why of Skim Coating

Before you paint another wall in your house, let’s talk about skim coating. This process of applying a layer of mud (joint compound) to the wall will create a smooth, even surface. When finished, skim coating will effectively conceal all evidence of seams, fasteners or repairs to your walls, even under close scrutiny and under a variety of light sources. 

Why skim coat?

There are several reasons you’ll want to skim coat. Among them: 

  • Covering existing decorative texture treatments to an existing wall

  • Blending existing drywall with new installation for a cohesive look

  • Smoothing out a wall that has been patched and repaired

  • Refinishing walls with lingering wall paper paste or other wall treatments like stenciling and painted patterns

  • You plan to paint with a gloss or semi-gloss paint that will highlight any defect in the existing wall

What tools are needed?

You may need to apply multiple coats of mud to the wall in order to achieve the look you’re going for. Keep this mind when you’re determining how much joint compound to purchase. You’ll also need a roller brush and a wide drywall knife or squeegee trowel. Pick up a paint tray to hold the mud while you work. Of course, you’ll want to prep your room before you begin to work, so grab a few drop clothes too!

The *How-To* of it all

If you’re working with an existing wall, first make any minor repairs to the wall; for example, fill nail holes and lightly sand any loose pieces. You can also apply a fast drying primer to the wall in order to cover stains, highly pigmented colors or loose wall paper scraps. 

Water down your joint compound to roughly the consistency of a bowl of melting ice cream. You should be able to scoop the mud out of the bucket with an appearance of a lump that’s a little runny and sagging. 

Here’s the key: work in small sections. You don’t want the plaster to dry before you can wipe it down. Using your paint roller, place the mud on a section of wall and then immediately scrape the wall with the trowel. You’ll leave behind a thin layer of smooth mud. Once you’ve completed your first pass, let the walls dry completely. Continue applying layers until the walls are smooth and even. 

One last step: before you finish off your fantastically crisp new walls with your favorite color you’ll want to prime them. This will seal the porous mud and ensure the new paint color you’re looking forward to will adhere to the wall properly.

by Anjie Cho

Our 6 Favorite Neutral Colors for Apartment Walls

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Painting the walls in your space, no matter how large or small, is one of the easiest ways to make your home more comfortable and personable. I've talked in general about some of the best colors to use in painting living spaces, but let's get a bit more specific on what exact colors work best in holistic spaces. These are my absolute favorite colors for painting walls (and one for ceilings) in any room. 

Benjamin Moore- Super White Flat

I've mentioned this paint and color before, as I find it to be the best option for ceilings. Many people choose to paint their walls with varying colors ranging from calming blues to off-whites and more, but from a feng shui and interior design perspective, it's important to stick to a pure white for ceiling space. Flat finish Super White paint reflects light better than any color, thus giving your space a more open, well-lit quality than other colors. 

 

Benjamin Moore- White Dove OC-17

White is an excellent color for walls, especially if you make the conscious decision to use white, rather than simply leaving your walls as blank slates, but the bright white color we use on ceilings is not appropriate for walls. Instead of pure white, which can overwhelm the senses, much like a field of fresh snow, opt for a warmer white, like White Dove. This is an excellent option for warm white walls that provide a soothing, rather than harsh and sterile environment. 

 

Benjamin Moore- Decorator's White PM-3

If you're looking for a slightly cooler tone, try Benjamin Moore's Decorator's White. Where White Dove provides a warm, welcoming white, Decorator's White PM-3 moves toward the cooler end of the light spectrum, offering a more open upbeat shade of white without the overwhelming purity of Super White.

 

Benjamin Moore- Simply White OC-117

If you've taken a look at these white color options yet, you may have noticed how warm and creamy the White Dove option is. While this is an excellent choice for a relaxing, low-key room, it may be too creamy for some tastes, and that's where Simply White comes in. Still on the warmer end of the color spectrum, Simply White provides a perfect balance between the stark white of Super White and the creamy complexion of White Dove. 

 

Benjamin Moore- Mt. Rainier Gray 2129-60

If you're thinking of going a more colorful direction with your walls, don't worry: white isn't the only option! In fact, one of my absolute favorite neutral tones for wall colors is Benjamin Moore's Mt. Rainier Gray, a beautifully calming combination of light blue and grays that creates a perfectly livable, yet not-so-white shade! 

 

Farrow and Ball- Ammonite 274

Benjamin Moore isn't the only option for sprucing up walls either. For an elegant option with hints of neither blue nor white, Farrow and Ball has created perfection in the elegant gray shade of Ammonite. Not too bright to overwhelm and not too dark to depress, Ammonite is the ideal color for a living space, bathroom or the like. 

 

Don't forget, no matter what shade or brand of paint you choose, aim for an eco-friendly, low or zero-VOC option. Not only will this reduce the negative environmental impact regular paints so often have, it will also greatly improve the quality of the indoor air that you and your family breathe on and everyday basis. 

by Anjie Cho